For many uninsured Virginians, those with Medicaid, and those living in many rural areas, obtaining needed medical care continues to be a
challenge. Basic mental health services are hard to find. And, the demand for adult dental services among those covered by Medicaid reflects
tremendous pent-up demand and the desire to achieve oral health.
At the same time, many Virginians have lost Medicaid coverage as the
continuous coverage implemented during the pandemic has ended. This has increased demand in Virginia’s healthcare safety net.
The Virginia Health Care Foundation‘s grant guidelines account for the needs of the organizations that serve uninsured and medically underserved Virginians during these challenging times. Please review the Grant Guidelines here:
https://lnkd.in/eGFBwa7P
As any #economist will tell you, #incentives matter. The earning differential dissuades all #clinician types from choosing #primarycare careers.
Despite the idea that #physician replacements would go into primary care, turns out they also go for the money, thus still leaving a gap in primary care. As nurse practitioners and physician assistants have no requirement to do residency or be board certified for, in many states, equal practice scope and equivalent jobs, they prefer the highest paid procedure-oriented jobs, in specialities & in cities. #Ruralhealth still suffers massive shortages.
Hospitals, increasingly #privateequity owned, also prefer to hire cheaper, less trained doctor alternatives who can be moved from specialty to specialty with no training needs compared to the 3-7 years of added residency training that doctors do. Any employer (but especially abusive ones) will choose the least expensive, most easily replaced workforce. Then employers do not feel the need to fix burnout, rather feel comfortable burning through employees quickly, knowing they can be easily replaced.
Replacing doctors actually worsened the perverse incentives for abusive employers in #healthcare. I worked within #government when this push to replace doctors was happening. I now look back and see how I contributed to destruction of my own profession, when I thought I was doing a good thing to increase access and to promote collaborative teams. In fact while I was envisioning win-win-wins, it was just a naive way to accelerate towards win-lose.
If we had been able to replace primary care doctors with cheaper alternatives, as government had wanted, then the government-led cuts in payment might have been sustainable. Instead, we still have workforce shortages, long wait times, cost barriers, people getting sicker, more expensive care from avoidable illnesses.
Meanwhile primary care practices are going under, doctors are retiring early, and many current medical students are planning non-clinical careers.
I honestly do not know who will be caring for all of us as we age and cannot avoid getting needed care.
President and CEO @ Care New England | Physician Executive
Yesterday, I participated in a panel discussion about healthcare in Rhode Island, and primary care featured prominently in the conversation. The piece published in PBN today assesses the current primary care situation in Rhode Island. We need to address the challenges facing our primary care physicians and their practices quickly. After the PBN panel, I shared this assessment with PBN to elaborate on the issues and to promote further public discourse. The bottom line is that we need to shore up the financial stability of primary care practices.
Happening today! There is still time to register. Don't miss this crucial webinar with information that affects your business.
Are Medicare cost reports hurting you in the long run? Join us for our webinar with the National Alliance for Care at Home, HHFMA, Forvis Mazars US, “Ensuring Accurate Medicare Cost Reports: A Key to Effective Advocacy for the Industry,” a timely topic for providers right now.
Learn about the critical nature of preparing accurate annual Medicare cost reports for home health and hospice organizations, the direct correlation of reported aggregate data on MedPAC’s annual recommendations to Congress, and why that has resulted in Medicare reimbursement cuts year after year.
Expert panelists include Steven Landers, MD, MPH, CEO of The National Alliance for Care at Home; Mark Sharp, CPA, and Partner for Home Care & Hospice at Forvis Mazars; and Jennifer F. Sheets, Acute and Post-Acute Healthcare Strategy Executive, Board Member for The National Alliance for Care at Home and Board Chair for Research Institute for Home Care. The conversation will be moderated by Deborah R. Hoyt, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for Axxess.
Register here: https://ow.ly/Y2y450UchCw#Medicare#homehealth#advocacy
We are asking that all members submit testimony in support of HB 5488: An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes. The public hearing will be on Monday 3/18 at 11 am and all testimony must be submitted prior to! This bill proposes a change in language to the MFT Practice Act to bring CT in line with federal requirements to be Medicare eligible providers. This language change would remove the barriers that many MFTs have faced in enrolling as Medicare providers. Please see details below.
#mft#medicare#therapists
CTAMFT is calling for your support!!
We are asking that all members submit testimony in support of HB 5488: An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes. The public hearing will be on Monday 3/18 at 11 am. All testimony must be submitted prior to the start of the hearing. This bill proposes a change in language to the MFT Practice Act to bring CT in line with federal requirements to be Medicare eligible providers. This language change would remove the barriers that many MFTs have faced in enrolling as Medicare providers. This solution was developed with the cooperation of AAMFT, The Federal Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) and Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). Please support HB 5488 and allow all Connecticut MFTs to have the option to be Medicare providers. You can find the bill language, testimony template and testimony submission link on our CTAMFT website Calls to Action page https://lnkd.in/ds3zysCC.
Never hesitate to reach out to advocacy chair, Jaime Rodriguez, advocacy@ctamft.org with any questions.
Thank you for being an advocate for MFTs in Connecticut!
Happening today! There is still time to register. Don't miss this crucial webinar with information that affects your business.
Are Medicare cost reports hurting you in the long run? Join us for our webinar with the National Alliance for Care at Home, HHFMA, Forvis Mazars US, “Ensuring Accurate Medicare Cost Reports: A Key to Effective Advocacy for the Industry,” a timely topic for providers right now.
Learn about the critical nature of preparing accurate annual Medicare cost reports for home health and hospice organizations, the direct correlation of reported aggregate data on MedPAC’s annual recommendations to Congress, and why that has resulted in Medicare reimbursement cuts year after year.
Expert panelists include Steven Landers, MD, MPH, CEO of The National Alliance for Care at Home; Mark Sharp, CPA, and Partner for Home Care & Hospice at Forvis Mazars; and Jennifer F. Sheets, Acute and Post-Acute Healthcare Strategy Executive, Board Member for The National Alliance for Care at Home and Board Chair for Research Institute for Home Care. The conversation will be moderated by Deborah R. Hoyt, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for Axxess.
Register here: https://ow.ly/Y2y450UchCw#Medicare#homehealth#advocacy
Let’s Set the Record Straight About 340B
It’s frustrating to see Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and rural hospitals unfairly dragged into the 340B debate. These providers are not the problem (they are lifelines for underserved communities). Yet, they continue to be lumped into the same conversation as these enormous hospital systems that operate in entirely different ways.
Here’s the reality:
☝🏼FQHCs and rural hospitals rely on 340B to stretch resources and offer care to low-income and uninsured patients. Without it, many would struggle to keep their doors open.
2️⃣ The issue isn’t these providers, but instead the lack of oversight that allows large systems to misuse funds, overshadowing the critical work done by smaller, mission-driven organizations.
3️⃣ Criticizing 340B as a whole misses the point. We need to protect the program for the providers and patients who truly need it, not penalize everyone for the actions of a few.
💭 FQHCs and rural hospitals use 340B exactly as it was intended: to serve vulnerable communities. Let’s not let the actions of others distract from what good this program does where it’s needed most.
It’s time we focus on real solutions that preserve 340B for those who depend on it. I hope we can all agree on this at some point.
#340B#HealthcareAdvocacy#PatientCare
Government affairs & public policy at the New Mexico Hospital Association
Heads up to Medicaid providers in NM interested in applying for a Rural Health Care Delivery Fund grant this year. The Governor made the following announcement yesterday:
"To help potential applicants better understand the funding opportunity, the state is hosting a webinar titled “FY25-27 Rural Health Care Delivery Fund: Overview and Application Guidance,” designed to provide detailed information on how to apply for these funds.
Webinar details:
Date: September 18, 2024
Time: 3 to 4 p.m. MDT
Zoom Registration Link: Register Here: https://lnkd.in/ga7ZWmap
During the webinar, participants will receive an overview of the funding opportunity, learn about eligibility requirements, application timelines, and tips for submitting a successful proposal. Providers interested in learning more are encouraged to register for the webinar via the registration link.
For more information on the FY25-27 Rural Health Care Delivery Fund and how to apply, please visit the Heath Care Authority website at https://lnkd.in/gymgzWNg."
Are Medicare cost reports hurting you in the long run? Join us for our webinar with the National Alliance for Care at Home, HHFMA, Forvis Mazars US, “Ensuring Accurate Medicare Cost Reports: A Key to Effective Advocacy for the Industry,” a timely topic for providers right now.
Learn about the critical nature of preparing accurate annual Medicare cost reports for home health and hospice organizations, the direct correlation of reported aggregate data on MedPAC’s annual recommendations to Congress, and why that has resulted in Medicare reimbursement cuts year after year.
Expert panelists include Steven Landers, MD, MPH, CEO of The National Alliance for Care at Home; Mark Sharp, CPA, and Partner for Home Care & Hospice at Forvis Mazars; and Jennifer F. Sheets, Acute and Post-Acute Healthcare Strategy Executive, Board Member for The National Alliance for Care at Home and Board Chair for Research Institute for Home Care. The conversation will be moderated by Deborah R. Hoyt, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for Axxess.
You don’t want to miss this one!
Register here: https://ow.ly/Y2y450UchCw#Medicare#homehealth#advocacy
Are Medicare cost reports hurting you in the long run? Join us for our webinar with the National Alliance for Care at Home, HHFMA, Forvis Mazars US, “Ensuring Accurate Medicare Cost Reports: A Key to Effective Advocacy for the Industry,” a timely topic for providers right now.
Learn about the critical nature of preparing accurate annual Medicare cost reports for home health and hospice organizations, the direct correlation of reported aggregate data on MedPAC’s annual recommendations to Congress, and why that has resulted in Medicare reimbursement cuts year after year.
Expert panelists include Steve Landers MD, MPH, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home; Mark Sharp, CPA, and Partner for Home Care & Hospice at Forvis Mazars US; and Jennifer Sheets, Acute and Post-Acute Healthcare Strategy Executive, Board Member for the National Alliance for Care at Home and Board Chair for Research Institute for Home Care. The conversation will be moderated by Deborah R. Hoyt, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for Axxess.
You don’t want to miss this one!
Register here: https://ow.ly/Y2y450UchCw#Medicare#homehealth#advocacy
🌟 FQHCs: A Mission of Care, Compassion, and Community 🌟
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are more than healthcare providers—they are lifelines for the communities they serve. With a mission to ensure access to affordable, high-quality care, FQHCs play a vital role in addressing health disparities, especially in underserved populations.
During my time as a Director of Pharmacy at an FQHC, I witnessed firsthand how impactful these centers are. One patient’s story still resonates deeply with me:
💬 A single mother of three walked into our clinic, balancing work, family, and a chronic health condition that required expensive medications. She felt overwhelmed and hopeless, unable to afford her treatment while providing for her children.
Through the resources at our FQHC, we were able to:
✅ Help her enroll in patient assistance programs, significantly reducing her medication costs.
✅ Provide tailored medication counseling to manage her condition effectively.
✅ Offer support services that connected her with other community resources.
💙 Over time, she regained her health and stability, becoming an advocate for others in similar situations. It was a reminder that healthcare isn’t just about medicine—it’s about empowering lives.
FQHCs don’t just treat patients; they build healthier communities by addressing the root causes of health inequities. Every visit, every prescription, every supportive word matters.
