Christal Stone Valenzano’s Post

Excellent read from Milbank Memorial Fund on how States can be a powerful driver in advancing policies that promote sustainable high- quality primary care. Check out the link in the article for the tool on alignment in State- Federal Initiatives.

Excellent read from Milbank Memorial Fund on how States can be a powerful driver in advancing policies that promote sustainable high- quality primary care. Check out the link in the article for the tool on alignment in State-Federal Initiatives.

Our CEO, Tom, is absolutely right. This article outlines several strategies for improving your patient responsibility revenue recovery. The key to success lies in effectively engaging with your patient population. By communicating with them in a way they're familiar with, Providers can significantly boost their overall KPIs in this area

I've seen many who experience success in moving into value-based care models, but it's just nowhere near the norm. This article does a good job of highlighting much of what we already know - the barriers to execution and the need for more incentives. Thoughts?

Federal funds accounted for approximately 72.8 percent of the $38.8 million allocated to New Hampshire’s child care sector in Federal Grant Year 2023. The majority of these federal funds, including federal discretionary funding and the federal matching portion, vary from year to year. The remaining approximately $4.5 million is comprised of federally mandated funds that do not change year to year. New Hampshire’s maintenance of effort funding also doesn’t change and amounts to about $4.6 million a year, while State matching funds are based on the Medicaid program’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) rate. View the full Data Byte here: https://lnkd.in/euq6KKdE

There are only three solutions to the current problems those in the long-term care industry face: A change in reimbursement model (not happening), increased efficiency (doing more with less), and new streams of revenue. https://lnkd.in/ewzZf6Jp

IMPORTANT - Medicare coverage is still often denied INCORRECTLY by applying the Improvement Standard--that is skilled-nursing coverage depends on improving functionality. The legal standard, confirmed in settlement of Jimmo v. Sebelius, is to MAINTAIN AN INDIVIDUAL'S CONDITION OR SLOW DECLINE. This distinction makes a HUGE difference for families. Settlement of the litigation required CMS to create a dedicated Jimmo section on its website: https://lnkd.in/gGNqcX6j https://lnkd.in/gxHeAipq

Yesterday, new funding first announced in October 2023 was released by government to the AMA. In yesterday’s news release, I was quoted:   “We appreciate the ongoing discussions with the minister and the funds that are being announced. This and the federal funding will, when paid out, be a down payment to help stabilize physician practices.   Immediate stabilization is just the first phase, requiring additional support of practices until they can transition to a new model for funding comprehensive, lifelong care for our patients. We look forward to more details around the timing of the rest of the budget.”   Albertans may wish to revisit what I wrote to Alberta doctors on December 21, 2023 (https://lnkd.in/g98BH3Fq) when the announcement was made that $200 million from the federal government would be applied to stabilize family medicine and rural generalist practices over 2 years.   The AMA has submitted a proposal to government to save these essential small-business practices and it has 3 phases. The federal money and yesterday’s panel management support funds are a good start – phase 1.   But we need all the funds to flow immediately to save family and rural medicine, and we need phases 2 and 3 to be supported.We cannot wait several more months for the $100 million in federal funding to be distributed.   1 in 5 family and rural physicians say their practices may not survive another 6 months. 8% say they can’t make 3 months. 61% of our doctors say they are considering withdrawing from comprehensive care to relocate or to retire early.   We must stabilize them first, then sustain them to continue delivering comprehensive care until they can transition to a new payment model option.   A quote from my December 21 letter: I thank the minister and premier for honouring the commitment to prioritize immediate stabilization of family and rural generalist practices with this significant down payment. The minister has also promised to consider the other steps that need to be taken in the context of Budget 2024.

Medical aid in dying is legal in Colorado, but that does not mean it's accessible. A new bill, SB 68, would address barriers that my patients are experiencing. It would allow APRNs to prescribe and certify the terminal diagnosis & prognosis, and reduce the waiting period between verbal requests. You can read more about it in my opinion essay in today's Colorado Sun.

#Maryland has been a leader in creating affordable access to healthcare and passing new protections for patients with medical debt. Despite these successes, too many people don’t have any idea of what these plans, options, and protections are. Economic Action Maryland's new guide focuses on hospital financial assistance and hospital #MedicalDebt in Maryland and aims to make it as easy as possible to understand new rules around hospital financial assistance and consumers' rights when hospitals reach out to collect on unpaid hospital bills. #ProtectConsumers 👀 https://lnkd.in/d_4jCiES