DCH-i [Vol. 2, no. 1 (Nov. 2012)]

Georgia Department of Community Health

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Home DCH-i November 2012, Volume 2, Issue 1
DCH-i November 2012, Volume 2, Issue 1

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In This Issue

Your Opinion Matters

Refreshed and Ready
Ready, Set, Go-Live with ICD-10!
Did You Attend the Medicaid Fair?
Rural Health Up Close and Personal
National Rural Health Day
Fingerprint System to Be Updated
Administrative Simplifications Continue
Health IT Town Hall a Success
EHR Incentives
Speaking Up!
Board Actions
About DCH-i

Refreshed and Ready DCH Goes 100 Percent
In keeping with Governor Nathan Deal's ethics and privacy initiatives, 100 percent of DCH employees and contractors -- some 665 workers -completed the 2012 Refreshed and Ready training's four refresher courses during this summer's campaign.
"Once again, our employees and contractors have confirmed their commitment to ethics and privacy by completing our Refreshed and Ready Training," said DCH Commissioner David A. Cook. "With the vast amount of protected health information that we handle daily, Georgia residents can be confident that their private information is protected and secure in our care."
This year's training offered the opportunity to learn and implement substantial updates to DCH's ethics, privacy, and security policies and procedures. These new policies and procedures will provide a positive change in the way we do business at DCH. Additionally, the agency conducted training for managers and supervisors to ensure that these updates are properly implemented. The training goal is to further develop and enhance a culture of compliance at DCH.
"This campaign demonstrates that when we work together as a team, we can accomplish important tasks," Cook said. "The enthusiasm with which we embraced this project underscores the fact that each of us at DCH holds a strong commitment to protecting private and sensitive information, conducting our business in an ethical manner consistent with DCH Policies and Procedures."
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DCH-i is the monthly newsletter from the Georgia Department of Community Health for all matters DCH. It provides timely and important information to you as physicians, dentists, hospitals, third-party payers, vendors, health care advocates, consumers and legislators. Our goal is to help create A Healthy Georgia -- together. Write us at DCH-i@dch.ga.gov.
About DCH

Ready, Set, Go-Live with ICD-10!
On October 1, 2014, all HIPAA-covered entities (i.e., providers, payers, vendors and their business associates) must convert to the new ICD-10 codes. Transition is not optional; it is mandated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). All ICD-10 implementation, including testing and training, should be completed well in advance of this October 1, 2014, "go-live" date.
After more than 30 years in use, ICD-9 -- the industry's current medical coding standard -- will be replaced by ICD-10. Now outdated, ICD-9 does not support today's evolving health care arena. With information limitations and many "full" categories, ICD-9's more than 69,000 codes will be replaced by the more robust and expandable ICD-10. The initial release of ICD-10 will contain more than 141,000 codes for both diagnoses and procedures.

The Department of Community Health and Georgia Medicaid will be working closely with providers, payers and vendors to support a successful transition to ICD-10. To learn more about upcoming webinars, readiness materials and more, join our mailing list at AskDCHi@dch.ga.gov.

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Did You Attend the Medicaid Fair?

Through effective planning, purchasing and oversight, the Department of Community Health (DCH) provides access to affordable, quality health care to millions of Georgians, including some of the state's most vulnerable and underserved populations.
DCH is responsible for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids, the State Health Benefit Plan, Healthcare Facility Regulation and Health Information Technology in Georgia.
David A. Cook is the DCH Commissioner.
We are dedicated to A Healthy Georgia.
www.dch.georgia.gov

Nearly 700 providers attended the Fall Georgia Medicaid Fair on Wednesday, November 14, at the Gwinnett Convention Center in Duluth.
Sessions included information about Provider Enrollment, Remittance Advice, Medicaid Due Process, Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records, ICD-10, New Biller and more.
The opening session was standing room only with attendees hearing from DCH Deputy Commissioner Blake Fulenwider, State Health IT Coordinator Kelly Gonzalez and Medicaid Chief Jerry Dubberly.
The next Medicaid Fair is slated for the second quarter of next year.
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Rural Health Up Close and Personal
Up before dawn and home after sunset, DCH Deputy Commissioner Blake Fulenwider and Gov. Nathan Deal's Health Policy Adviser Katie Rogers got up close and personal with rural health care recently. As one of four policy-maker hospital tours sponsored by HomeTown Health, the two-day trip included seven hospitals and a community service board across central and south Georgia.

Editor-in-Chief Pamela A. Keene
Webmaster Jeffrey L. Holt
Production Iris McIlvaine
Circulation Denise Smith
Deputy Director Communications Peggy Woodruff
Director Communications Christopher Schrimpf
DCH Mission

L-R: Jimmy Lewis, Katie Rogers, "It was amazing to see the work that

Blake Fulenwider

these hospitals do to serve these

critical rural areas," Fulenwider said.

"We can truly appreciate the

challenges that these hospitals face and the excellent way that they

deliver health care to rural Georgians."

Fulenwider and Rogers visited Monroe County Hospital, Taylor Regional Hospital, Lower Oconee Hospital, Evans Memorial, Gateway Community Service Board, Liberty Regional Hospital -- where they also attended a board meeting -- Effingham County Health System and Emanuel Medical Center.

"There were a number of themes that we heard throughout the visits," said HomeTown Health CEO Jimmy Lewis. "Cash flow and physician recruiting were top of mind for hospital administrators who met with Katie and Blake."

Additionally, they heard about challenges with adopting technology, nonemergency transport and working with the CMOs. The hospital representatives also asked about the hospital provider tax, the proposed Medicaid expansion, Disproportionate Hospital payments and Upper Payment Limits.

The mission of the Department of Community Health is to provide access to affordable, quality health care to Georgians through effective planning, purchasing, and oversight.
We are dedicated to A Healthy Georgia.

"In all, it was an excellent -- although fast-paced -- two days," Fulenwider said. "The folks who work in rural settings are to be commended for the fine services they provide."
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Rural Health Day Celebrated on November 15
Thursday, November 15, marked the second annual National Rural Health Day. Georgia also celebrated the many contributions of an array of providers of quality affordable health care to otherwise underserved populations in rural areas. The national program was designed to draw attention to the continuing needs of each state's rural population.

More than 2 million people live in rural areas of Georgia. Of the state's 159 counties, 109 have populations of less than 35,000. In those areas, citizens may lack access to primary care physicians, dentists, hospitals and other health care providers.
Thanks to the State Office of Rural Health (SORH), under the leadership of director Charles E. Owens and his staff, Georgia's rural population has an avid guardian. The SORH provides a conduit to both federal and state funding to help establish community health centers and federally qualified health centers, as well as identifying and helping meet community needs for physicians and allied health professionals.
To learn more about SORH, visit dch.georgia.gov/state-office-rural-health.
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Fingerprint System to Be Updated with $2.6 Million Grant

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) has received a $2.6 million three-year grant to enhance background checks for health workers and providers. The grant will be used to develop a more robust fingerprinting system for conducting background checks of providers, owners of health care facilities and employees. It will be developed and administered by the DCH Office of the Inspector General.
The system will connect with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to verify identities and research criminal histories. It will reduce time for background checks and provide access to more comprehensive data.
Currently, Georgia law requires a fingerprint-based criminal background check of owners of private home care providers and community living arrangements as well as owners and directors of personal care homes and assisted living communities. The state uses both state and national fingerprint databases.
The grant includes developing a state-of-the-art computer system that will consolidate records. It will save time and money by providing a more comprehensive database for criminal and other background checks. Its use will also simplify background checks for facilities as they hire new employees.
Georgia will become the 18th state in the nation to use this program that began in 2005 as a pilot. Implementation in Georgia is planned for October 1, 2013.
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Administrative Simplifications Continue

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) continues to implement administrative simplifications in various divisions and offices.
Communications With the launch of a redesigned website, DCH's Office of Communications has made it easier to find information through www.dch.georgia.gov.
SHBP With a direct billing system for schools, SHBP has moved from a percentage of payroll to per-member-per-month (PMPM) billing for accuracy and ease of administration.
Operations/HR The operations team has acquired new software that will make the grant application process easier and more efficient. Now DCH can communicate grant opportunities more easily and grantees will be able to complete grant applications electronically and submit grant application attachments online.
Legal Policy 435 creates a process for supervisors to follow when determining the level of access to information required for DCH workers to perform their jobs. This policy will strengthen the security of health information for millions of Georgia residents whose Protected Health Information (PHI) is held by DCH. The policy also provides a more efficient method of tracking those individuals who have access to PHI in the event of a breach.
Medicaid Recently, the Medicaid division developed three new initiatives to increase administrative simplification -- updated SOURCE waiver procedures, simplified the PeachCare for Kids application process, and refined the citizenship verification portion of Medicaid eligibility determination.
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Health IT Town Hall a Success

The full-day Health IT Town Hall in late October updated attendees about Health Information Technology in Georgia. Speakers included:
Dennis White, Chairman of the Georgia Health Information Exchange (GHIE)
Dominic Mack, MD, Project Director of the Georgia Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (GA-HITREC)
Paula Guy, Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Partnership for Telehealth
Phil Lamson, Senior Health Care Consultant at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Dave Flanders, Chief Information Officer with Emanuel Medical Center
Jacqueline Koffi, Program Director, Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, DCH
Blake Fulenwider, Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)

To view Town Hall presentations, visit www.dch.georgia.gov/documents/health-it-town-hall -october -2012 .
The next Health IT event will take place after the first of the year.
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More Than $100 Million Paid in EHR Incentives
Georgia's Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program has issued more than $100 million to eligible providers through the end of November 2012. The program was launched on September 5, 2011.

Eligible Hospitals

114

$71,013,397.11

Eligible Professionals

1511

$31,152,515.00

Total Payments through November 2012

$102,165,912.11

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Speaking Up!
Commissioner Cook will address these organizations during December:
Wednesday, December 5 -- Association County Commissioners of Georgia -http://www.accg.org/ Tuesday, December 11 -- Biennial Legislative Meeting -http://www.cviog.uga.edu/biennial

Deputy Commissioner Fulenwider will address these organizations during December:
Friday, December 7 -- Clinical Laboratory Managers Association -http://www.clma.org/group/SG

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Board Actions

The Board of Community Health took the following actions at its October meeting:
Resolution: Integrated Eligibility System Bond Resolution: SHBP School Employees
Policy: SHBP School Employees
Resolution: SHBP Authorities Policy: SHBP Authorities Public Notice: Fair Rental Value 4-1-13, Initial Adoption Public Notice: Fair Rental Value 7-1-13, Initial Adoption Public Notice: Inpatient Hospital Prospective Payment, Initial Adoption Public Notice: Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), Initial Adoption

The Board of Community Health took the following actions at its November meeting:
Public Notice: Fair Rental Value 4-1-13, Final Adoption Public Notice: Fair Rental Value 7-1-13, Final Adoption Public Notice: Inpatient Hospital Prospective Payment, Final Adoption Public Notice: Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), Final Adoption Rule Amendment for Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Initial Adoption Rule Amendment for Anatomical Gifts, Initial Adoption Rule Amendment for Clinical Laboratories, Initial Adoption Rule Amendment for End Stage Renal Disease, Initial Adoption Rule Amendment for Hospice, Initial Adoption Rule Amendment for Hospitals, Initial Adoption Rule Amendment for Nursing Homes, Initial Adoption

The next Board of Community Health Meeting will take place on Thursday, December 13, 2012

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