Free Employer Mandate Webinar - Tomorrow!

The Healthcare Reform Center & Policy Institute is hosting a free webinar tomorrow, January 28th on employer mandates. The webinar will be held from 1:00-2:00 ET and will discuss:

• Examples of a plan year for 2015 with specific information on where and when to begin 
• Differences between measurement periods, administrative periods and stability periods and how to plan for 2015 
• Solutions for large employers on navigating the various employee calculations 
• Recent developments including agency guidance relating to limited-scope dental and vision plans, "wraparound plans" and EAPs. 
• Discussion of emerging alternatives to traditional employer-sponsored coverage 
• Depending on timing of the IRS regulatory agenda, the webinar will also include a discussion of the final regulations under the employer mandate

You can register for the webinar here.

CPR Webinar on Payment Reform Tools

On September 30th at 11:00 am PT, NBCH member coalitions and employers are invited to join Catalyst for Payment Reform (CPR) for a one hour webinar to learn more about CPR's tools to help purchasers drive payment reform, including our health plan request for information (RFI) and health plan model contract language. RSVP to nperelman@catalyzepaymentreform.org.

Webinar on New NQF Resources

National Quality Forum (NQF) will be hosting a webinar next Friday, July 26th from 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET, on the launch of NQF’s Quality Positioning System Version 2.0 and the Field Guide to NQF Resources. The Quality Positioning System (QPS) is a web-based tool that is available to the public to help navigate NQF’s existing measures portfolio. Driven by feedback from users on version 1.0, this next iteration of the QPS includes several new features, such as capability to: 

• search for measures by their inclusion in Federal reporting and payment programs; 
• provide feedback at any time about the use and usefulness of measures; and 
• view measures that are no longer NQF-endorsed. 

In addition to the QPS, the webinar will also provide an overview of the Field Guide to NQF Resources.

If you would like to register, please click here. If you have any questions please contact Diane Stollenwerk at dstollenwerk@qualityforum.org.

Webinar Opportunity: Learn about $1 Billion in Innovation Awards Offered by the CMS Innovation Center

Prevention Institute, Public Health Institute and Trust for America’s Health will co-host a Dialogue4Health Webinar to provide information on a dynamic new funding opportunity offered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). The webinar will take place on Thursday, June 13, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm PST (2:30 pm to 4:00 am EST). Click here to register for this webinar, titled $1 Billion in CMMI Innovation Awards: Opportunities for Advancing Community Prevention and Population Health.

The Innovation Awards will support public and private organizations to develop and test new payment and healthcare delivery models that improve quality and reduce the costs of treating people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The funding announcement includes a category for “models that improve the health of populations.” This is a great opportunity to build momentum for the kind of health system transformation that will result in healthy people and places everywhere.

CMMI has invited a variety of innovators including providers, local governments, community-based organizations, payers, and health systems to apply, individually or as partners. During the webinar, speakers from the three organizations will discuss the opportunity for applicants to submit proposals to develop new payment models that advance and incentivize community prevention.

We hope this webinar will be a resource to potential applicants, as well as a forum for sharing and discussing cutting-edge ideas on what a community-centered health system could look like.

Launch of the 23rd Annual America's Health Rankings

On Tuesday, December 11, America's Health Rankings will announce the 2012 rankings on a public webinar. The theme of this year’s live event will be “Healthy Communities, Healthy States.” The moderator will be Dr. Reed V. Tuckson, MD, FACP, Executive Vice President and Chief of Medical Affairs at UnitedHealth Group. Author of the best-selling book “The Doctor in the Mirror,” Dr. Tuckson is first and foremost a physician who’s been a leading voice in healthcare issues throughout his career.  Tune in to hear about the latest findings and learn more about the current state of our nation’s health.

America’s Health Rankings - a project supported by the United Health Foundation - provides the longest running state-by-state analysis of our country’s health and the factors that affect it. The ultimate purpose of America’s Health Rankings® is to stimulate action by individuals, elected officials, medical professionals, public health professionals, employers, educators and communities to improve the health of the population of the United States.

Health Insurance Exchanges Webinar by NASHP

On Thursday, December 13, the National Association of State Health Policy will host a free webinar on health insurance exchanges.   Those who attended our NBCH Annual Conference will recognize Alan Weil, NASHP's executive director.  

Some exchange-planning deadlines may have been postponed, but State Refor(u)m hasn't slowed down in tracking and analyzing the latest state decisions. In this webinar, we'll convene a panel of state officials who will outline the exchange choices their states have made, and describe the policy goals behind those choices.

The discussion will touch on state-based, partnership, and federally facilitated exchanges. NASHP's Alan Weil will moderate, and Peter Lee of California and Colleen Burns of Illinois will participate in the conversation. Stay tuned for a potential third panelist; as exchange news develops, we'll want to bring you additional views from on-the-ground in the states!

The panel will also take questions from webinar listeners.  Can't wait to learn where states land on exchange choices? Between now and the webinar, watch our frequently updated resources on NASHP's State Refor(u)m website: exchange decisions map, blueprint chart, governance chart, and policy decisions chart.

Engineering an Exchange:
A Look at State Blueprints and Decisions

Thursday, December 13 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET
Register here: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/7cq7dj2etm0b 

PCORI Patient Engagement Workshop Webcast Information

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is providing a free webcast for the plenary sessions of its patient engagement workshop, "Transforming Patient-Centered Research: Building Partnerships and Promising Models," October 27-28. The workshop is designed to help PCORI build a patient-centered research community. Workshop participants will help PCORI establish procedures for identifying research questions, reviewing research proposals for funding, and ensuring patient participation throughout the research process. It is the first in a series of workshops aimed at bringing PCORI's vision for patient and stakeholder engagement to life.

Because in-person attendance at the workshop is limited and full, following an open application process, PCORI is providing three opportunities for all patients and healthcare community members to be a part of the process and provide input on the workshop's five topics: 

1. Identifying and Selecting Research Questions 
2. Reviewing Research Proposals for Funding 
3. Matching Patients and Stakeholders with Researchers 
4. Disseminating Research to the Community 
5. Evaluating PCORI's Patient and Stakeholder Engagement Programs 

To take part, you can:
Watch a live webcast of workshop plenary sessions:
Saturday, October 27, 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. ET
Sunday, October 28, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET

Visit pcori.org to access the webcast, view the workshop agenda, read more about the workshop topics and get to know our presenters and facilitators. We look forward to your participation and feedback as we build a patient-centered research community.

Webinar: Overview of the CDC National Healthy Worksite Program

Register Here

Tuesday December 20, 2011

2:00PM-3:00PM EST

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently began a program to engage and recruit 70-100 small, medium, and large businesses and lead them through the process of building a core workplace health program. A webinar will be held on Tuesday December 20, 2011, 2PM-3PM EST to discuss the goals, objectives, and activities involved in the National Healthy Worksite Program. Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/703198246.

Webinar: Employer Health and Wellness: Best Practices in the Design and Use of Health Risk Assessments and Biometric Screening Programs

Webinar: Register Here

Tuesday, 12/13/2011
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM EST

Cheryl Larson, Vice President, Midwest Business Group on Health, will explain industry trends and developments among leading employers in the design and use of Health Risk Assessments, biometric screenings and employee incentive programs. MBGH data and observations are based on the results of a comprehensive employer benchmarking survey encompassing self-insured public and private employers of varying sizes. The presentation will also cover how to design and implement successful employee incentive programs, increase engagement and participation rates, and design effective member communications.

NBCH Employer Webinar: The Obesity Care Continuum & Appropriate Treatment Options

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST

1-866-951-1151; ID5062618

Register Here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/247749314

In partnership with Ethicon Endo-Surgery, the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) is pleased to offer the following webinar open to coalitions, employers, or any stakeholder interested in learning more about the obesity epidemic and particularly, the continuum of treatment options. Employers are making great strides in creating healthier worksites and supporting wellness initiatives, and for many, prevention is a powerfully effective tool. However, for the one-third of U.S. adults who are obese (BMI over 30), other treatment options are often necessary, and for appropriate candidates, bariatric surgery has proven to be one of the most effective and long lasting treatments for morbid obesity and the resolution of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

NBCH VBP Committee Call Open to All Members

Thursday, 12/15/11 2-3:30PM EST
1-866-951-1151, conference code 6806452
This call is open to all NBCH members
Please pre-register for the webinar portion of the call here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/866277370

Allison Robbins from Imagine Health will be presenting on what Imagine does to identify the best specialists and hospitals in an employer's geographic area to create an employer-sponsored performance network called a Smart Employer Network (Smart E Network®). An employer-sponsored network is designed to include healthcare providers dedicated to improving clinical care and reducing the cost of care. Smart E Networks are created expressly for significant employer sponsors with a large concentration of employees in a geographical area or areas. Smart E Networks often compliment employer-sponsored primary care centers.

Health Care Innovation Challenge Update

The Health Care Innovation Challenge will award up to $1 billion in total grants to applicants who can rapidly implement the most compelling new ideas to deliver better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs.

Upcoming Webinars – December 6th and December 13th:

To learn more about the Innovation Challenge, CMS Innovation Center staff will be hosting two additional webinars. The first webinar will be held on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 at 2pm ET to provide guidance on the application process with specific attention towards project proposal design. A second webinar will be held the following week, Tuesday, December 13, 2011 which will delve deeper into the application process with special focus on quality measurement and financial plans. More information about the December 13th webinar will be posted on the Innovation Center website shortly.

WHAT: Webinar: Health Care Innovation Challenge: Project Design Discussion
WHEN: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 2:00pm – 3:45pm (EST)
WEBCAST: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=83923

Participants wishing to listen to audio must dial 877-261-8937 and enter code 31613148#. Reminder, participants will only be able to ask questions via chat feature online. A recording will be available following the webinar.

***For more information, including a fact sheet, FAQs and the Funding Opportunity Announcement, please see the Health Care Innovation Challenge initiative web site at: www.innovations.cms.gov or send your questions to InnovationChallenge@cms.hhs.gov.

Part II: Utilizing Cost and Resource Use Measures in Payment, Public Reporting, and Improvement Programs

December 14, 2011, 2pm-4pm ET

Part II: Utilizing Cost and Resource Use Measures in Payment, Public Reporting, and Improvement Programs

In this forum, we will hear how cost and resource use measures are being used in payment, public reporting, and improvement programs to drive better value in the private sector. We will discuss successes and challenges and how to spread what works to other private and public sector programs.

This forum is accessible to everyone via webinar only (no in person option). More information on accessing the webinar will be sent with an agenda. Please RSVP to Dena Mendelsohn (dmendelsohn@pbgh.org).

County Health Rankings 101 Webinar

Heard of the County Health Rankings but want more information on how to use them in your community? If yes, then the County Health Rankings 101 Webinar is for you.

This webinar will occur on October 24, 2011, at 2:00 pm CDT (3:00 pm EDT).

On the County Health Rankings 101 webinar we will discuss:

• Why we rank and why it is useful; 
• The County Health Rankings model and measures; 
• How to integrate the County Health Rankings into your work; and 
• How to use the Rankings to ignite action in your community. 

In addition, there will be time for you to ask us your general questions about the County Health Rankings. Please click here to register.

New Deadlines: Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative

Based on feedback and from the community of potential applicants and CMMI's continued commitment to work in partnership with stakeholders, the Innovation Center is modifying two deadlines for the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative: 

• Model 1: 
• Letters of intent are now due on October 6th, 2011 
• Applications are now due on November 18th, 2011

For more information...

Related:

Materials and a recording are now available from Monday's NBCH Webinar: Center for Medicare/Medicaid Innovation (CMMI)- Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Featuring... Valinda Rutledge, Director, Patient Care Models Group, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services  Stephanie Milka, Patient Care Models Group, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services  Francois de Brantes, Executive Director, Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute

Patient Safety Webinars

Thanks to all who joined last week’s Reducing Infections in the Intensive Care Unit webinar. The interactive session was the fourth of an eight-part patient safety webinar series hosted by the Partnership for Patients and the National Priorities Partnership (NPP). If you missed the webinar, you can access the recording now.

The next webinar in the series, Decreasing Surgical Site Infections, is August 16 at 1:00 pm ET. This webinar will feature Frank Opelka, MD, chair of Surgical Quality Alliance, Louisiana State University and NPP partner, who will provide ideas and insights for reducing surgical site infection through best practices. Learn more about the Partnership for Patients/National Priorities Partnership webinar series and register for upcoming webinars.

PAVE – Program for Advancing Value-based Expenditures

The Delta Group announces the launch of PAVE – the Program for Advancing Value-based Expenditures – a new hospital reporting opportunity for NBCH member coalitions. The objective of this hospital quality initiative is to create a catalyst for multi-stakeholder community action to improve hospital quality and reduce costs.

An informational webinar will be held on August 18th, 2011 from 2-3PM EDT - click here for the registration link.