Rural Health Workshop Day 1: Tuesday, June 11

• Ralph Abraham, M.D., Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health
• Pete Croughan, M.D., Deputy Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health

Welcome to the 2024 Rural Health Workshop!  The Louisiana Department of Health’s Dr. Pete Croughan (Deputy Secretary) and Dr. Ralph Abraham (Secretary), deliver opening remarks sharing how the Department is working to improve access to care in rural Louisiana.

• Sarah Hohman, MPH, CRHCP, Director of Government Affairs, National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC)

The NARHC Update will cover the latest health policy updates and trends pertaining to the Rural Health Clinic program and day-to-day operations. From regulatory requirements (care management billing opportunities, new nondiscrimination rules, and more) to legislative updates (the status of telehealth flexibilities and where we stand with Medicare Advantage), this is a vitally important session for RHC attendees seeking the latest information and opportunities to be involved in federal advocacy.

• Laura Wilson, Consultant, J2 Strategic Solutions

This session will provide attendees with an understanding of grant strategy, why the process of strategizing is important, and what assets/topics should be considered when creating a strategy/plan. This session will be interactive in that attendees will be given information, resources, and guidance throughout the session and can begin formulating a grant strategy individual to the participant’s organizational/programmatic needs.

Jerry Phillips, Executive Director Louisiana Rural Hospital Coalition

An update on recent legislation and related policies impacting rural hospitals.

• Jheri Corb, MS, EPc, CES, Vice President of Client Success, AHSA
• Jay Sage, Senior Vice President of Workforce Solutions, AHSA

Ensuring access to quality healthcare in rural areas presents unique challenges including the recruitment and retention of skilled healthcare professionals. This speaking engagement will explore innovative strategies and transformative approaches to attract and retain the right people for rural health systems while leveraging technology and workforce solutions to promote cost savings and employee retention.

• Steve Simmerman, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, The Compliance Team

This talk will teach clinics how to do self-surveys to stay in compliance with all regulations.  Listeners will learn what to look for to always be survey ready.  Will talk about tricks to make it easier to stay organized.

• Amy Graham, Principal, Stroudwater Associates

This session will share how a New York physician practice received designation to become a Provider-Based Rural Health Clinic (RHC) under a rural hospital, and after several starts and stops related to RHC billing, was able to successfully bill and collect payment for services provided as a Rural Health Clinic.

• Aetna Better Health
• AmeriHealth Caritas
• HealthyBlue
• Humana Healthy Horizons
• Louisiana Healthcare Connections
• United Healthcare Community Plan

Meet with Medicaid Managed Care representatives to discuss your specific questions, concerns, and challenges.  Each representative in attendance will be assigned a table in the Bourbeau Grand Ballroom Salons I & II for the duration of the session. Grab your lunch and sit at the table of the representative that you wish to speak with – feel free to move between tables as needed throughout the session to discuss any questions or concerns you have with different organizations.

• Ken Lenze, Facilities Manager/Safety Coordinator Keystone Rural Health Consortia

FQHC/CHC presentation on clinical quality improvement and risk management processes to build a structured and successful strategy for your quality improvement program.

• Charmaigne Johnson, Heart Disease Quality Improvement Manager, Well-Ahead Louisiana
• Eloisa Lopez, MPH, Quality Improvement Coordinator, CareSouth Medical & Dental

Well-Ahead Louisiana’s Population Health Cohort (PHC) is a unique opportunity to implement equity driven approaches within clinical settings, specifically addressing heart disease prevention and management strategies. The PHC clinics receive access to customized EHR data integration platforms to capture and referral systems to social service resources. In this session, a participating clinic will share their personal experience as a current PHC. Well-Ahead Louisiana will also highlight the PHC application and selection criteria, as well as launch applications for the upcoming cohort cycle.

• Steve Simmerman, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, The Compliance Team

This talk will discuss the value of Swing Bed Quality Certification.  We’ll review the standards and listeners will see that they are already in compliance but will learn the value of 3rd party recognition by a nationally recognized accreditor.

• Clare Kelley, MPH, Senior Consultant, Stroudwater Associate

Participants will receive a comprehensive framework for understanding partnerships and their relevance in today’s rural healthcare landscape. The session will delve into alternative partnership structures and emerging partnership models.

The presentation will include real-world case studies, offering tangible examples of how the value of rural health systems can be measured and sustained, whether by remaining independent or through strategic partnerships tailored to specific organizational circumstances. Importantly, these case studies will include lessons relevant to improving and refining existing partnerships as well as crafting new partnerships. A crucial aspect of this presentation involves an examination of stand-alone strategic and operating risks for rural health systems, along with tools to identify and mitigate inherent partner risks associated with any collaboration. By exploring these case studies, participants will gain valuable insights into the essential attributes of successful partnerships, approaches for improving existing partnerships and the inherent risks associated with such collaborations.

• Scott Brouillette MSN, RN, CCRN, NI-BC, Owner/Consultant, Gulf South Analytics

This presentation provides a guide for starting Chronic Care Management (CCM) programs that are tailored to rural health clinics. You will learn how to overcome challenges, establish effective processes, and ensure sustainability for providing quality patient care. Gain practical insights and strategies to initiate your CCM program and make a meaningful impact in rural healthcare delivery.

• Chrisey Smith, MBA, Healthcare Innovation Supervisor, Well-Ahead Louisiana

The COVID-19 pandemic drove an unparalleled expansion in the use of telemedicine, which policymakers encouraged by easing rules and restrictions. Though the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) officially expired May 11, 2023, many of those flexibilities remain in place. As of today, reimbursements for telehealth continue to evolve. This presentation will review the history of telehealth and how it increased access to rural communities, permanent and temporary flexibilities of telehealth billing that were implemented during the PHE, and the future of telehealth billing now that the PHE has ended.

• Zil Joyce Dixon Romero, State Government Affairs Manager, National Rural Health Association (NRHA)

Attendees will delve into the policies shaping healthcare in rural communities. Attendees should expect to gain valuable insights into what’s happening in Washington, legislative agendas, funding priorities, and regulatory changes affecting providers and patients. Expect a comprehensive examination from the federal perspective – offering a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing rural care.

• Denaé Hebert, MBA, Executive Director, Louisiana Rural Health Association
• Nicole Coarsey, MPA, Rural Health State Officer, Well-Ahead Louisiana