Resources

Outlines a compilation of states' criteria for designation as a necessary provider. Describes how each state has addressed local considerations or unique requirements.

This document outlines four performance management tools: Balanced Scorecard, Baldrige, Lean and Studer. These tools have been identified as effective methods for managing performance improvement with small rural hospitals.

HIT networks can use this tool to assess organizational strengths and weaknesses and identify areas needing attention.

These samples from an HIT network can serve as reference documents for networks interested in incorporating the Balanced Scorecard into their strategic and evaluation planning efforts.

This manual was developed for use by staff and boards of small rural hospitals and clinics as well as state Flex Programs. The content is designed to be as non-technical as possible and provide answers to frequently asked questions regarding CAH, small rural hospital and RHC finance and financial performance.

This guide to Direct connectivity standards is designed to assist health care providers in understanding and implementing health information exchange using Direct protocols. It includes descriptions of technologies used, a glossary of terms and recommendations on implementing Direct.

Determining whether your practice is ready to build or join a HIE can be a challenge. This guide provides some basic information for providers to consider while evaluating options for HIE.

With the changes and transitions in today’s health care environment, it's an important time for rural health care leaders to engage stakeholders in collaborative efforts. This presentation suggests two key ways to enable people to take on new behaviors and offers specific ways to help leaders succeed in truly engaging stakeholders.

View a list of key resources curated by the Technical Assistance and Services Center (TASC) for use by state Flex Programs to support incorporation of performance management into program operations, feeding into program improvement and evaluation

This updated guide provides rural hospital executive and management teams with generally accepted best practice concepts in revenue cycle management. It is also designed to assist State Offices of Rural Health directors and Flex Program coordinators.

This guide is designed to offer small rural hospitals a basic overview of the key models developed to address the transformation from volume to value-based purchasing of health care services. Recommendations and strategies for managing this shift in payment structure are also included to aid rural health providers.

A step-by-step guide for state a Flex Program to prepare for and conduct a CAH site visit.

These policy models are adapted from the Markle Connecting for Health Common Framework for Private and Secure Health Information Exchange. This framework provides several useful tools for HIE; P2 contains much of the necessary policy and procedure language needed for an HIE.

Use this series of leadership tools to enable rural health care leadership teams to examine and clarify roles for achieving performance excellence during the transition to value-based health care. They are geared specifically toward administrative teams, board members and physician leaders.

View the criteria to be eligible to participate in Flex-related activities for Fiscal Year 2020. Learn exceptions and answers to frequently asked questions and access the 2019 MBQIP sample waiver template.

A MOU is required in order for any CAH to participate in MBQIP. Access current and past MBQIP MOU and consent forms as well as descriptions of when to use them.

Resources to support abstracting, submitting, and confirming data submission to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) QualityNet Warehouse, including the CMS Abstraction and Reporting Tool (CART) and reporting specifications manuals. 

Flex Program Fundamentals: An Introduction to the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program is designed to be used by both new and current Flex Program staff: as an orientation manual and as a guide to helpful resources.

Access Flex Program funding guidance, templates, webinar recordings, the Flex Program Structure Document, and other associated materials for the current funding cycle.

Managing the cooperative agreement is one of the primary responsibilities of state Flex Programs and includes: budgeting, cooperative agreement application writing, working with partners, information management, and reporting.