Final Days to Submit 2015 Catholic Health Assembly Session Presentations
For the 2015 Catholic Health Assembly, June 7-9, 2015, in Washington, DC, CHA is seeking original, thought-provoking proposals to showcase strategies for enhancing the health status of defined populations and entire communities, particularly those that share:
- Successful strategies that health care providers are employing to increase quality, improve the patient experience and reduce costs of care.
- Innovative uses of technology, creative partnerships with Catholic and community social services or new approaches to physician integration.
- Novel methodologies for forming ministry leaders and meeting the needs of poor and vulnerable populations.
Submission Deadline: Sept. 30, 2014
Learn More and Submit a Proposal
Coverage to Care Initiative
From Coverage to Care is an initiative sponsored by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH), to help people with new health care coverage understand their benefits and connect to primary care and the preventive services that are right for them. The initiative is also designed to equip health care providers and staff with information and resources to help them better understand and connect with newly insured patients.
Visit the CMS OMH website to learn more and to access resources.
National Quality Forum Releases Guide for Community Action, Seeks Field Testers
The National Quality Forum (NQF) has released the Guide for Community Action, a handbook designed to promote improvement of health across a population, on the local, regional, state or national levels. Based on research and information from experts about what works to improve population health, the guide is structured around 10 key elements, ranging from a community's readiness to begin a population health program, to prioritizing health improvement activities, and developing a plan for program sustainability.
The NQF has put out a call for groups to field test the Guide. The groups selected for the 18-month field test will participate in a variety of activities such as applying the content of the guide to new or existing population health improvement projects, determining where it works and what needs enhancement and offering examples and ideas for revised or new content, based on their own experiences. They will also have the opportunity to interact with one another and with members of the committee through in-person meetings and monthly conference calls, providing a bi-directional learning opportunity for everyone involved.
The submission process for anyone wishing to be considered as a field testing group will be open Sept. 16 - Oct. 7, 2014. The submission form and additional information regarding selection criteria and expectations for field testing groups is available online.
Internal Revenue Service Releases Draft 990, Schedule H
On Sept. 5 the Internal Revenue Service released the draft IRS Form 990 for tax year 2014, including draft instructions and form for the Schedule H. Comments about the draft form or instructions can be submitted at the Comment on Tax Forms and Publications page on IRS.gov.
AHA 2015 NOVA Award
The American Hospital Association is accepting applications for the 2015 NOVA Award which honors AHA member hospitals and health systems for effective, collaborative programs focused on improving community health. The 2015 Awards will be presented at the AHA's Health Forum Leadership Summit in July 2015. For more information about the application process and to learn about best practices implemented by past winners, visit www.aha.org/nova. Applications are due Dec. 5, 2014.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's National Forum on Hospitals, Health Systems and Population Health
RWJF's National Forum on Hospitals, Health Systems and Population Health: Partnerships to Build a Culture of Health, is bringing together people and organizations representing the various parts of the health care system to discuss the most effective strategies — in development and practice — to improve population health. It is designed to inform and galvanize the field to work across sectors to build a culture of health. Visit the conference website to learn more about the forum and registration.
HRSA Grant Opportunity for Rural Communities
The Health Resources and Services Administration is soliciting applications for the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program (Outreach Program). The Outreach Program is a community-based program targeted to improve outreach and service delivery in local and regional rural communities. The Outreach funding can help rural communities obtain the startup funding needed to test out and prove new approaches to addressing long-standing issues as well as emerging challenges in rural communities. Grantees may be offered targeted technical assistance, at no extra cost, throughout the three years of the grant period to assist in achieving the project's desired outcomes and ensure program sustainability after the grant is over. Applications are due on Nov. 15, 2014. To learn more, visit this page.
What Counts Webinar — Oct. 28
By popular demand, CHA and VHA Inc. are holding a webinar on "What Counts as Community Benefit?" on Oct. 28. Meet the presenters and access the online registration form.
Community Benefit in the News
Recent articles from Catholic Health World featuring community benefit efforts from the across the ministry