In This Issue
CHIA House of Delegates Materials Available
Elected delegates from each Component Local Association (CLA) will convene at the House of Delegates (HOD) on Sunday June 11, 2017 at CHIA's annual business meeting. The HOD provides the opportunity for elected delegates to express the desires of its members and provide direction and support of the CHIA association and HIM profession. 

All CHIA members have the opportunity to express their opinions and suggestions. If you have an idea or perspective, contact your CLA President and share your thoughts. 

Visit the CHIA House of Delegates webpage for full details and available materials.
Empower Your HIM Career with the CHIA Convention
Join us for the 2017 CHIA Convention & Exhibit, California's premier HIM event, in downtown Sacramento. The Power of Health Information recognizes health information professionals as stewards of health care's greatest asset, health information

Have you booked your room for #CHIACon17 yet? CHIA has negotiated a group rate with the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, conveniently located next to the Sacramento Convention Center. With a perfect combination of style and comfort, you can count on a relaxing and productive stay while empowering your HIM career. 

Located right across the street from the State Capitol, this contemporary hotel in downtown Sacramento offers passionate hospitality and inviting spaces where everyone gets the VIP treatment. Designed for the modern traveler, the Hyatt Regency Sacramento features spacious rooms and suites, a fitness center, full-service spa, and resort-style pool with a hot tub and cabanas. When you want to explore the area, you're just steps from exciting shopping, theaters, landmarks, and popular attractions, like Old Sacramento and Golden 1 Center. 

Reserve your single/double room for $159 +tax online or call (916) 443-1234 and reference "CHIA" to receive group rate. CHIA rate ends May 10, so book your stay today.

 Convention Advanced Registration closes May 10, register early for best rates.


AHIMA HIM Reimagined Update Webinar
Friday, May 19, 2017, at 10am (PT)

HIM Reimagined (HIMR) is a framework to create future roles for HIM professionals, which builds on AHIMA's foundation and ensures our continued relevance during a time of rapid transition. In 2017, broad-based market research is being conducted to identify jobs of the future in both traditional and new workplace settings. Join us for this May 19 presentation outlining the research plan to inform and identify core and specialty HIM content considerations for future academic program development. The high level timeline of activities undertaken in 2017 and 2018 will be presented to ensure participants are aware of the primary goals of HIMR and learn why this effort is important to each of them personally as well as for the HIM profession as a whole. By working together, both individually and as an association, we can set the stage for the HIM profession to be ready for the future! Register now for this free event. 
What's Happening in HIM This Week
MACRA to Cut Medicare Pay to Hospitals Most: Study
Mark Taylor via Healthcare Financial Management Association; April 4, 2017
 
Hospitals could face larger-than-expected Medicare payment cuts under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), a new study in Health Affairs found. 

Under three different financial scenarios impacting hospital finances under MACRA, the study predicted Medicare hospital cuts could range as high as $250 billion by 2030. The authors said that while MACRA ended a contentious "cycle of deep uncertainty about Medicare payment rates for physicians under the sustainable growth rate (SGR) reimbursement formula," it sparked a different kind of uncertainty. 

While hospital inpatient revenues may diminish under MACRA, Hussey said "there are other ways for hospitals to make their margin, through reducing costs, increasing outpatient revenues, and improving the management of the health of the populations they serve." Read full article.
CMS' Accountable Health Communities Model
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; April 6, 2017
 
Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for applications for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation's (Innovation Center) Accountable Health Communities (AHC) model. Over a five-year period, CMS will implement and test the three-track AHC model to support local communities in addressing the health-related social needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries by bridging the gap between clinical and community service providers. Social needs include housing instability, food insecurity, utility needs, interpersonal violence and transportation. 

Today, CMS has announced the participants for two of the tracks, the Assistance and Alignment Tracks, of the AHC model. By addressing critical drivers of poor health and high health care costs, the model aims to reduce avoidable health care utilization, impact the cost of health care, and improve health and quality of care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The organizations in the AHC Assistance Track will provide person-centered community service navigation services to assist high-risk beneficiaries with accessing needed services. The organizations in the AHC Alignment Track will also provide community service navigation services, as well as encourage community-level partner alignment to ensure that needed services and supports are available and responsive to beneficiaries' needs.
CMS Finalizes 2018 Payment and Policy Updates for Medicare Health and Drug Plans, and Releases a Request for Information
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; April 3, 2017
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released final updates to the Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Programs for 2018. Through these changes, CMS seeks to support benefit flexibility and efficiency that allows Medicare enrollees to choose the care that best fits their health needs.

 "Medicare is committed to strengthening Medicare Advantage and the Prescription Drug Program by supporting flexibility and efficiency," said CMS Administrator Seema Verma, MPH. "These programs have been successful in allowing innovative approaches that give Medicare enrollees options that best fit their individual health needs." (In
Medicare Advantage HCCs and RADV Audits
Thursday, Apr 20 - LIVE Webinar
Developing Best Practices from OCR Audit Protocols & Issue Resolutions
Tuesday, May 2 - Garden Grove
Wednesday, May 3 - Pleasanton
This event location has been canceled
NCHIA Student Night
Thursday, May 11 - LIVE Webinar & Face-to-Face Meeting
Part B Professional Services: Physician Documentation 
and Coding Essentials
Thursday, May 25 - LIVE Webinar
Pre-convention Tutorials
Saturday, June 10 - Sunday, June 11 - Sacramento
CHIA Convention & Exhibit
Sunday, June 11 - Wednesday, June 14 - Sacramento