Rural hospitals are carrying the weight of big-system rules on the shoulders of small towns. The CMS regulations don’t slow down just because your staff is thin, your budget is tight, and your community depends on you. One missed notice, one unclear admission status, one gap in discharge planning—suddenly, compliance, reimbursement, and patient trust are all on the line.
This live webinar puts a spotlight on the real struggles rural teams face every day: juggling IMM and MOON notices, decoding the Two-Midnight rule, navigating Medicare Advantage denials, avoiding social admissions, and more.
You’ll leave with straight-talk strategies that cut through CMS red tape, protect your hospital, and give your staff tools they can actually use. If you’ve ever wondered, “Are we missing something that could put us at risk?”—this session is for you.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the top CMS compliance risks that rural hospitals face today
- Apply the Two-Midnight rule and Condition Code 44 confidently and correctly
- Deliver IMM and MOON notices on time with lean, reliable processes
- Develop discharge planning workflows that safeguard patients and comply with CMS standards
- Partner with revenue cycle staff to ensure compliant billing and reduce denials
- Navigate Medicare Advantage requirements to prevent claim losses and delays
- Strengthen social service support to reduce avoidable admissions
Areas Covered in the Session:
- Cut through CMS jargon and uncover what rural hospitals really need to know today
- Show how to meet utilization review and case management requirements with minimal staff
- Demystify the Two-Midnight rule and Condition Code 44 so they don’t derail your compliance
- Map out the must-do patient notice processes (IMM, MOON) without the last-minute scramble
- Decode the Medicare Advantage changes that could blindside your revenue and patient flow
- Understand how proactive emergency department social services can minimize social admissions
- Learn how partnering with the revenue cycle team promotes compliant billing practices.
- Live Q&A Session
Suggested Attendees:
- Nurse Case Managers
- Social Workers
- Physician Advisors
- Utilization Review Nurses
- Quality and Compliance Coordinators
- Revenue Cycle Managers
- Emergency Department Managers
- Rural Hospital Administrators
- Critical Access Hospital Leaders
Presenter Biography:
Karen Bartrom, MSN, RN, CCM, is an expert nurse case manager and healthcare leader with more than 30 years of experience guiding patients, families, and hospital teams through the most complex corners of America’s healthcare system. Her career has been shaped by decades of service in rural hospitals, where she has led case management, utilization review, social services, and interdisciplinary teams under some of the most resource constrained conditions in the country.
Karen is recognized for her ability to translate complex CMS regulations into transparent, actionable processes that ensure compliance while alleviating the burden on overstretched staff. She has trained physicians, administrators, and frontline professionals on topics ranging from Medicare rules and patient rights notices to discharge planning requirements, physician advisor engagement, payer negotiations, and revenue cycle partnerships.
At the heart of her work is a belief that healthcare navigation should not overwhelm patients or the professionals who serve them. Karen blends real-world expertise with compassion, helping rural hospitals discover practical solutions that improve compliance, reduce denials, and support safe, dignified patient care.
