Advocacy
Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) works to develop, promote and implement progressive health policy in the state and nation that benefits hospitals' employees, patients and communities. Our lobbyists work closely with members to bring hospitals' concerns to St. Paul and Washington D.C. MHA strives to partner with health plans, businesses, community groups, providers and others to advance our common interests.

Communications
MHA keeps hospital members, associate members, trustees and auxilians informed about important hospital news in the state through a variety of publications and through this Web site. The association provides communications counsel for members, and information is shared regularly with the media. Outstanding hospital leaders and initiatives are recognized through MHA's annual awards program.

Data and Information Services
MHA provides data resources for members, policy-makers, researchers and others. These resources include annual financial summary data through the Health Care Cost Information System (HCCIS) data project, and administrative claims data. MHA also analyzes policy proposals to gauge the impact on hospitals and their patients.

Education
MHA organizes topical conferences and education programs throughout the year on subjects ranging from the impact of a new piece of legislation to yearly coding and critical-access updates. In addition, the association annually convenes two major conferences for trustees and two for health care leaders.

Finance
MHA provides financial analysis and support to its members in the areas of reimbursement, financial policy and legislative issues.

General Counsel
MHA provides legal and regulatory information to members and their legal counsel on a wide variety of issues including facility licensure, anti-trust topics and Medicare regulations.

Priority Issues
While the concerns facing the hospital community continue to change, a few issues remain priorities:

• Community Benefit: MHA leads efforts to define, document and promote Minnesota hospitals' ongoing commitment to their communities through community benefit activities. In 2008, MHA released the third annual community benefit report that showed the amazing contributions Minnesota's hospitals are making to the health and well-being of their neighbors.
• Emergency preparedness: MHA works closely with the Minnesota Department of Health to promote the state's readiness for emergencies and disasters. Efforts include creating plans, developing policy guidelines and securing resources. Additionally, MHA partnered with the MDH in the development of a statewide trauma system.
• Environment: Hospitals are committed to being good stewards of the environment. MHA works with hospitals to meet complex environmental compliance requirements. Many Minnesota hospitals are supporting a national collaboration to reduce hospital waste.
• Patient safety: MHA develops strategies to advance patient safety in Minnesota. Recent efforts include launching four major safety campaigns aimed at reducing the top reported adverse health events. The association also works with the Minnesota Medical Association and the Minnesota Department of Health as co-founders of the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety.
• Rural issues: MHA addresses the unique concerns of Greater Minnesota hospitals around a variety of issues, employee recruitment, retention and planning, work force, reimbursement and quality. MHA engages and facilitates with national, state and local organizations concerned with rural-health issues.
• Work force: MHA works with partners in education and business to address work-force shortages. Efforts include conducting research, promoting health-care careers with the public, managing a health-care intern program, promoting best practices and serving as a convener.