Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

June 06, 2016

MHA Newsline: June 6, 2016

In this issue 

Dr. Andrew Kopperud honored with MHA Caregiver of the Year Award

The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) in May honored innovative programs and outstanding leaders in health care at its 32nd annual awards ceremony.   

Seventeen awards were given for extraordinary achievement in categories ranging from advocacy on behalf of hospitals and volunteerism to innovation and improvement in patient care and patient safety.   

Dr. Andrew Kopperud of Sanford Westbrook Medical Center received the MHA Caregiver of the Year Award, which recognizes an individual or caregiving team for providing outstanding patient-care services.   

Kopperud has provided quality, patient-centered care for all ages at Sanford Westbrook Medical Center since 2010. Additionally, he is currently chair of seven Sanford Network Clinics, working with providers, clinic staff and administrative staff to support and enhance high standards of quality care at each facility. Kopperud has unselfishly stepped up to help neighboring facilities during times of staff turnover, filling in until permanent staff are hired. Every day, he demonstrates his commitment and passion to helping rural residents and communities keep health care close to home.   In addition to his leadership at Sanford Westbrook Medical Center, Kopperud is a member of numerous civic organizations and work groups related to health care. His commitment to his patients and the community he serves embodies that of a true caregiver.   

Additional award winners will be profiled in upcoming issues of Newsline. To learn more about the award winners, visit the MHA websitereturn to top   

MHA’s mental health agenda moves forward in the legislative process

On June 1, Governor Dayton signed HF 2747, the supplemental appropriations bill for the 2016 legislative session, into law. While attention has focused on items that did not pass, including a bonding bill funding public building projects and a transportation package, some very positive things – particularly MHA’s mental health agenda – made it through the legislative process. There is still uncertainty whether the governor will sign or veto the tax bill and whether he will call a special session to address the unresolved bonding and transportation issues.   

Recognizing that 2016 was scheduled to be a short legislative session with minimal new expenditures being added to last year’s biennial health and human services budget, MHA focused our legislative priorities on some key initiatives aimed at both advancing access to community mental health services and improving the inpatient mental health services provided by the state. We are pleased the following three items advanced by MHA were included in the final bill:   

Passage of the Excellence in Mental Health Act
MHA prioritized passage of the Excellence in Mental Health Act, which was included in the final supplemental budget bill. This legislation will improve mental health and addiction treatment by creating a “one-stop-shop” model of certified community behavioral health clinics providing comprehensive, coordinated and integrated care for both adults and children. Minnesota is competing with 23 other states to be selected as one of eight states for this national demonstration project. Without the state’s funding, Minnesota’s selection would have been unlikely. The bill includes an initial $188,000 for FY 2017 and $8.433 million for FY 2018-2019.   

New funding to increase capacity at Community Behavioral Health Hospitals (CBHHs)
The supplemental appropriation bill includes funding to allow six of the state’s CBHHs to operate at their full capacity by serving 16 patients each. These facilities have been operating at a 10-bed capacity. The bill provides an additional $19.815 million in FY 2017 and $47 million in FY 2018-2019.   

New funding for competency restoration services
One of the biggest challenges facing Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems is the shortage of capacity at the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC). The appropriation bill includes $6.754 million in FY 2017 and $16.846 million in FY 2018-2019 to fund a stand-alone competency restoration program, which would allow for the transfer of patients from AMRTC who no longer need that level of service but who do need competency restoration services to a new facility in St. Peter. This has the potential for AMRTC to treat approximately 20 more patients.   

While these provisions will not solve all the challenges with the delivery of mental health services, these supplemental appropriations will improve Minnesota’s ability to address the growing mental health needs of our state.   

Further detail about the 2016 session will be included in our Legislative Session Report. For additional information, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, or Kristin Loncorich, director of state government relations, MHA. return to top  

Register now for July 25 PAC golf tournament

Registrations are filling fast for the Minnesota Hospital Political Action Committee (PAC) golf tournament. The tournament will be held on Monday, July 25, at Territory Golf Club in St. Cloud. Lunch will be served at noon, shotgun start at 1 p.m., with a dinner buffet and awards to follow at 5 p.m. For information and to register your team, please contact Kristin Loncorich, director of state government relations, MHA, 651-603-3526. return to top   

Mental Health Community Partners Network learning opportunity is June 29

The Mental Health Community Partners Network, a networking opportunity for hospitals, clinics and community partners serving patients with mental illnesses, continues to provide learning opportunities to stakeholders from across Minnesota. The network, made possible by the Minnesota Hospital Association’s Partnership for Patients Hospital Engagement Network and the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI), provides an opportunity to plan for optimal care transitions for patients with mental illnesses.    

The Mental Health Community Partners Network offers events and subject-specific webinars through August 2016 on the topic of care transitions for the following patient population groups: 

  • Patients admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital unit 
  • Those with acute conditions and known mental health diagnoses 
  • Patients with chronic disease who develop mental health conditions 
  • Those who are newly diagnosed with serious mental illnesses 

The next networking event will take place on Wednesday, June 29, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at CentraCare Health Plaza, 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud, MN 56303. Learn more about the event and sign up; registration closes on June 27. For more information, contact Jill Kemper, ICSI, 952-858-8991. return to top

-->