Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

October 10, 2016

MHA Newsline: Oct. 10, 2016

In this issue 

Over 200 people participate in yearlong Mental Health Community Partners Network

More than 200 people from 75 organizations across Minnesota participated in learning opportunities presented in 2016 by the Mental Health Community Partners Network. The network, made possible by the Minnesota Hospital Association’s Partnership for Patients Hospital Engagement Network and the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI), allowed hospitals, clinics and community partners to collaborate while learning about optimal care transitions for patients with mental illnesses.   

Network participants shared their perspectives and lessons learned in a concluding report, available online.   

Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems serve thousands of patients experiencing mental illness and other related conditions. From inpatient acute care to offering outpatient therapy and partnering with local community services, hospitals and health systems are involved at every level of mental health care delivery.  

To learn more about how hospitals, health systems and MHA are working to ensure that Minnesotans with mental illnesses, substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions receive the most appropriate care, visit MHA’s websitereturn to top   

Hospital participation in MHA’s Hospital Improvement Innovation Network meets ACA patient safety standards

MHA has been notified that some members have received letters from health plans requesting verification that the hospital meets Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefit and payment parameters related to quality improvement and patient safety. MHA reminds members that participation in a qualified program, including MHA’s Hospital Engagement Network (HEN)/Hospital ImprovementInnovation Network (HIIN), meets this regulatory requirement. 

As previously noted in Newsline, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Feb. 29 published its final rule regarding Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefit and payment parameters for 2017. Included in the rule are new flexibilities for how hospitals with more than 50 beds improve quality and patient safety through data collection, management and analysis of patient safety events, for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2017.   

Previous versions of the rule required hospitals to partner with a patient safety organization (PSO) to collect safety data. The final rule, however, allows hospitals that are engaging in evidence-based patient safety programs – including national, state, public and private programs – to meet ACA patient safety standards through their existing processes for the collection, management and analysis of patient safety events. Participation in MHA’s HEN/HIIN meets these standards.   

MHA is one of 16 national, regional, state organizations to receive HIIN funding through Sept. 2018-19 to continue this nation-leading work in quality and patient safety. Minnesota will continue to build upon its longstanding, collaborative, dynamic process of both collecting hospital data and disseminating patient safety and clinical care best practices with the goal of improving patient care across the state.   

Hospital and health system chief executive officers and primary patient safety contacts received an email from MHA’s President and CEO Lorry Massa on Oct. 3 with a link to submit the online HIIN commitment letter. With questions or to learn more about participating in MHA’s HIIN, contact Tania Daniels, vice president of quality and patient safety, MHA, 651-603-3517. return to top   

Register for Oct. 20 patient and family engagement webinar

MHA convenes a statewide virtual Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC) webinar on the third Thursday of each month. The next webinar will take place on October 20 from 11 a.m. to noon on the topic of health literacy. 

The Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership defines health literacy as a patient’s ability to obtain, understand and act on health information; and the capacity of health care providers and systems to communicate clearly, educate about health and empower patients. During the webinar, participants will review the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership’s “Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy,” developed in 2016.   

Online registration is required to join the webinar.   

MHA’s virtual PFAC is an inclusive online community for anyone who is involved in a local PFAC in Minnesota. It is open to patient partners, patient and family engagement leaders and anyone passionate about including patients as partners in their care.   

To learn more or submit proposed content for the webinar discussion, contact Joy Benn, quality and patient safety specialist, MHA, 651-659-1441. return to top   

NAMI Minnesota grassroots 40-city tour continues this week

The Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-MN) has embarked on a 40-city tour across the state of Minnesota. Presentations given by Executive Director Sue Abderholden cover the history of the mental health system in Minnesota and seek input from community members about their current needs and hopes for the future of mental health care in the state.   

The events are free and open to the public and MHA members are encouraged to participate as available. Registration is encouraged but not required.   

For more information and a schedule of the tour, visit the NAMI websitereturn to top   

Essential Community Provider applications due Oct. 15

Hospitals that serve predominantly low-income, medically-underserved individuals may submit an application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through Oct. 15 to add their facility to the Essential Community Provider (ECP) list for the 2018 health insurance marketplaces. Eligible hospitals include those that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, critical access hospitals, rural referral centers, disproportionate share hospitals and DSH-eligible hospitals, children’s hospitals, sole community hospitals and free-standing cancer centers. Qualified health plans are required to contract with a minimum percentage of ECPs in their communities. Hospitals that submit applications after the deadline will be considered for the following benefit year. 

With questions, view the FAQs or contact CMSreturn to top

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