In
this issue
2016
election review
MHA has reviewed the results of the 2016 election in order to
identify priorities and issues that will be important to members moving into
the next Congress and Minnesota legislative sessions.
On the federal level, Republicans maintained control of the U.S. Senate and
U.S. House. There was no change in the political party makeup of Minnesota’s
congressional delegation, which is comprised of five DFL members and three
Republican members.
Regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the current Congress sent President
Barack Obama repeal language through the budget reconciliation process, which
Obama vetoed. That language would have eliminated the individual mandate, tax
credits for those purchasing insurance in the state's exchange, the ACA’s
Medicaid expansions and penalties for large employers not providing health
coverage. It also would have eliminated the medical device tax and the
“Cadillac” plan tax. Major components of President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to
replace the ACA involve tax credits for individuals purchasing insurance,
allowing people to contribute to health savings accounts tax-free, permitting
people to purchase insurance across state borders and introducing block grant
federal funding to states for Medicaid.
On the state level, Republicans gained control of the Minnesota Senate and
maintained control of the Minnesota house. MHA’s 2017 legislative priorities
will remain consistent, focusing on:
- Health care coverage for all
Minnesotans, for which hospitals and health systems have long advocated
- Mental health, the top public
health issue facing Minnesotans
- Reducing barriers to health
care access
- Health care payment reforms
that reward high-quality, highly efficient providers
MHA encourages members to meet with their local legislators
prior to the start of Minnesota’s 2017 legislative session on Jan. 3.
Legislators appreciate hearing from constituents with personal expertise about
health care issues and issues affecting their community’s hospital, and there
will be a number of new legislators who may need to be oriented to health care
and hospital issues. Resources to support legislative visits are available on
the MHA Member Center, which is username and
password protected.
For login information, contact Ashley Beno,
member services and communications specialist, MHA, 651-603-3545.
More information for members will be forthcoming closer to the legislative
session. For additional support, contact Mary Krinkie,
vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465, or Kristin Loncorich, director of state government relations, MHA,
651-603-3526. return to top
CMS
announces opportunity for partial payment for outstanding inpatient claim
appeals
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering
hospitals an opportunity to pursue an administrative settlement process for
denied inpatient claims. Beginning on Dec. 1, acute care hospitals, including
those paid under the prospective payment system and periodic interim payments,
and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) will have the option to withdraw pending
claims appeals in exchange for partial payments of 66 percent of the net
allowable amount. Only denied claims with dates of service prior to Oct. 1,
2013, with appeals pending before an administrative law judge or the Medicare
Appeals Council are eligible. Hospitals choosing to participate in the 2016
Hospital Appeals Settlement Process cannot choose to settle some claims and
continue to appeal others.
This is the second round of claim settlements. In 2014, CMS reached settlements
with 2,022 hospitals, representing about 346,000 claims. CMS paid hospitals 68
percent of the net allowable amount, approximately $1.47 billion.
The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest to CMS is Jan. 31, 2017. CMS
will host a National Provider Call on Nov. 16 at 12:30 p.m. CST. To register or
for more information, visit MLN Connects Event Registration.
With questions, contact Joe Schindler, vice president of finance, MHA,
651-659-1415, or Briana Nord Parish, policy analyst, MHA,
651-603-3498. return to top
Get
Smart About Antibiotics Week is Nov. 14-20
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
(CDC) Get Smart About Antibiotics Week observance
will be held Nov. 14-20 to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and the
importance of antibiotic prescribing and use. Each year, more than 2 million
people in the United States get infections from germs that are resistant to
antibiotics, and at least 23,000 die as a result.
The single most important action to slow the development and spread of
antibiotic-resistant infections is to improve the way antibiotics are
prescribed and used. Antibiotic stewardship programs and interventions help
ensure that patients receive antibiotics only when absolutely necessary, and
that when they are needed, the correct antibiotic is prescribed in a timely
manner at the right dose and duration. The CDC has developed promotional and educational materials for health care settings
to share with partners and patients. For more information, visit the CDC Get
Smart website. return to top