Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

July 17, 2017

MHA Newsline: July 17, 2017

In this issue

Regions Hospital honored with MHA Community Benefit Award

MHA on June 2 honored innovative programs and outstanding leaders in health care at its 33rd annual awards ceremony.   

Regions Hospital in St. Paul received the Community Benefit Award in the large hospital category, which recognizes hospitals for working beyond their physical walls to improve the health and well-being of their communities.   

Regions Hospital was recognized for its Lee and Penny Anderson HeroCare for Veterans program. Launched in 2014, HeroCare is the first program of its kind in Minnesota. It allows veterans and military members who may not qualify for state or federal veteran services to get help and resources during inpatient hospitalization or partial hospitalization.   

HeroCare offers evidence-based treatment to meet the specific needs of veterans. The program includes a specialist who is a military veteran and an expert at navigating military benefits and resources. The specialist assists patients and their families by connecting them with financial, housing and employment assistance.   

Since it was introduced, HeroCare has exceeded expectations, providing services for more than 1,700 people throughout all units of the hospital, including the Birth Center. Not only does this impact the veteran and his or her family directly, it impacts the community by creating a dialogue to educate citizens, reduce stigma about mental illness and promote awareness.   

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

Senate Republicans release revised health care bill

Senate Republicans on July 13 released a revised health care bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). MHA remains opposed to the revised health care bill. In addition to previous concerns about the previously proposed Better Care Reconciliation Act’s (BCRA) Medicaid cuts and reduced funding for Medicaid expansion, the revised bill also reduces coverage for essential benefits by allowing insurers to sell plans that offer fewer benefits than currently required under the ACA, as long as they also sell plans that do comply with all ACA requirements.   

MHA has long advocated for meaningful health care coverage for all Minnesotans that includes all essential health care services. We cannot support a return to a system that increases our rate of uninsured; re-creates a reliance on the emergency room; and discourages preventive care, mental health care, routine screenings and other health care throughout a person’s lifetime.   

As of today, there is no vote scheduled to start Senate consideration and the CBO has delayed its latest analysis of the bill’s amendments. With questions, contact Ben Peltier, vice president of legal and federal affairs, MHA, 651-603-3513. return to top   

Minnesota Senate Select Committee on Health Care Consumer Access and Affordability convenes

Last week, the state Senate Select Committee on Health Care Consumer Access and Affordability met for the first time. The committee, chaired by Sen. Scott Jensen, M.D. (R-Chaska) plans to meet through the summer and fall to develop recommendations for the legislature. Other members of the select committee include Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Vernon Center), vice chair; Sen. Melissa Wiklund (DFL-Bloomington), minority lead; Sen. Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake); Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake); Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake); Sen. Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato); Sen. Matt Klein (DFL-Mendota Heights), M.D.; and Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL- Austin).   

The committee heard presentations on the health care marketplace in Minnesota from state agencies including the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Department of Human Services and the State Employee Group Insurance Program.   

Jensen listed a number of topics the committee plans to address in the coming meetings, including fee schedules, imaging costs, essential health benefits, pre-existing conditions, end-of-life care, reporting, rules, regulations, pharmaceuticals, opioids and tort reform.   

With questions, 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   

Ridgeview Medical Center names new president and CEO

Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia has selected Michael Phelps as its new president and CEO, replacing Robert Stevens, who will retire on Dec. 31 after leading the organization for 21 years.   

Phelps has worked for Ridgeview for 13 years and has held a number of executive positions in the organization, including serving as vice president of diversified services from 2006-10, chief administrative officer from 2010-13 and chief operating officer since 2013. His involvement with MHA has included serving on the State Public Programs Advisory Group and the MHA Provider Payment Work Group. return to top   

PFE workshop to be presented in northeast Minnesota

A workshop designed to help hospitals meet the goals for patient and family engagement (PFE) set forth under the Partnership for Patients initiative will be delivered at Lake View Hospital in Two Harbors on Aug. 15 from 9:45 a.m. – 3 p.m.   

Patient- and family-centered care is a key strategy for delivering better care and achieving better patient experience at a lower cost. This workshop will provide strategies, resources, networking and tools for hospitals to create and maintain a culture of patient- and family-centered care.   

The workshop is free and open to participants from across Minnesota. Leaders and staff interested in exploring or strengthening PFE efforts and members of patient and family advisory councils (PFAC) are especially encouraged to attend. The workshop content is suitable for hospitals at any stage of the PFE journey.   

To learn more and register, view the brochure or event pagereturn to top   

Upcoming class action settlements for hospitals

Managed Care Advisory Group, LLC (MCAG) –MHA’s class action services strategic partner – has identified several pending class action settlements in which many Minnesota hospitals are eligible to participate. MCAG is available to assist interested MHA members in identifying and recovering funds from class action settlements. The following class action settlements may be applicable to MHA members: 

  • Optical Disk Drive (ODD) Settlement – $180 Million – claim filing deadline 8/1/2017: Health care organizations in Minnesota that purchased products containing an ODD (desktop computers, laptops or stand-alone ODDs) anytime from April 2003 through December 2008. 
  • Lithium Ion Batteries Settlement – $64.45 Million – claim filing deadline 11/29/2017: Health care organizations in the United States that purchased lithium ion battery products including, but not limited to, computers, mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders. 
  • Blood Reagent Antitrust Litigation – $22 Million – claim filing deadline TBD: Any hospital that purchased blood reagents directly from Ortho or Immucore from November 2000 to October 2015. 
  • Menactra (Sanofi vaccine) Antitrust Settlement – $61.5 million – claim filing deadline TBD: All persons or entities in the United States and its territories that purchased Menactra directly from defendant Sanofi Pasteur Inc. (“Sanofi”) or any of its divisions, subsidiaries, predecessors or affiliates, such as VaxServe, Inc., during the period from March 1, 2010 through and including Dec. 31, 2014. 

As additional opportunities arise, MCAG and MHA will provide details to Minnesota hospitals through MCAG’s website for MHA members and a through an MHA listserv established to alert MHA members to class action settlement information.    

To be added to the class action settlement listserv or for more information about MCAG services, contact Ben Peltier, vice president of legal and federal affairs, MHA, 651-603-3513. return to top   

Medicaid community conversation to be held July 18

A community conversation on Medicaid will take place on July 18 from 6:45-8:15 p.m. in Cottage Grove. The event will review proposed changes to Medicaid and how they could affect Minnesotans. Event attendees include Sens. Dan Schoen and Matt Klein; Reps. Rick Hansen, Keith Franke and Tony Jurgens; and guest speaker Lynn Blewett of the University of Minnesota’s Division of Health Policy and Management.  

The events are sponsored by a coalition of organizations called “This is Medicaid.” MHA members that are part of the coalition include Allina Health, Children’s Minnesota and Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. To learn more and register, view the event flierreturn to top   

Nominations open for March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards

Nominations are open for the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards. The awards honor nursing excellence and pay tribute to the tireless efforts of nurses throughout the community.   

Through July 23, nurses are nominated by colleagues, supervisors or the families they have served. All nominees are notified to complete their application by Aug. 15. In September, the top five finalists for each of the 17 awards categories will be announced. Awards will be presented at a breakfast celebration on Oct. 6.   

The Nurse of the Year Awards are way to recognize selflessness, dedication and passion for the profession of nursing. To learn more and nominate a nurse, visit the March of Dimes websitereturn to top   

MHA mourns loss of Earl Dresser

Longtime Park Nicollet hospital administrator Earl Dresser died July 7 at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.   

Dresser began his career at Asbury-Methodist Hospital, now Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, and served as assistant administrator from 1949 to 1959. His career took him to Illinois and Wisconsin before he returned to Minnesota in 1966 as president of Methodist Hospital, a position he held until his retirement in 1986.   

Dresser was an active participant in MHA during his career. He served as president of MHA in 1974 and received the MHA Distinguished Service Award in 1986. A memorial service was held July 17 at 11 a.m. Read the full obituaryreturn to top

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