Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

August 27, 2013

MHA Newsline

In this issue:

Hospital spotlight: St. Cloud Hospital trustee recognized for his leadership

The MHA Trustee of the Year Award, awarded earlier this year, recognizes a hospital leader who has contributed significantly to the health of the community by providing leadership and guidance to the hospital or health system board. Steve Laraway has been a champion for St. Cloud Hospital since joining the board in 2005, serving as chair since 2011. According to St. Cloud Hospital President Craig Broman, Steve understands the importance of the board role in strategy development, policy making, monitoring performance and protecting the reputation of the organization. He invites the input of every board member and facilitates meetings to be respectful of everyone’s time and commitment. During Steve’s tenure on the board, St. Cloud Hospital has completed a $223 million, 360,000-square-foot addition that includes a new endovascular suite and numerous operating rooms, family birthing center, intensive care unit and cardiovascular thoracic unit. return to top 

MNsure board takes control, advertising campaign launched, and functionality details revealed

While its advertising campaign featuring Paul Bunyan captured the most media attention, the new MNsure organization had a significant week as its governing power was formally transitioned from the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget to the MNsure board of directors. Perhaps most substantively and receiving the least amount of attention, MNsure released new details regarding the level of functionality Minnesotans, health systems, plans and other stakeholders can expect when MNsure begins operations on Oct. 1. Click here for details.  

Some of the new information that is important for Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems includes the following:

  • State public program enrollment through MNsure will be a two-stage process initially. Residents will be able to have eligibility determinations made and complete enrollment in Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare through MNsure. However, enrollees will be preliminary assigned to a managed care organization and then receive subsequent communications from the Department of Human Services with information about their options to select among available managed care organizations and instructions about how to change the default plan.
  • Quality information about providers and available Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) sold through MNsure will not be displayed on MNsure’s website until spring or summer of 2014.
  • QHPs’ provider networks are not expected to be included on MNsure’s website. MNsure hopes to use hypertext links or other instructions about where consumers can find plan-specific provider network directories.

Over the next two weeks, MNsure will be sending information to all Minnesota employers alerting them to notices they are required by federal law to provide to employees this fall.

MNsure expects to appoint members of two new advisory groups – one comprised of health industry experts and the other comprised of consumers and small business representatives – in late September.

Training and certification processes for the Consumer Assistance Partners (CAP) program are expected to begin any day. MNsure is working on communications to CAP applicants that will provide additional details and instructions about these processes. For the most up-to-date information on MNsure, MHA encourages you to sign up to receive MNsure email updates. return to top  

MHA seeking member services & communications specialist

MHA has a job opening for a member service & communications specialist to join our communications team. The member services & communications specialist is an integral part of the communications and PR team in providing service and communications to our members, including the CEOs of our member hospitals. The member services & communications specialist will support the communications team by bringing together the ability to manage our detailed membership database and the communication skills to assist with member communications.  

The successful candidate will be detailed oriented and able to bridge the IS/IT functions, member communications and the end-user experience on our website. A detailed job description is available on our website. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6. return to top

CMS approves CIHQ as accrediting organization for acute care hospitals

The Center for Medicare Services (CMS) has approved the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) as a national accrediting organization for acute care hospitals. CIHQ becomes the nation’s fourth hospital accreditation provider, joining the ranks of the Joint Commission, DNV Healthcare and the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.  

CIHQ’s accreditation program is based on the Medicare Conditions of Participation for Acute Care Hospitals (42CFR) and the interpretive guidance in the CMS State Operations Manual. There are additional standards that address key patient safety and quality concerns. CIHQ also offers disease specific certification in the areas of hip/knee surgery, heart failure and primary stroke center. For further information about CIHQ’s hospital accreditation program, visit www.cihq.org. return to top  

2013 Minnesota Hospital Financial Ratio Book available

The 2013 Minnesota Hospital Financial Ratio Book, based on 2012 financial statements, is now available for MHA members. The book contains the key 27 financial ratios that hospital administrators, board members and financial officers need to understand their hospitals’ financial standing compared to their peers groups in Minnesota. The in-depth report is produced from hospitals’ audited financial statements, and it provides unique insight into the current trends different hospital groups face in Minnesota.  

The book also includes common-sized financial statements for the various critical groups in the state, allowing each hospital to compare its own statements against those of various groups. Further, a system-level section is included showing the same 27 key financial ratios for hospital systems operating in the state.  

Following are some of the key summary points in this year’s ratio book:

  • Between fiscal year (FY) 2011 and FY 2012, the statewide median operating margin decreased from 3.2 percent to 2.8 percent.
  • The statewide median net margin increased from 3.9 percent to 4.0 percent.
  • The state median return-on-equity ratio decreased from 6.5 percent in FY 2011 to 6.4 percent in FY 2012.
  • Liquidity ratios showed a slight improvement, and days in patient accounts receivable decreased from 51.1 days in 2011 to 51.09 days in 2012.
  • The day’s cash-on-hand ratio increased slightly, from 27.92 days in 2011 to 34.22 days in 2012.

The standard ratio book costs $100, and customized peer-group reports are $50 for MHA members. For more information, contact Jonathan Peters, MHA director of data and financial policy, 651-659-1422. To order the book or customized reports, contact Jennifer Sanislo, MHA division assistant, 651-659-1440. return to top  

Sponsors help deliver quality Annual Meeting

With less than a month to go before the MHA Annual Meeting, many key sponsors have already committed to helping MHA deliver another quality program. MHA would like to thank the following sponsors for their generosity and continued commitment to Minnesota health care. For more information about sponsorships, contact Cari Kronschnable.  

Gold Sponsors

  • BMO Harris Bank
  • CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
  • McGladrey LLP
  • McGough Construction
 
Silver Sponsors
  • Dougherty & Company LLC
  • Eide Bailly LLP
  • Experienced Resources
  • HermanMiller Healthcare Nemschoff
  • HGA Architects & Engineers
  • JE Dunn Construction
  • Knutson Construction
  • Kraus-Anderson Construction Company
  • Leonard, Street and Deinard, P.A.
  • Link Executive Search
  • Marsh Memorial Blood Centers
  • Meridian Leasing Corporation
  • Mortenson Construction
  • Nor-Son, Inc.
  • NXC Imaging
  • Wipfli LLP
  • Witt/Kieffer  

Bronze Sponsors

  • B.E. Smith
  • Boldt Construction
  • Delta Medical Systems
  • Ideal Protein
  • Sanford Health

For more information on the MHA Annual Meeting, view the full brochure or visit MHA's website.  

Continuing Education

The Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators has approved the conference content for a total of 9.5 clock hours. return to top 

MN Hospital PAC golf open held

MHA members and health care supporters hit the links Monday to bolster the mission of Minnesota hospitals and help raise funds for the Minnesota Hospital Political Action Committee (PAC) and American Hospital Association (AHA) PAC.  

Proceeds from the event help state and federal candidates from both political parties who support the goals of hospitals.  

The Minnesota Hospital PAC and AHA PAC would like to congratulate the following 2013 tournament winners:  

Team competition

  • First place, with a score of 56: Mary Edwards, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis; Chuck Moody, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis; and Nate Mussell, Lockridge Grindal Nauen.
  • Second place, with a score of 58: Brad Beard, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis; Dr. Doug Olson, Minneapolis Radiation Oncology; John Doherty, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis; and Jack Dressen, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis.
  • Third place — in a score card playoff — with a score of 60: Ty Erickson, Regina Medical Center; Bob Verchota, Regina Medical Center; Bob Fitzgerald, Kraus-Anderson Construction; and Craig Boyer, Sanford Bemidji.

If you missed the golf event, it is not too late to participate in the Minnesota Hospital PAC. The PAC will hold its annual silent auction during the MHA Annual Meeting on Sept. 18 at Madden’s in Brainerd.  

For more information about the PAC, contact Kristin Loncorich, MHA director of state government relations, 651-603-3526. return to top 

North Memorial Health Care names new CFO

North Memorial Health Care has named Todd Ostendorf as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ostendorf joined North Memorial on Aug. 19, 2013.   

Prior to joining North Memorial, Ostendorf served as CFO of UnitedHealth Group’s Evercare and Inspiris business units which specialize in providing care to those living with chronic illness as well as end-of-life care. His other financial leadership experience includes positions at SUPERVALU, US Bank and Northwest Airlines. return to top 

First Contact metro meeting held

The Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA) held the last meeting of its First Contact Road Show last Thursday in Maplewood. The meeting detailed changes made during the 2013 legislative session to hospital discharge protocols for adults over 21 discharged to a nursing home. Hospitals discharging patients to Medicaid-certified nursing homes will need to complete an expanded pre-admission screening referral form and submit that form online or via fax to the Senior LinkAge Line (SLL). This is required regardless of the payer source. In addition, there is no longer a 30 exemption for the screening. Swing beds are included, but facility to facility transfers are not. First Contact begins Oct. 1, 2013.  

Upon the referral being made to SLL, the hospital will receive a confirmation number that SLL will also enter into the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). This confirmation number will need to be shared with the admitting nursing home so it is aware a referral has been made. There is no mandated process for how this information sharing should occur. Hospitals are encouraged to think of this confirmation number as another piece of information to include in their discharge paperwork. Hospitals are also encouraged to continue their partnerships with nursing homes by working directly with them to determine an information-sharing process. The referral process can begin before discharge to help ensure a confirmation number is secured and the patient can be discharged more quickly to the nursing home. 

In an effort to streamline the discharge process with this new form, the Minnesota Board on Aging will make the form fields available to hospitals for inclusion in their electronic medical records.  

Finally, the meeting also reviewed changes to the nursing home level of care eligibility beginning Jan. 1, 2014. These changes are reflected in the new referral form hospitals will be completing.  

More information and handouts can be found online here. For questions, please contact Jen McNertney, MHA policy analyst, 651-659-1405. return to top 

Annual Childhood Injury Conference spotlights critical topics to protect Minnesota’s children

The fifth annual Childhood Injury Summit will offer fresh perspectives and effective tools and strategies to help prevent unintentional injuries among Minnesota’s children. Presented by Safe Kids Minnesota, the Minnesota Safety Council and the Minnesota Department of Health, the event is designed for those involved in childhood injury prevention through public health and health care, public safety, not-for-profit organizations and any program with a focus on children. Please share this opportunity with relevant individuals within your organization.  

The event takes place Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., at the Como Park Visitor Center in St. Paul. Registration is $40 through Sept. 6, and then increases to $50. Detailed information about sessions and speakers is available here, or contact Erin Petersen, Safe Kids Minnesota/Minnesota Safety Council at 651-228-7314 or 800-444-9150.   

Support for the conference is provided by several MHA members, including Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Hennepin County Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, North Memorial Medical Center, Regions Hospital, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, and the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. return to top  

Upcoming training sessions related to health care reform

In its latest Health Reform Updates email, the Minnesota Department of Health announced the following education opportunities.

  • Patient experience webinar for providers and clinics: “Statewide Quality Reporting: Building the Bridge to Better Care through Patient Experience Data,” Aug. 28, 7:30-9 a.m. Hosted by the Minnesota Medical Association. Register here.
  • Health Care Homes Learning Collaborative webinar: “Making Connections: Introducing a Toolkit to Assist in Working with Patients with Complex Needs,” Aug. 29, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Register here.
  • Hypertension Management Workshop, Sept. 17 in Willmar and Sept. 18 in Marshall. Presented by Health Care Homes, Community Transformation Grant, and Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Unit. Register here.
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