In
this issue
Hospitals
contribute $4.9 billion in uncompensated care, health improvement programs to
Minnesota communities
Past five years have seen nearly $1 billion increase in
community benefit
Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems contributed nearly $4.9 billion in
programs and services in 2016 to benefit the health of their communities, an
increase of 7.8 percent compared to 2015, according to the latest annual
Community Benefit Report released by the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA).
“Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems are dedicated to their community
service missions of supporting their communities by promoting physical and
mental health,” said Lawrence Massa, president and CEO of MHA. “Much of what
influences our health happens outside of the doctor’s office – in our schools,
workplaces and neighborhoods. Just as our care teams devote themselves to
meeting the needs of patients in the hospital, our hospitals and health systems
are driven to address their communities’ needs.”
Of the $4.9 billion, Minnesota hospitals provided $567 million in proactive
services responding to specific community health needs, such as health
screenings, health education, health fairs, immunization clinics and other
community outreach, including in the areas of fitness, nutrition, weight loss,
mental health and diabetes prevention.
To learn more and view the full report, visit the MHA website. return to top
MHA
again planning member events for AHA Annual Meeting
Registration is now open for the American Hospital Association
(AHA) Annual Meeting, taking place for May 6-9 in Washington, D.C. The AHA
Annual Meeting includes an extensive list of national speakers with topics
ranging from national politics to trends in hospital leadership. The event also
provides an excellent chance to network with MHA colleagues and health care
professionals from around the country.
MHA will once again be hosting a delegation of MHA members at the meeting. MHA
activities include group dinners on Monday and Tuesday evening and policy
meetings with members of the Minnesota Congressional delegation.
To learn more and register, visit the AHA website. Once you have registered, inform Ben Peltier,
vice president, legal and federal affairs, MHA, 651-603-3513, so he can add you
to the MHA delegation list. Questions about the AHA Annual Meeting may also be
directed to Ben. return to top
2017
Minnesota Hospital Financial Ratio Book now available for MHA members
The 2017 Minnesota Hospital Financial Ratio Book, based on 2016
financial statements, is now available for MHA members. The book contains 27
key financial ratios that hospital administrators, board members and financial
officers need to understand their hospital’s financial standing compared to
their peer groups in Minnesota.
The in-depth report, produced from hospitals’ audited financial statements,
provides unique insight into the current trends different hospital groups face
in Minnesota. The book also includes common-sized financial statements,
allowing hospitals to compare their own statements against those with similar
characteristics. Further, a system-level section is included showing the same
key financial ratios for hospital systems operating in the state.
The following are some of the key summary points in this year’s ratio book:
- Between fiscal year (FY) 2015
and FY 2016, the statewide median hospital operating margin decreased from
3.3 percent to 3.2 percent.
- The statewide median net margin
increased from 3.8 percent to 3.9 percent.
- Liquidity ratios were
relatively stable, but days in patient accounts receivable increased from
51.1 days in 2015 to 53.1 days in 2016.
- The days-cash-on-hand ratio saw
a slight increase, from 34.78 days in 2015 to 38.95 days in 2016.
MHA members may purchase the standard ratio book for $100. For
more information, contact Joe Schindler, vice president, finance, MHA,
651-659-1415. To order the book or customized reports, contact Jennifer Sanislo, division assistant, MHA, 651-659-1440. return to top
DEA
rule expands access to MAT for opioid use disorders
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on
Jan. 23 published a final rule designed
to increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in rural and
underserved areas.
The rule implements a 2016 law allowing nurse practitioners and physician
assistants who meet certain requirements to prescribe and dispense drugs for
the treatment of opioid use disorder, including for maintenance,
detoxification, overdose reversal and relapse prevention. Previously only
physicians could qualify to provide MAT.
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 expanded the category of
eligible providers to include nurse practitioners and physician assistants
until October 2021 to increase access for people in underserved areas. To
qualify, nurse practitioners and physician assistants must be licensed under
state law to prescribe certain controlled substances and complete at least 24
hours of initial training. If state law requires, they also must be supervised
by or work in collaboration with a qualified physician.
Research has shown that more than half of rural counties had no DEA-waivered
physicians in 2016. Rural physicians, nurse practitioners and physician
assistants can get no-cost MAT waiver training online from the Providers’ Clinical Support
System. return to top