In
this issue
MHA
inducted into AHAPAC Hall of Fame
The Minnesota Hospital Association on May 7 was one of 20 state hospital
associations inducted into the American Hospital Association Political Action
Committee (AHAPAC) Hall of Fame during the AHA Annual Meeting. The Hall of Fame
acknowledges state hospital associations meeting their AHAPAC goal for 25
consecutive years.
Randy Ulseth, CEO, FirstLight Health System, Mora, accepted the award on behalf
of MHA from Rick Pollack, president and CEO, AHA. MHA thanks all the PAC
contributors who have helped us meet this goal. return to top
Capital
investment, bonding, opioid, supplemental budget bills move forward
Last week the Senate released its version of the capital
investment bill, SF 4013 authored by Sen. Dave Senjem (R-Rochester), which
includes $30 million for regional behavioral health crisis centers and $50
million in supportive housing for people living with mental illnesses. MHA
strongly supports these two important provisions. The House bonding bill, HF
4404 authored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) includes $25.1 million for
behavioral health crisis centers. MHA prefers the Senate bill, but the biggest
challenge is to encourage legislators to vote in favor of passing a bonding
bill this year. Bonding bills require a supermajority of votes, three-fifths of
the body, with the Senate needing 41 votes and the House needing 81 votes for
passage. MHA members are encouraged to communicate their support for the Senate
version of the bonding bill.
In a strong bipartisan show of support for holding the pharmaceutical industry
at least partially responsible for Minnesota’s opioid crisis, the Senate passed
its version of this year’s opioid legislation on a 60-6 vote. SF 730 authored
by Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Vernon Center) requires pharmaceutical manufacturers and
wholesalers to pay increased registration fees to be able to sell or distribute
opioids in the state, raising an estimated $20 million a year, which will be
used to fund various county expenses relating to child protection and foster
care costs and addiction treatment services. The House bill, HF 1440 authored
by Dave Baker (R-Willmar), currently only includes general fund dollars and is
expected to be taken up on the House floor on Wednesday. Differences in the bills
will need to be quickly resolved in a conference committee.
The conference committee on the supplemental budget bill started to meet last
week. MHA submitted a letter to the committee outlining the
provisions MHA supports as well as the items of concern in the bill.
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.
Session bill tracker
For a complete list of 2018 legislative bills MHA is tracking, visit the MHA Member Center. For assistance accessing the
Member Center, contact Ashley Beno, member services and
communications specialist, MHA, 651-603-3545. return to top
MHA,
hospital leaders meet with Minnesota’s congressional delegation
MHA members and staff traveled to Washington, D.C., for the
American Hospital Association annual conference and to meet with Sens.
Klobuchar and Smith and Reps. Walz, Lewis, Paulsen, McCollum, Emmer, Peterson
and Nolan.
Members shared their efforts to improve care quality and reduce health care
costs, including significantly reducing hospital readmissions resulting in
Medicare and Medicaid savings. They also discussed the impact of opioid abuse
in their communities and highlighted programs to reduce opioid prescribing and
urged federal lawmakers to support legislation that will improve access to
treatment, including expanding the use of medication-assisted treatment.
Additionally, members discussed the importance of the 340B Drug Discount
Program, adequate Medicare payments for telehealth services and the challenges
facing rural health care providers.
With questions, contact Briana Nord Parish, policy analyst, MHA,
651-603-3498, or Ben Peltier, vice president, legal and federal
affairs, MHA, 651-603-3513. return to top
MHA
Summer Trustee Conference to be held July 13-15
MHA’s annual Summer Trustee Conference will be
held July 13-15 at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria. The
conference, themed “Strategies for Effective Governance,” will offer
participants six general sessions and nine breakouts on issues of
transformation, reform, patient safety and the future of health care. National
speakers will present on both practical applications and governance best
practices.
For more information or to register, view the conference brochure. Print copies of the
brochure were mailed to member trustees and chief executive officers last week.
Group accommodations at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center can be booked online. return to top