In
this issue
MHA
provides guidance on CMS price transparency rule effective Jan. 1
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) FY2019
Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule effective Jan. 1, 2019, will
require hospitals to post their chargemasters and standard charges on their
websites in a machine-readable format.
MHA convened a task force to examine the new regulation and develop recommendations for
members. These resources were provided last week by email to member chief
executive officers, chief financial officers, task force members and primary
communicators.
MHA expects to see ongoing clarifications and further price transparency
efforts from CMS in the future. In addition, a new state law will take effect
July 1, 2019, requiring clinics to post average payments for the most common
procedures. MHA will provide guidance on this requirement in the coming months.
With questions, contact Joe Schindler, vice president of finance, MHA,
651-659-1415. return to top
MHA
Winter Trustee Conference scheduled for Jan. 11-13
The MHA Annual Winter Trustee Conference, themed “Connecting
Care and Communities,” will be held Jan. 11-13 at the Marriott Minneapolis
Northwest in Brooklyn Park. Seven general sessions and 17 breakout sessions
will focus on issues of mental and behavioral health, finance, patient safety
and the future of health care. For more information or to register, download
the conference brochure or
visit the MHA website.
Conference highlights include presentations from best-selling author,
documentarian and mental health advocate Kevin Hines and “Survivor” alumna
Holly Hoffman.
Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 19 years of age,
Kevin Hines attempted to take his own life by jumping from the Golden Gate
Bridge. One of only 34 people to survive the fall, Hines shares the story of
his unlikely survival and strong will to live and spreads the message of living
mentally healthy around the globe.
Holly Hoffman will share her experience of being on the reality TV show
“Survivor” and encourage listeners to think about how to decide to survive
daily. She will share how adversity is not so much contending with problems as
it is learning more about who you really are and what is inside of each of us.
Continuing education
The content of the Winter Trustee Conference has been approved by the Minnesota
Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators for up to 7.5 clock hours.
Hotel at capacity
The Marriott Minneapolis Northwest is at capacity. Please call reservations
coordinator Dana Madich at 763-536-3332 and ask to be added to the waiting list
in case rooms become available.
Reservations are available at the nearby Courtyard Minneapolis Marriott Maple
Grove/Arbor Lakes at 763-425-5355; you will be able to cancel these
reservations if you are moved to the conference hotel. return to top
2019
Rural Residency Planning and Development Program applications due March 9
The Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) is accepting applications for the FY2019 Rural
Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program.
The purpose of this grant program is to develop new rural residency programs or
Rural Training Tracks (RTT) in family medicine, internal medicine and
psychiatry to support expansion of the physician workforce in rural areas. The
new rural residency programs or RTTs are intended to be sustainable through
separate public or private funding beyond the three-year RRPD grant period of
performance. Up to 28 awardees also will receive technical assistance from the Rural Residency Planning and Development – Technical Assistance Center, which was awarded via cooperative agreement in
September 2018, for the duration of the project period.
Hospitals, medical schools and community-based ambulatory settings that have a
rural designation along with consortia of urban and rural partnerships are
eligible to apply for a grant award. Applications are due March 9, 2019.
HRSA will hold a technical assistance webinar on Dec. 17 from
1-2:30 p.m. The webinar will provide an overview of pertinent information and
an opportunity for applicants to ask questions.
Questions about this grant opportunity can be directed to Tracey Smith
and Jemima Drake
at HRSA. return to top