Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

April 22, 2019

MHA Newsline: April 22, 2019

In this issue 

MHA receives HIIN extension

MHA on March 28 received a three-month Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN) extension through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Additionally, MHA expects to receive an additional nine-month extension, which will allow MHA’s HIIN work to continue through March 2020.   

The extension will continue to build on MHA’s current HIIN work toward the goals of a 20% reduction in hospital-acquired conditions and a 12% reduction in readmissions. MHA’s Quality and Patient Safety Committee oversees the HIIN work.   

Currently, 130 hospitals and health systems participate in MHA’s HIIN by implementing resources including best practice road maps. The MHA quality and patient safety team conducts site visits and provides subject matter expertise to assist members in their HIIN efforts.   

For more information, contact Kristy Wagner, quality and patient safety coordinator, MHA, 651-659-1417. return to top   

HRSA offers grants to develop rural maternal care networks

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a new grant opportunity for the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program (RMOMS). Applications are due May 24.   

The program intends to demonstrate the impact on access and continuity of maternal and obstetrics care in rural communities through testing models that address focus areas of rural hospital obstetric service aggregation, network approach to coordinating a continuum of care, leveraging telehealth and specialty care, and financial sustainability.   

For the purposes of this program, the applicant must have a network composition that includes at least two rural hospitals or critical access hospitals; at least one Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or FQHC look-alike; state Home Visiting and Healthy Start programs, if regionally available; and the state Medicaid agency.   

HRSA will be hosting a webinar on April 30 at 1 p.m. CDT for eligible organizations interested in applying for the grants. With questions about this funding opportunity, contact [email protected].   

Sen. Tina Smith’s office has offered to write a letter of recommendation to HRSA on behalf of Minnesota organizations that apply for the grants. To request a letter, contact Lindsay McLaughlin, outreach director. return to top