In
this issue
Hospital,
health system leaders rally in support of provider tax
Two dozen hospital and health system leaders from across Minnesota, part of the
Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA), on May 2 joined Governor Tim Walz and
Department of Human Services Commissioner Tony Lourey at a meeting and press
conference in support of keeping Minnesota’s health care provider tax in place.
Under current state law, the provider tax, which was created with bipartisan
support 27 years ago, will sunset on Dec. 31, 2019. This 2% tax on health care
providers, hospitals and wholesale drug distributors has been a critical
funding source for affordable health care coverage and has resulted in better
health for Minnesotans across the state.
“These health care leaders care for the real people who will face real
consequences if we allow the provider tax to sunset,” said Walz. “They came
from all four corners of the state – from Winona to Bemidji and from Mora to
Marshall – to stand up for preserving health care coverage.”
Learn more on the MHA website.
Gov. Walz, DHS Commissioner
Lourey visit Lake Region Healthcare
Lake Region Healthcare
hosted a roundtable April 30 with Gov. Walz and DHS Commissioner Lourey to
discuss how the provider tax supports community health care.
“Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems have long advocated for preserving
health care coverage for low-income Minnesotans,” said Kyle Richards, CEO,
Lake Region Healthcare. “The provider tax finances MinnesotaCare and
Medical Assistance, which provide health care coverage for 300,000 people with
low incomes across Minnesota and nearly 17,000 people in our immediate service
area. Hospitals and health systems are willing to pay this tax because we are
dedicated to putting our patients and the communities we serve first.” return to top
HHS
omnibus bill conferees appointed
The Minnesota Legislature is entering the last two weeks of the
session and the focus is on finalizing the two-year statewide budget. The
Senate and House have passed their respective budget proposals, which will now
head to conference committee to reconcile the differences.
The health and human services (HHS) omnibus bill conferees are Sens. Benson,
Abeler, Marty, Jensen and Utke and Reps. Liebling, Moran, Halverson, Schultz
and Hamilton. There are significant differences between the two proposals and
the committee will likely work extensively this week in an effort to reach
agreement on a health and human services budget by May 13, the deadline agreed
to by Gov. Walz and the House and Senate leaders.
With questions, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government
relations, MHA, 651-659-1465, or Kristen McHenry, director of state government
relations, MHA, 651-603-3526.
Session bill tracker
For a complete list of 2019 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
CMS
drafts clarifying guidance on ligature risks
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued draft guidance to clarify previous
instructions regarding standards for addressing ligature risks. Since issuing
its previous interpretive guidelines in 2017, many hospitals and health systems
in Minnesota and across the country have raised questions about the standards
they must meet and the appropriateness of those standards across all settings.
The draft guidance attempts to clarify CMS’s expectations by refining the
definition of what constitutes a ligature risk, establishing a process for
hospitals to request an extension when ligature risk-based renovations within
60 days are impossible or would pose an undue hardship and distinguishing
between requirements for locked and unlocked units. Locked psychiatric units
within psychiatric hospitals, acute care hospitals and emergency departments
must provide a ligature-resistant environment. Unlocked psychiatric units and
general acute-care beds designated for treating physical health conditions do
not have to meet the “ligature-resistant” standard, but the hospital must have
plans for identifying and protecting patients who might try to harm themselves
or others.
MHA is reviewing the draft guidance and will submit comments. In addition to
submitting their own individual comments, MHA encourages members to share their
feedback, questions and concerns with Matt Anderson, senior vice president of policy
and chief strategy officer, MHA, so they can be included in MHA’s comments.
Comments are due to CMS by June 17. return to top
CMS
proposes guidance to ease hospital space-sharing restrictions
Surveyors in other states have taken actions to prohibit
co-location or space-sharing arrangements between hospitals and visiting
specialists or other providers. According to these surveyors’ interpretations,
hospitals sharing space with a specialist or other health care entity had to
demonstrate complete physical and operational separation from the other
provider, including requiring hospitals to build separate entrances, waiting
and receptionist areas and other structural barriers from the hospital’s areas
and services.
MHA, the American Hospital Association and other health care advocacy groups
have highlighted the impracticality and expense of these interpretations and
have urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to clarify its
standards, especially for rural hospitals that rely on and make space available
to visiting specialists as a way to provide access to care that would otherwise
not exist in their communities.
In response, CMS issued draft guidance regarding
co-location or space-sharing arrangements between hospitals and other
providers. The draft guidance would allow hospitals to share entrances, public
areas, hallways, waiting rooms and other common areas with co-located
providers. It also authorizes arrangements for sharing staff under certain
circumstances. Citing infection risks, confidentiality and other patient care
concerns, the draft guidance expects only limited situations in which shared
use of clinical spaces would be appropriate.
MHA is reviewing the draft guidance and will submit comments. In addition to
submitting their own individual comments, MHA encourages members to share their
feedback, questions and concerns with Matt Anderson, senior vice president of policy
and chief strategy officer, MHA, so they can be included in MHA’s comments.
Comments are due to CMS by July 2. return to top
PAC
golf tournament scheduled for July 29
Registration is now open for the Minnesota
Hospital Political Action Committee (PAC) golf tournament. The tournament will
be held on July 29 at Territory Golf Club in St. Cloud. Lunch will be served at
11:30 a.m., shotgun start at 12:30 p.m., with a dinner buffet and awards to
follow at 5 p.m. Please contact Andrea Wombacher, division assistant, MHA,
651-603-3539, for more information and to register. return to top