In this issue
Presumptive
eligibility beginning to move forward
In a recent meeting with MHA, the Minnesota Department of Human
Services (DHS) laid out a process for implementing a presumptive eligibility
(PE) enrollment program for potential Medicaid beneficiaries.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires each state to develop a process through
which hospitals can make PE determinations for patients who are likely eligible
for Medicaid benefits. The advantage of PE is that hospitals can get these
patients effectively enrolled in Medicaid before the full application process
is complete.
Although the ACA states that hospitals’ PE authority was to begin Jan. 1, 2014,
DHS has been unable to devote staff time and resources necessary to creating a
PE program until recently. Moreover, the department struggled to identify a way
to begin PE without modifying the online application process through MNsure, a
solution MHA advocated for.
Now, DHS intends to create a PE process that, at least initially, will not rely
on the MNsure website and expects to submit the necessary state plan amendment
to the federal government by March 28. Although the state plan amendment is an
important step toward implementing PE, there remains significant information
technology and processing work that DHS must complete before PE begins. As a
result, the department cannot estimate when it will be ready to process
hospitals’ applications to participate in the future PE program or begin accepting
PE applications.
MHA is pleased DHS is moving forward and seems to understand the importance of
beginning PE enrollments as soon as possible.
Until the PE process is up and running, MHA encourages members to document and
track the services they provide to patients who otherwise might have been
enrolled into Medical Assistance through a PE determination by the hospital.
For more information, contact Matt Anderson, MHA vice president of
regulatory and strategic affairs, 651-659-1421 or Joe Schindler, MHA vice president of finance, 651-659-1415. return to top
US
Senate extends moratorium on enforcement of direct supervision policy
Earlier last week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 1954 that would extend the moratorium on
enforcement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) policy
requiring direct supervision of outpatient therapeutic services. The previous
enforcement moratorium expired on Jan. 1, 2014. If enacted, the bill would
reinstate the moratorium through 2014 for critical access hospitals and rural
hospitals with 100 or fewer beds.
MHA strongly supports S. 1954 because it will provide Congress with additional
time to enact the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act (H.R. 2801/S. 1143 or PARTS Act), which would
create a default standard of “general supervision” for outpatient therapeutic
services delivered in a hospital.
MHA applauded the unanimous vote as a sign of the bipartisan support for
extending the moratorium, as well as a potential indication of similar support
for the PARTS legislation later this year.
For more information, contact Matt Anderson, MHA vice president of
regulatory and strategic affairs, 651-659-1421. return to top
CMS
seeking input on next generation of ACOs
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a request for information (RFI) asking for input
and ideas regarding Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Specifically, CMS is
looking for feedback regarding the Pioneer ACO program and how to increase
participation in that model, as well as suggestions for “new ACO models that
encourage greater care integration and financial accountability.”
The Pioneer ACO program is in its third year. Nine of the original 32 Pioneer
ACOs dropped out of the program last year. All three MHA members that agreed to
be Pioneer ACOs in 2012 — Allina Health, Fairview Health Services and Park
Nicollet Health Services — have continued to stay in the program.
Comments in response to the RFI are due by March 1. MHA intends to submit
comments and encourages members to provide feedback and suggestions to Matt Anderson, MHA vice president of regulatory and strategic affairs,
651-659-1421 no later than Feb.
26. return to top
Mental
health workforce community forums scheduled
Community forums focused on gathering input on the state of
Minnesota’s mental health workforce have been scheduled for late winter and
early spring. HealthForce Minnesota, in conjunction with Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), is holding these forums to gather
information ahead of a state-wide mental health workforce summit on May 28.
MHA members are encouraged to attend their local forum and offer input on the
mental health workforce. HealthForce is seeking specific examples of what barriers
exist to recruiting and retaining mental and behavioral health staff, as well
as possible solutions to these barriers.
Click on the city link for additional information and to register:
- Rochester, Tuesday March 4 1-3 p.m.
- Worthington, Wednesday, March 5 3-5 p.m.
- Willmar, Tuesday, March 18 1-3 pm.
- Brainerd, Wednesday, March 19 3-5 p.m.
- Mankato, Tuesday, March 25 1-3 p.m.
- Duluth, Tuesday, April 29 7:30-9 a.m.
- Moorhead, TBD
- Pine City, TBD
Visit
HealthForce Minnesota’s website for more
information, or contact
Jen McNertney, MHA policy analyst,
651-659-1405.
return to top
Strategies
to help leaders engage and inspire employees at Healthcare Leadership Institute
Jake Poore, founder and president of Integrated Loyalty Systems
in Orlando, Florida, will share proven success strategies and the pitfalls to
avoid as leaders design and execute cultural blueprints for their organizations
at Thursday morning’s opening session at the Healthcare Leadership Institute.
Poore will inspire health care leaders to tap into the power of storytelling to
continuously ignite the hearts and minds of their team members, providers and
volunteers.
Poore spent nearly two decades at the Walt Disney Company helping to train and
align 65,000 employees toward creating memorable experiences for individuals.
He spent the past 15 years fine tuning those blueprints by adding best
practices from leaders in service, such as Southwest Airlines and Ritz-Carlton
Hotels, and applying them to more than 100 top health care organizations.
The conference has been approved for up to 14.25 clock hours Minnesota Board of
Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators.
The Healthcare Leadership Institute is March 5-7 at the Crowne Plaza
Minneapolis West in Plymouth. For more information or to register download the
conference brochure or visit MHA’s website. return to top
CEO,
CFO and CNE salary surveys online
Requests were emailed last week to chief executive officers to
participate in MHA’s annual CEO, CFO and CNE compensation surveys. The survey
results will highlight salary averages by budget size, years in health care,
geographical region, and years in current positions. The broader the survey
participation, the more representative the results.
As always, the reported information will be kept confidential. Results will be
reported in summary form only, with no individual responses identified. This
year, the surveys are being conducted online, and a login and password are
required to complete the survey. The web address, login, and password have been
sent in an email. This was done so hospitals could partially complete the
survey and return to it at a later date without the need to completely fill out
the survey again.
The deadline for completion is Friday,
Feb. 28. The reports will be sent to participants in early May.
Please make sure to specify the email addresses the reports should be sent to.
For questions regarding the survey contact Jonathan Peters, MHA director of data and financial policy, 651-659-1422. return to top
CMS
announces open period for bundled payment model applications
The centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
(CMS) has announced a winter open period for organizations to be considered for
participationin Models 2, 3, and 4 of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement
initiative. The deadline for consideration in April 18, 2014.
The reform initiative pays for episodes of care instead of a fee for service
model. For more information, click here. return to top