Political reporter Tom Hauser will close Annual Meeting

KSTP Eyewitness News political reporter Tom Hauser will provide an overview of the Minnesota political landscape and discuss what recent surveys say Minnesotans are concerned about for the upcoming November elections.   

Hauser began covering Minnesota politics for KSTP EYEWITNESS NEWS in 1997. He hosts the 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS "At Issue" public affairs program on Sunday mornings.

The MHA Annual Meeting will be held Sept. 17-19 at Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd. return to top  

MN hospitals job shadow list updated

The list of Minnesota hospitals currently offering job shadow opportunities has been updated. As a career exploration strategy, job shadowing offers individuals the opportunity to gain realistic insight into health care careers. Unlike interning or working, job shadowing entails mainly observation and is typically defined for a short time frame. 

To view a list of hospitals currently offering job shadow opportunities, click here.   

If you would like your hospital added to the list of hospitals offering job shadowing opportunities, contact Nathalie Squire, MHA workforce project manager, 651-603-3540. return to top   

Member news: Kenneth D. Holmen named CEO of CentraCare Health

CentraCare Health in St. Cloud has named Kenneth D. Holmen, M.D. as president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, 2015.   

Dr. Holmen has been vice president of physician strategies and business development for HealthPartners since 2004. During that time, he was also chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs for Regions Hospital.   

Dr. Holmen will replace Dr. Terry Pladson, who is retiring Dec. 31 after 12 years as CEO of CentraCare. return to top   

U.S. House votes to extend moratorium on direct supervision for outpatient therapeutic services

The U.S. House passed legislation (H.R. 4067) that would extend the enforcement moratorium on the outpatient therapeutic services “direct supervision” policy through 2014 for critical access hospitals and rural prospective payment system hospitals with 100 or fewer beds. The Senate version passed with unanimous consent last February.   

The enforcement moratorium expired on Jan. 1.   

H.R. 4067 places a moratorium on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from enforcing the policy for 2014 and potentially gives Congress more time to enact additional legislation that would adopt a default standard of “general supervision” for outpatient therapeutic services, such as H.R. 2801/S. 1143, the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act. This legislation is supported by the American Hospital Association.   

Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and representatives Tim Walz, Collin Peterson and Rick Nolan have signed onto S. 1143 and H.R. 2801 respectively.   

MHA developed and previously distributed to members a tool for members to better understand and adapt to the various elements of the direct supervision requirements.   

For questions, contact Matt Anderson, MHA senior vice president, policy and strategic affairs, 651-659-1421 or Ann Gibson, MHA vice president, federal relations and workforce, 651-603-3527. return to top     

CentraCare locations to drop Humana

CentraCare Health officials cite a two year struggle to resolve a multitude of issues with Humana’s Medicare Advantage product which has resulted in the decision to drop participation with the plan as of Jan. 1, 2015. This decision affects all CentraCare facilities with the exception of CentraCare Health – Monticello.   

Issues impacting the decision are related to timely and appropriate patient care, as well as inaccuracies in the reimbursement process.   

For questions, contact Joe Schindler, MHA vice president of finance, 651-659-1415. return to top     

MAPS Award application deadline extended

The due date for the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS) Awards nominations has been extended to Monday, Sept. 29.   

Open to MAPS members and non-members, the MAPS Awards aim to highlight, support and disseminate patient safety best practice implementations. The emphasis for the 2014 awards are:      

• Safety across settings of care 
• Measuring safety progress 
• Transitions of care 
• Culture (including teamwork and communication) 
• Patient engagement    

Recipients will be recognized at the 2014 MAPS conference: Safe Care Everywhere, held Oct. 22-24 at the Marriott Minneapolis Northwest in Brooklyn Park.   

For more information on the MAPS Awards criteria and nomination process, click here. For more information on the MAPS conference, view the conference brochure or click here to register. return to top  

MERC grant opportunity available

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is accepting Medical Education and Research Costs (MERC) grant applications for clinical training provided in fiscal year 2013 through Minnesota teaching institutions with accredited teaching programs providing clinical training for: 

• advanced practice nursing 
• clinical social workers
• community health workers 
• community paramedics 
• dental students/residents dental therapists/advanced dental therapists 
• chiropractic students 
• medical students/residents pharmacy students/residents 
• physician assistants 
• psychologists   

MERC grant applications are due Oct. 31 by 4 p.m. Click here for grant application materials and eligibility requirements. For questions, contact Diane Reger, MDH Medical Education and Research Cost program, 651-201-3566. return to top