In this issue
MHA
priority bills introduced
Last week, two bills advocated for by MHA were
introduced. The first bill is MHA’s telemedicine proposal. This
legislation would expand health insurance coverage to include telemedicine
visits, coverage that is inconsistent currently.
Telemedicine is an increasingly used technology to bring health care resources,
including specialists, to people and communities that otherwise would have
difficulty accessing them. The technology has been shown to increase access to
health care services, improve health outcomes for patients and reduce health
care costs (S.F. 981 – Sen. Rosen – Fairmont).
The second piece of legislation sought by MHA will address our members’ growing
concerns about workplace violence. This legislation will create a new
definition of a “patient care zone” to include hospitals, nursing homes and
hospice care facilities. This “safe zone” legislation would allow for an
enhanced penalty for individuals convicted of committing certain crimes in the
“patient care zone.” This is modeled after existing laws applicable to schools,
parks and public housing zones (H.F. 1088 – Rep. O’Neill – Buffalo).
Hearings of interest this
week
On Monday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee was meeting at noon
to complete work on legislation to require race, language and ethnicity data be
collected as part of quality reporting.
On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at noon to consider the
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact for physicians (S.F. 253 – Sen. Sheran –
Mankato) and legislation proposed by AARP MN to require hospitals to train the
designated caregiver (S.F. 107 – Sen. Eken – Twin Valley.)
On Wednesday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will meet to hear
the policy portions of the governor’s budget bill (S.F. 825 – Sen. Lourey –
Kerrick.) The House Health and Human Services Reform Committee will hold an
overview hearing at 2:45 p.m. on the Department of Human Services’ oversight of
MNsure eligibility determinations for public programs.
On Thursday, the House Health and Human Services Committee will hold a hearing
at 12:45 p.m. on legislation to appropriate money to the Department of Human
Services for education on the Safe Place for Newborns Law (H.F. 825 – Rep.
Peterson – Lakeville.)
On Friday, the House Aging and Long Term Care Policy Committee will hold a
public hearing in Faribault on aging and long-term care issues.
For a complete list of 2015 legislative bills MHA is tracking, visit the Member Center. For assistance accessing the
Member Center, contact Ashley Gauster, MHA member services and
communications specialist, 651-603-3545. return to top
Behavioral
Health Home meeting scheduled for March 2
MHA and the Department of Human Services (DHS) will co-host a
meeting to discuss Behavioral Health Homes (BHH) and how hospitals and health
systems may work with this integrated primary care model. The meeting will be
on Monday, March 2 from 10-11 a.m. at the DHS Andersen Building in St. Paul.
Members are encouraged to send behavioral health directors and/or directors of
nursing to attend the meeting.
Behavioral Health Homes are Minnesota’s first demonstration of the health home
model authorized in the Affordable Care Act. The BHH model “will operate under
a ‘whole person’ philosophy and assure access to and coordinated delivery of
primary care and behavioral health services for adults and children with
serious mental illness.”
More information on BHH is available here. Contact Jen McNertney, MHA policy analyst, 651-659-1405, for more information and
to RSVP. return to top
Patient
Safety Awareness Week highlights importance of being ‘United in Safety’
Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 8-14,
an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety. This year’s
theme, United in Safety, underscores the importance that everyone in the health
care process plays a role in delivering safe care, from patients to care
providers to leaders in administration. The underlying focus of this campaign
is patient engagement and the importance of the relationship between providers
and patients and their families.
The theme echoes the message of a new campaign from MHA, Include Always™,
which aims to transform health care by authentically engaging patients and
families at all levels within hospitals. Join MHA April 21 and 22 to learn ways
to improve patient and family engagement at your hospital. To learn more or to
register, view the conference brochure. The program is limited to
200 participants. For questions, contact Karen Olson, MHA patient safety and quality
coordinator, 651-603-3521. return to top
Fairview
Health Services program honored by American Hospital Association
Fairview Health Services’ Youth Grief Services program was
selected as the recipient of the 2015 American Hospital Association’s (AHA)
Hospital Awards for Volunteer Excellence (HAVE). The HAVE Award celebrates the
contributions and value of hospital volunteers – women and men who work
tirelessly on behalf of their patients and communities. The program will be
honored at the AHA’s annual meeting on May 4.
Youth Grief Services (YGS) is a community outreach program that offers hope and
healing to families after the loss of a loved one. YGS works with adults and children
separately, giving them the tools they need to heal. Twice a year, YGS offers
seven-week grief support and education sessions for children and teens and
separate, simultaneous sessions for parents and caregivers. Read more about the
program here. return to top
Member
news: Swift County-Benson Hospital CEO retiring
Frank Lawatsch, CEO of Swift County-Benson
Hospital is retiring. He will be honored at a reception Friday, Feb. 27 from
3-6 p.m. at Swift County-Benson Hospital in Benson, Minn. During his 17-year
tenure, Frank has been an active member of MHA, including serving on the Board
of Directors and the Minnesota Hospital PAC Board. He is a past member of the
Small, Rural Hospital Committee as well as the Policy and Advocacy Committee.
MHA is grateful to Frank for his many contributions over the years. return to top