In this issue:
Minnesota
Crisis Link website now available
Minnesota has launched
a Crisis Link website to connect people in crisis, including mental
health and substance abuse, to services. The website identifies services by the
location of the searcher and includes a live chat service.
The Crisis Link
website is an important online resource for finding services for people in
mental health crisis. Additional resources include:
Hospitals and clinics
are encouraged to make the Crisis Link website, local crisis line numbers and Fast-Tracker information available to patients and their
families. The information can be posted, available as a handout in the waiting
room or offered in other ways. return to top
MDH state suicide prevention RFP released
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released two
suicide prevention training RFPs, one statewide that includes training in
interventions after a suicide and one community-based. During the last
legislative session, additional suicide prevention funds were allocated for MDH
to award suicide prevention grants to train school staff, peace officers,
firefighters, health care providers and others in order to prevent suicide
clusters and contagion.
Applications for both grants are due Monday, Nov. 30;
letters of intent are due Monday, Oct. 26. For more information visit the MDH website. return to top
HEARRT to sponsor webinar on proposed EPA
pharmaceutical waste rule
The Healthcare Environmental Awareness and Resource
Reduction Team (HEARRT) is sponsoring a webinar on the proposed U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pharmaceutical waste rules on Monday,
Oct. 26, from 2-5 p.m. The recently proposed rules will potentially affect
pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing care facilities and pharmaceutical
reverse distributors, as well as others.
Kristin Fitzgerald and Josh Smeraldi of EPA will provide a
regulatory overview. Josh Burman from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
will also participate. The event is designed to review the proposed
regulations, provide a question and answer session and offer networking
opportunities for professionals working on health care sustainability and waste
issues.
Register online to attend either in person or via webinar.
HEARRT is an organization composed of health systems and MHA
that connects health care professionals to encourage and support sustainability
actions that improve environmental and community health and reduce
costs. For more information visit the HEARRT website. return to top
DHS issues bulletin on MA for people who are
incarcerated
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued
a bulletin
regarding Medical Assistance (MA) coverage for people who are incarcerated and
receiving inpatient health care. The policy took effect Jan. 1, 2014; the
bulletin addresses ongoing questions about the policy.
Hospitals should be aware there is a separate MA application
process for individuals who are incarcerated. Individuals must use the paper
application. There is a special form for individuals receiving inpatient care: the Medical Assistance Payment for Inpatient Hospital Care for Incarcerated People (DHS-6696G). This form includes patient consent for DHS to communicate with
the correctional facility regarding eligibility status.
In addition, which health care application should be used
depends on the demographics of the individual. The criteria determining which
application should be used is detailed in the bulletin.
For more information see the bulletin. return to top