In this issue:
MHA submits comments supporting Medicaid expansion in Minnesota
Last week, MHA submitted a comment letter to the Minnesota Health Care Access Work Group
expressing the association’s strong support for the expansion of Medicaid to cover childless
adults
earning up to 133 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Doing so is better for our
patients, better for
the state’s economy and better for health care providers.
In expressing its support, MHA indicated that expanding Medicaid would provide access to
preventative
and primary care for more uninsured Minnesotans and would provide residents already covered
under
MinnesotaCare a more comprehensive benefit. While MHA recognizes that Medicaid provides
notoriously
poor reimbursement rates for providers, it is more reliable than uncompensated care burdens
that result
from uninsured and underinsured Minnesotans. Furthermore, it is estimated that expanding
Medicaid will
save the state $1 billion over five years.
MHA will work during the 2013 legislative session to pass legislation to make Medicaid
expansion a
reality in Minnesota. For questions, contact Matt Anderson, MHA vice president of regulatory
and
strategic affairs, 651-659-1421.^top of page
Rural hospital flex grants available
Applications are being accepted for grants through the Minnesota Rural Hospital Flexibility
Program,
which is intended to preserve access to needed health services and encourage collaboration and
integration of rural community health systems. Grants may be used to develop community,
network or
strategic plans for preserving or enhancing access to health services. Grants may also be used
for
implementation activities in the following categories by applicants with completed plans or
needs
assessments: network development; health system improvements (diversification, new services,
workforce development efforts, etc.); strengthening and integrating the EMS system; and
quality
improvement.
Eligible applicants are rural hospitals with 50 or fewer beds, rural hospitals eligible to
convert to critical
access hospital licensure, critical access hospitals, rural health networks and rural EMS
organizations.
Click here for an application, which is due Oct. 29.
Grant reviewers needed
The Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) is
seeking grant
reviewers for this and a variety of other grants that will be reviewed by the department.
Participation is a
good opportunity to see the grant review process firsthand, and to help ensure state grants
are awarded
fairly. For more information, please visit the ORHPC website or contact Cindy LaMere, 651-201-3852.
^top of page
Registration now open for 2012-13 FluSafe Program
Last year, 80 percent of Minnesota hospitals participated in the Minnesota Department of
Health’s
FluSafe program, which aims to vaccinate health care workers against influenza. MHA’s board
has a goal
to have 100 percent of hospitals participate in this voluntary program that improves patient
safety.
Participants in FluSafe receive statewide recognition for achieving 70, 80 or 90 percent
vaccination rates
among staff. Facilities can register by going to www.mdhflu.com and clicking the FluSafe link
in the
right-hand column. Visit the MHA site for resources to help communicate about FluSafe and
influenza vaccination for health care workers.^top of
page
Former HHS Secretary and Gov. Michael Leavitt to speak at MHA Annual
Meeting
Due to a change in schedule, former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala will not be with us on
Thursday, Sept.
20 at MHA’s Annual Meeting but will be replaced by Gov. Michael Leavitt. Leavitt served three
terms as
governor of Utah from 1993-2003. In 2003, he joined the Cabinet of President George W. Bush,
serving in
two positions: first as leader of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2003-2005, and then
as
secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2005-2009. At HHS, Leavitt administered a
$750
billion budget — nearly 25 percent of the entire federal budget — and 67,000 employees.
Leavitt led the implementation of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. The task
required the
design, systematization and implementation of a plan to provide 43 million seniors with a new
prescription drug benefit. By the end of the first year, enrollments exceeded projections,
prices were
lower than projected and seniors expressed high levels of satisfaction.
The MHA Annual Meeting convenes Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd.
To view
the conference brochure or to register, visit MHA’s website. You must log in to register.
^top of page
DHS Adult Mental Health Reform 2020 effort seeking participants
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) recently convened the Adult Mental Health
Reform
2020 steering committee (www.dhs.state.mn/MHDivison) and will start holding meetings for the
related
work groups.
The steering committee was formed to “review the mental health continuum of care, identify
system
gaps, and provide recommendations to DHS on potential changes to the publicly funded mental
health
system of care for adults.” The five work groups are:
- Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS )
- Early onset of psychoses in young adults, and psychotic symptoms in youth
- Behavioral Health Home
- Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS) and development of a new state plan
option
- Consumer run services
MHA is represented on the steering committee and is participating in the IRTS and
behavioral health
home working groups. MHA members interested in learning more or participating can contact Jen McNertney, MHA policy analyst, 651-659-1405. ^top of
page
Report finds that Medicare cuts could cost Minnesota more than 12,000
jobs by 2021
A report released last week by the American Hospital Association concludes that the
mandatory 2
percent Medicare sequester could lead to 12,919 Minnesota jobs lost by 2021. In 2013 alone,
8,364 jobs
are at risk. This includes those workers directly employed by the health care sector as well
as other jobs
supported by the purchases of health care organizations and their employees. Nationally,
766,000 jobs
could be lost by 2021 if the cuts to Medicare spending take effect. The biggest impact would
be to
hospitals, which would be forced to cut 92,984 jobs in 2013. Read the full report. ^top of page
Minnesota Chamber reviewing workers’ comp recommendations
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has formed a work group to review ideas for reducing
medical
costs in workers’ compensation. Some of the areas being reviewed are hospital costs, implant
mark-ups,
pharmacy costs, medical fee schedules, identifying centers of excellence and best practice
guidelines. The work group’s goal is to have a list of recommendations for the full Chamber
board by
Dec. 1.
MHA is providing representation and advocacy to ensure no major changes are made without
concessions by workers’ compensation insurance carriers to be more timely and accurate in the
billing
process. Workers’ compensation carriers have been noted by hospitals as not following
standardized
electronic billing formats, requesting detailed paperwork, delaying the payment cycle and not
paying
certain fees based on their assessment that the fees are too high. For more information,
contact Joe Schindler, MHA vice president of finance, 651-659-1415.^top
of page
Contracts for the Minnesota Nurses Association and Service
Employees International Union have been decertified at Meeker Memorial Hospital
Registered nurses at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield voted Aug. 22 to decertify
their contract with
the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). It became official 10 days after the vote. The MNA union
contract for
RNs at Meeker had been in place since 1974.
Meeker Memorial had three union contracts at the beginning of 2012. On May 31 Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
employees at
Meeker voted to decertify their union contract after 34 years since the formation in 1978.
“Now, SEIU employees and RNs join non-contract employees at Meeker in not only benefits and
pay
arrangements but in the future of health care — striving for teamwork, delivery of health care
and
continued excellent care for the patient,” said Kyle Rasmussen, CEO. The remaining employees
under
contract at Meeker are LPNs belonging to the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal
Employees (AFSCME) since 1973. ^top of page
Serious video game will help educate health care workers
MHA is collaborating with the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and VitalSims, a
medical
technology company, to develop an interactive web-based game that simulates real-life
situations for
health care professionals. The games provide an interactive, engaging and stimulating way to
learn. Read
more on this story from the University of Minnesota.^top of
page
National Kidney Foundation annual conference
scheduled for Nov. 10
The National Kidney Foundation will hold its annual Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in the
21st Century for
the Primary Care Provider conference on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Westin Edina Galleria.
Participants will
learn about early detection and prevention of kidney disease in patients, issues faced by
primary care
providers concerning CKD patients and how to partner with nephrologists to offer the best
possible care
for patients affected by kidney disease.
For more information or to register for the conference, please visit the National Kidney
Foundation
website. ^top of page