In this issue:
MHA to submit comments to CMS in support of general supervision for 13 services
Physician clinical expertise needed
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Services physician supervision advisory panel has recommended 28 services for general supervision. CMS accepted the recommendation for 15 services, but rejected the panel’s recommendation for 13 services. MHA has consistently urged CMS to take the position that general supervision is sufficient unless there is a clinical or patient safety reason for direct supervision. MHA will submit a comment letter to CMS urging it to accept the expert panel’s recommendations. The 13 services for which CMS has rejected general supervision fall within the following categories:
- Application of compression systems
- Bladder irrigation
- Observation services
- IV drug infusion codes
- Drug injection codes
- Strapping
To support its comment letter, MHA would like to include information from members’ physicians with clinical expertise explaining why general supervision is appropriate for these 13 services. MHA also encourages individual hospitals to submit comment letters to CMS encouraging them to accept the panel’s recommendations. Comment letters are due Oct. 24. If you can provide clinical expertise for MHA’s letter, or have questions, contact Matt Anderson, MHA vice president of regulatory and strategic affairs, 651-659-1421. ^top of page
Community benefit survey issued to members
MHA requests hospitals to submit data by Friday, Nov. 2
MHA has initiated the community benefit data collection for fiscal year 2011. The data is presented in MHA’s Community Benefit Report, which is used both for legislative advocacy purposes as well as statewide and regional trending.
Having community benefit data is a critical advocacy tool both at the state and local level. This data helps hospitals present the very beneficial activities they are providing in their communities to improve health and to provide access to care.
For systems that have multiple facilities in different geographic regions of the state, please provide site-specific details so data can be parsed in our statewide report by region. If all of your facilities are in one geographic region, you may report consolidated figures. We understand that you may file only one 990 Schedule H for your system; however, for community benefits reporting it is vital we are able to aggregate by region.
Chief executive officers, chief financial officers and communications point people should have received emails with instructions and a link to the survey used to collect the data. Participation by all member hospitals is requested; the more hospitals that participate, the more representative and accurate the final report will be. The deadline for submitting data is Friday, Nov. 2.
If your hospital did not receive emails regarding the survey, please contact Bonnie Terveer, MHA data operations assistant, 651-641-1121. ^top of page
Veterans Affairs releases mental health tool kit for community providers
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) last week released a tool kit to help health care providers treat veterans for mental health concerns. The goal of the community provider tool kit is to further enhance the delivery of mental health services to veterans through increased communication and coordination of care between community providers and the VA. The tool kit provides information about accessing, communicating with and, if needed, making referrals to the VA. In addition, the tool kit provides effective tools to assist veterans who are dealing with a variety of mental health challenges. The Community Provider Tool Kit also includes sections intended to increase providers’ knowledge about military culture.
Hospitals are reporting seeing more and more veterans with mental health needs. The VA tool kit is a helpful resource for service men and women requiring mental health treatment. ^top of page
Institute of Medicine president to address Minnesota health care leaders
On Monday, Oct. 29, Dr. Harvey Fineberg, president of the Institute of Medicine, will speak to health care leaders and provide his insights into what Minnesota can do to continue to improve the health of our citizens. Following his presentation, he will be joined by a panel of experts that represent Minnesota’s health care providers, payers, purchasers and policymakers.
Dr. Fineberg’s research has included assessment of medical technology, evaluation of vaccines, and dissemination of medical innovations. At the Institute of Medicine, he has chaired and served on a number of panels dealing with health policy issues, ranging from AIDS to new medical technology.
The event, sponsored by the George Family Foundation, will take place from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Pillsbury Auditorium and is free to attend. However, space is limited and reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to register. ^top of page
Webinar to provide overview of Minnesota EHR Incentive Program
This webinar will provide attendees with an overview of and updates on the Minnesota Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program (MEIP), including new resources available on the MEIP website. A walk-through of the basic MEIP enrollment process will also be presented followed by an opportunity for questions. Objectives include:
- Understand MEIP purpose, schedule and goals
- Discover MEIP resources
- Identify what you can do to prepare for the MEIP launch
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) established MEIP under the provisions of the HITECH Act to provide incentive payments to certain health care professionals and hospitals that meet specific eligibility requirements when they adopt, implement, upgrade and meaningfully use certified EHR technology
The webinar will take place Wednesday, Oct. 10 from 8-9 a.m. To register, go to the Minnesota DHS website, select the checkbox in front of “Minnesota EHR Incentive Program” and click “Register” at the bottom of the page. . ^top of page
2012 Hospital Financial Ratio Book available
The 2012 Minnesota Hospital Financial Ratio Book (based on 2011 financial statements) is available for MHA members. This book contains the key 27 financial ratios hospital administrators, board members and financial officers need to understand their hospital’s financial standing comparative to their peer groups in Minnesota. This in-depth report provides critical reference points for those needing to compare/contrast their own hospital’s standing with others in the state, and provides unique insight into the current trends different hospital groups face in Minnesota.
The book also contains a system-level section showing the same 27 key financial ratios for hospital systems operating in the state.
The cost for a standard ratio book is $100 and customized peer-group reports are $50 for MHA members. If you have any questions, contact Jonathan Peters, MHA director of data and finance policy, 651-659-1422. To order the ratio book or customized reports, please contact Jennifer Sanislo, MHA division assistant, 651-659-1440. ^top of page
Minnesota agencies' boards have vacancies
Each month, the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office publishes a list of Minnesota agencies with vacancies on their boards. This month, two in particular are of interest to hospital members:
- Minnesota Board on Aging – one vacancy (public member)
Purpose: The board develops, coordinates, evaluates, and administers federal and state funds for programs for the aging; makes grants to seven area agencies on aging and non-profit agencies; serves as advocate for older persons.
- Rehabilitation Review Panel, Dept. of Labor and Industry, Workers’ Compensation Division – four vacancies (two employer/insurer alternate, one labor member, one insurer member)
Purpose: The panel advises the Department of Labor & Industry on rehabilitation matters relating to workers' compensation and may issue penalties for violation of rules following a contested case hearing under Chapter 14 under Minnesota Statutes 176.103, subd. 3.
Application forms may be found here or may be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State, Open Appointments, 180 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1299, or in person at Room 180 of the State Office Building. ^top of page