MHA News Now

National Policy Platforms: Log on and get involved

Last week, the Democratic and Republican National Committees announced that they are both seeking input on the health care-related aspects of their respective party platforms. Traditionally, the platforms were drafted by special committees in cooperation with the party nominees, and often included a series of formal hearings and drafting sessions. However, this year both parties are taking a different approach and seeking direct voter input.

The Republican Platform Committee, chaired by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA) and co-chaired by Sen. Richard Burr (NC), has launched an on-line effort to gather voter feedback. Meanwhile, the Democratic Platform Committee, chaired by Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ), announced that it will hold a series of town meetings across the country to get a better sense of what Democratic voters want to see in the party's platform. Both party platform processes culminate with the national party conventions: The Democratic convention will be held August 25-28 in Denver, while the Republican convention is scheduled to take place Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

This is our chance to make sure the hospital field's voice is reflected in both parties' platforms... and we need your input!

The links below will take you to the respective party Web sites. Tell them:

The people of America's hospitals are on the front lines of care, and they see every day the need for reform of the health care system. We believe that reform should include:

• A focus on wellness and prevention
• Coverage for all, paid by all
• High-quality, cost-effective care, with caregivers connected through state-of-the-art information systems
• A restructured system that manages chronic disease, spends limited resources on care, not paperwork, and addresses the growing shortage of well-trained health care workers
• Ensuring that hospitals receive the resources they need to provide critical services for their communities, particularly under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

To ensure your views are shared with those writing the party platforms, click on the links below.

To share your thoughts on the Republican Party platform, click here.

To share your thoughts with the Democratic Party, click here to find or sign up to host a platform meeting in your community.

Moratorium on laboratory billing policy extended

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, which was enacted last week after Congress overrode the president’s veto, extended a moratorium that allows independent laboratories to continue billing Medicare for the technical component of physician pathology services provided to hospital patients. The extension is retroactive to July 1 and covers claims with service dates through Dec. 31, 2009.

MHA Hosting Sustainability & Compliance Workshop

On Wednesday, July 30, the Mississippi Hospital Association will host a workshop on Sustainability and Compliance in the Health Care Industry at the MHA Conference Center in Madison.

Hospitals and health care facilities use a wide range of toxic chemicals, generate large quantities of waste, and can consume vast amounts of energy and water. As a result, the potential for environmental impacts from hospitals and health care facilities can be significant. This workshop, with speakers from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, will provide attendees with information and resources needed to comply with federal and state environmental regulations. The workshop is designed for environmental health and safety managers, engineers, facility and plant operations managers, and personnel involved in identification and management of hazardous waste.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the workshop will adjourn at 3:15 p.m. There is no charge for this workshop but pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Karen Hargett at (800) 289-8884, (601) 368-3263 or khargett@mhanet.org. Register online at http://cfpub.epa.gov/confreg.

CMS to allow alternatives to tamper-proof paper

A looming debacle appears to have been averted involving a Medicaid mandate requiring the use of tamper-proof paper in printing prescriptions with electronic prescribing systems.

Physician informaticist Peter Basch, medical director of ambulatory clinical systems at MedStar Health, Columbia, Md., told attendees at the 17th annual Physician-Computer Connection Symposium in Ojai, Calif., about the breakthrough on July 17. Basch worked to overturn the CMS regulation interpreting a federal 2007 law that required tighter security on Medicaid prescriptions.

The CMS has accepted recommendations that soon should be released by the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs to create anti-fraud measures using computerized printing technology deployable in electronic health-record systems and standalone e-prescribing tools as a substitute for expensive tamper-proof paper, which the CMS originally stipulated.

The mandate, set to go into effect Oct. 1, now has an alternative, Basch said. At least two print technologies have been deemed acceptable by the CMS, he said. One of them involves a patented process from Toronto-based AdlerTech International. The other security technology is called micro printing, which uses a strip of tiny type that appears to be smeared when photocopied by most copying machines.

[ via Joseph Conn, Modern Healthcare's Daily Dose ]

CDC panel updates flu vaccine guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on July 17 issued updated recommendations on the use of influenza vaccine and antiviral agents. The committee recommends that beginning in the 2008-09 flu season, but no later than the 2009-10 flu season, all children aged five to 18 should be vaccinated annually.

In addition, the annual vaccination of all children aged six months through four years should continue to be a primary focus of vaccination efforts. The committee also recommends that either trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine or live, attenuated influenza vaccine be used when vaccinating healthy persons aged two through 49, and that vaccines containing the 2008-09 trivalent vaccine virus strains A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, and B/Florida/4/2006-like antigens be used.

[ via AHA News Now ]

Survey: Patient satisfaction can be improved

A survey of hospital chief quality officers found that 97% of survey takers agreed that quality improvement activities in their facility had improved patient care outcomes, but only 28% said that patient satisfaction was at the level it should be. 

The survey, conducted by the Health Research & Educational Trust and the Boston University Health Policy Institute, surveyed 470 quality officers. Researchers found that although quality improvement programs were commonplace throughout hospitals, the results of these programs vary widely.

The study can be found here.

[ via Accreditation Connection ]

Fenton Peters Named MHA Trustee of the Year for 2008

Chip Denton, MHA Chairman (left), presents Dr. Fenton Peters (right) with Trustee of the Year Award plaque during MHA's annual Leadership Conference

Immediate Past President of the Oktibbeha County Hospital Board of Trustees Dr. Fenton Peters was awarded the Mississippi Hospital Association Trustee of the Year award for 2008 at MHA’s Annual Leadership Conference. Presented annually to one person in the state, the MHA Trustee of the Year Award recognizes a trustee who has demonstrated significant contributions in the field of hospital governance over a sustained period of time.

Dr. Peters is a tenured member of the Oktibbeha County Hospital Board of Trustees, currently serving his fourth term with more than 15 years of service on the Board. “During his years of service on our Board, Dr. Peters has served in every officer position several times and has given exemplary leadership and wisdom in many areas, directly contributing to the hospital’s growth and progress,” OCH Administrator Sonny Kelly said.

“Dr. Peters' background in school administration has most certainly played a role in his commitment to continuing education. He is a strong proponent of trustee education, and without fail, attends every available educational opportunity conducted by the MHA and like organizations that his busy schedule will allow,” Kelly continued. “He is fervently dedicated to learning as much as possible about the issues that confront hospitals and is always ready to speak up on behalf of OCH and hospitals throughout the state when the opportunity arises.”

Known and highly respected for his calm and quiet voice of leadership, Dr. Peters has shared his time and talents in many areas in addition to his service to the hospital. He was presented the Greater Starkville Development Partnership’s T.E. Veitch award in 2007. He joined the Starkville Area Chamber of Commerce Education Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Northeast Mississippi Baptist Convention Hall of Fame in 1995. He’s also earned numerous education awards, having served education in positions ranging from teacher to superintendent in districts such as Starkville, Holly Springs and Jackson and also as an adjunct lecturer at MSU’s Meridian campus.

An active participant in community affairs, Dr. Peters serves on the Institute of Community Services Board and is a member First Church of Christ (Holiness), USA, where he serves as chairman of the deacon board, adult Sunday school teacher, van driver, Brotherhood chaplain and gospel choir director. He was also involved in spearheading the church choir's first music CD entitled, I'm to the Highlands Bound.

Kelly noted that the choir’s music was included on a special video presentation highlighting Dr. Peters’s many accomplishments and contributions to the hospital and community during the awards ceremony at the MHA Conference. “This award and video was a complete surprise to Dr. Peters and his lovely wife, Maggie. It was a moving tribute to a most deserving recipient,” he said, adding that the video included testimonials from hospital staff physicians, former students, community leaders and family friends.

“It’s easy to see why Dr. Peters is so well respected and has been recognized time and time again. He is truly a good and humble servant,” Kelly said. “Despite health issues, he continues to put church and community above self.”

“I can think of no other more deserving of the MHA Trustee of the Year award,” he continued. “Dr. Peters is an invaluable asset to our hospital and community.”

HQA data preview period begins today

Hospitals participating in the Hospital Quality Alliance can preview their latest quarterly data beginning today at the QualityNet Web site. The appropriate staff should review all of the data and report any errors to their Quality Improvement Organization by Aug. 14. The data will be added to the Hospital Compare Web site in September.

Survey and Certification Hospital Regulations Bulletin

The MHA bulletin attached below is regarding new survey and certification regulations announced through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

If you should have any questions about the regulations, contact Steve Egger, Division Director, Non Long Term Care, Bureau of HFLC at (601) 364-1100. You may also visit the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/.

MHA Bulletin: Download cms_bulletin_070708.pdf

New Medicare law changes Joint Commission deeming authority status

Congress last week overrode a presidential veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008—a bill that included a provision which changed the Joint Commission’s deeming authority status with CMS.  The Joint Commission issued the following statement about the bill:

Congress has passed a Medicare reform bill that includes a provision relating to hospital accreditation deemed status. While Congress clearly expects an uninterrupted continuation of the deemed status significance of Joint Commission hospital accreditation, the provision would remove the unique deeming authority that the Medicare statute has specifically given The Joint Commission’s hospital accreditation program since 1965. The bill will next go to President Bush for possible signage, although the president has signaled that he will veto the bill. Should a presidential veto occur, the bill will go back to the Congress for a vote over sustaining that veto.

In principle, The Joint Commission generally supports the provision’s intention. The provision would require all accrediting bodies, including The Joint Commission, to apply to CMS for hospital deeming authority. This is a process that The Joint Commission and all other accrediting bodies already go through when seeking deeming authority for the quality oversight of other types of providers, such as home care, laboratory and ambulatory accreditation programs.

It is important to note that accredited hospitals will not lose their deemed status. The provision contains a transition period so as not to disrupt the deemed status of accredited hospitals, including a 24-month period for The Joint Commission to apply for deeming authority and be recognized by CMS. The Joint Commission will apply for and is confident that it will receive deeming authority.