MHA Today is provided as a service to members of the Missouri Hospital Association.

Past issues are available in the Media Library.

In This Issue

MHA Weekly COVID-19 Update
Congress Passes Continuing Resolution
CMS Announces MA, Prescription Drug Premiums For 2023
CMS Updates COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey Tool
CMS Releases Medicare Beneficiary Financial Well-Being Data

MHA Weekly COVID-19 Update

for week ending september 28, 2022

This summary is intended to provide generalized situational awareness and regional COVID-19 surveillance in Missouri. More granular county-level data from the CDC should be used when making individual decisions about masking and other public health mitigation measures.

Advocacy

Congress Passes Continuing Resolution

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution that will continue to fund the government through Friday, Dec. 16. As part of the CR, the Medicare Dependent Hospital program and the enhanced Medicare Low-Volume Payment programs also will be extended through Dec. 16. It is expected that Congress will work to enact a full appropriations package after the upcoming elections conclude. The CR is expected to be signed by President Biden soon. MHA has been advocating for the Medicare payment extensions and appreciates the actions of Congress to ensure these payment mechanisms continue.

Regulatory

CMS Announces MA, Prescription Drug Premiums For 2023

CMS Updates COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey Tool

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson

CMS updated previous guidance on focused infection control surveys related to COVID-19 following updated guidance from the CDC. CMS has directed the state survey agencies to no longer use the Focused Infection Control survey process or tool, emphasizing the return to existing regulatory processes. The agency advises facilities to review their infection prevention and control policies and practices to prevent the spread of infectious disease and illness, including COVID-19, further adding that those policies should be based on national standards of practice and nationally recognized guidelines.

CMS Releases Medicare Beneficiary Financial Well-Being Data

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

CMS released new public use files about the financial well-being of Medicare beneficiaries. The file includes estimates on asset ownership, food insecurity, access to transportation and access to the internet. CMS also published a quick reference tool that summarizes key metrics for the Medicare population, including information on types of coverage, utilization, average cost for specific services, chronic condition prevalence, beneficiary satisfaction, access to care and usual source of care.

Before You Go

ACCESS: To illustrate how grant recipients have used STR and SOR grant funds, the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors developed state- and territorial-specific briefs, which can be accessed via an interactive map.

APPLY: HRSA is accepting applications for the Preventive Medicine Residency Program to increase the number, quality and diversity of preventive medicine residents and physicians. Applications are due by Monday, Nov. 21.

ATTEND: CMS is hosting a webinar at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, about the No Surprises Act federal independent dispute resolution process. Registration is required.

READ: CMS issued updates to MLN Connects Provider eNews.

MHA Today | September 30, 2022

MHA Today is provided as a service to members of the Missouri Hospital Association.

In This Issue

MHA Weekly COVID-19 Update

for week ending september 28, 2022

Before You Go