December 8, 2017 MHA Today is provided as a service to members of the Missouri Hospital Association. Additional information is available online at MHAnet.
Insights
One of Gov. Eric Greitens’ first acts after his inauguration in January was an executive order calling for a halt to new regulations and a full review of the state’s existing regulations. Since then, his administration has been actively reviewing the influence of regulations on citizens and businesses, conducting top to bottom reviews of state agencies and soliciting the input of individuals and organizations for ideas to improve efficiency. Hospitals haven’t been sitting on the sidelines. MHA and individual hospitals have been contributing ideas through the governor’s No MO Red Tape website and sending thoughts directly to the administration. Many of these hospital- and health care-related suggestions have come through MHA’s Streamlining Government initiative. Regulations are necessary. They are the product of the bureaucracy’s obligation to implement laws. In addition, the rulemaking process can provide an important opportunity for stakeholders to offer input on what the impact of policy will be. However, rules should be subject to scrutiny. Some rules create unnecessary burdens or duplicate existing requirements, driving up costs for citizens and the regulated while creating no additional safety and adding no additional value. Greitens has demonstrated a willingness to work with hospitals to ensure the right regulations are in place. Earlier this year, Greitens signed MHA-backed legislation to block state hospital licensure regulations that are contrary to, or duplicative of, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Medicare Conditions of Participation. The same legislation included essential changes to the state’s trauma, stroke and STEMI law. After signing the legislation, the governor helped fast track the rulemaking process directing agencies to issue an emergency rule. In addition, MHA also worked with regulators this year to eliminate obsolete life safety regulations and unnecessary data collection. Approximately 30 regulations — spanning several state agencies — have been identified as appropriate targets for reform. Among other efforts, next year MHA will pursue additional licensure regulation reform with the intent of automatically aligning state hospital licensure and CMS standards. State law currently prohibits automatic rule updates. This causes state rules to be inconsistent with federal rules, which is both difficult and confusing for our members. A regular review of the state’s rules is a very good thing. Gov. Greitens should be applauded for making this effort a priority. It’s too early to know exactly how deep and wide the results of his regulatory reform program will be, or the challenges the administration will face in implementing the changes. Nonetheless, the signs are positive that real progress can be made. Share your thoughts in an email.
Herb B. Kuhn MHA President and CEO In This Issue MO HealthNet Releases First Quarter Training Schedule MedPAC Recommends 1.25 Percent Payment Increase For Hospitals In 2019 FDA Approves Monthly Buprenorphine Injection For OUD Treatment ASAM Announces OUD Treatment Course CMS Updates QRDA I Conformance Statement Resource
Advocate state and federal health policy developments
Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade MO HealthNet scheduled interactive webinar trainings on Missouri Medicaid benefits and limitations, claims submission, and administrative support resources. The two-hour training sessions are differentiated by provider type. There is no cost, but registration is required. Back To Top
Regulatory News the latest actions of agencies monitoring health care
Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission supported recommendations to give hospitals a 1.25 percent payment update in fiscal year 2019. MedPAC also is projecting hospital Medicare margins to drop to an 11 percent loss in 2018. Commissioners voiced concerns about the negative margins and expect to take a closer look at what’s behind the deteriorating margins. Back To Top
Quality and Population Health
Staff Contact: Leslie Porth The Food and Drug Administration approved use of Sublocade, a monthly buprenorphine injection, for treatment of adults with Opioid Use Disorder. Sublocade provides patients with a new treatment option and alleviates the need for daily buprenorphine dosing. Back To Top
Staff Contact: Leslie Porth The American Society of Addiction Medicine announced a course for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who treat patients with Opioid Use Disorder and wish to obtain a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. The course will be held 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, and registration is required. Reimbursement for attending a PCSS-MAT waiver training is available. Back To Top
Staff Contact: Sherry Buschjost The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated the Quality Reporting Document Architecture I Conformance Statement Resource and moved it to a new location on the eCQI Resource Center. The Conformance Statement Resource helps calendar year 2017 data submitters troubleshoot the most commonly occurring conformance errors by providing detailed information to resolve file rejection errors. Details are available. Back To Top
Did You Miss An Issue Of MHA Today?
December 4, 2017 MHA Distributes Analysis For Final Updates To CY 2018 Medicare Home Health PPS CMS Launches New LTC Survey Process FDA Issues Supply Chain Update Post Hurricane Osage Beach Center For Cognitive Disorders Names New CEO Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Names New CEO
December 5, 2017 Missouri DHSS Releases Biennial Rural Health Care Report CMS Announces IQR Webinar
December 6, 2017 Trajectories: ED Utilization – Right Care. Right Place. Right Time. SpectraMedix To Host MACRA 2018 Final Ruling Webinar October MUR Available On HIDI Analytic Advantage®
December 7, 2017 Myers And Stauffer LC Announces DSH Audit Survey Training MLN Connects Provider eNews Available CMS Announces Deadline To Submit 3Q2017 HCAHPS Survey Data CMS Announces Education Sessions
There are 60 million adults and children living with mental health conditions in the U.S., and nearly 30 million of them go without treatment. Source: Fox4KC.com