December 29, 2017 MHA Today is provided as a service to members of the Missouri Hospital Association. Additional information is available online at MHAnet.
NOTE: MHA Today will not be published Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Publication will resume Tuesday, Jan. 2. Happy New Year! In This Issue CMS Releases Guidance Related To Texting Patient Orders MO HealthNet Suspends DME Rate Reduction NHSN 2018 Patient Safety Component Protocols Available CMS Reminds Hospitals About Third Quarter 2017 Submission Deadlines NHSN 2018 Patient Safety Component Protocols Available D.C. Court Dismisses Action Contesting 340B Rule
Regulatory News the latest actions of agencies monitoring health care
Staff Contact: Jim Mikes The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a memo to clarify its position on texting patient orders. CMS does not permit the texting of orders by physicians or other health care providers. The practice of texting orders from a provider to a member of the care team is not in compliance with the Conditions of Participation or Conditions for Coverage. The rationale for this guidance is that texting orders does not create a permanent record in compliance with 489.24(b) for form and retention of records. CMS also clarifies that texting patient information among members of the health care team is permissible if accomplished through a secure platform. Back To Top
Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade The MO HealthNet Division's planned reduction in durable medical equipment payment rates that were to take effect Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, is being held in abeyance for further review. Back To Top
Quality and Population Health
Staff Contact: Toi Wilde The National Healthcare Safety Network updated its surveillance protocols in the Patient Safety Component Manual for 2018. Updates include the surveillance protocols for central line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infection, surgical site infection, multidrug resistant organism and Clostridium difficile infection, ventilator-associated event, pneumonia, central line insertion practices, and antimicrobial use and resistance. A summary is provided of the most significant modifications, many of which represent only clarifications of protocol instructions and not ways in which changes are made to health care-associated infection determinations. This document presents the modifications as changes, clarifications, additions or deletions. Back To Top
Staff Contact: Sherry Buschjost The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reminded hospitals of the following third-quarter 2017 data submission deadlines.
Additional information is available by viewing the IQR and OQR 3Q2017 checklists and PC-01 quick start guide. Back To Top
Health Law Insight
Staff Contact: Jane Drummond The federal district court for the District of Columbia dismissed a lawsuit brought by the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, America’s Essential Hospitals and three health systems to enjoin the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ final rule imposing significant reductions in the 340B program. As grounds, the court concluded that the plaintiffs failed to satisfy a jurisdictional requirement imposed by federal statute requiring that claims arising under the Medicare Act must first be heard and decided by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The court held that there first must be a “concrete claim for reimbursement” made to and denied by the Secretary for the court to exercise its jurisdiction to hear the case. Plaintiffs argued that the comments they submitted in opposition to the rule satisfied the jurisdiction prerequisite, with which the court disagreed. Back To Top
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December 26, 2017 Federal Stopgap Budget Measure Includes Short Term Funding For CHIP, Community Health Centers MO HealthNet Cuts DME Rates CMS Updates IPFQR Resources
December 27, 2017 IV Therapy Administration Final Rule Available CMS Clarifies Nursing Facility-Initiated Discharges DHSS Updates Home Health And Hospice Aide Exam Advanced Copy Of Revised Rural Health Clinic Guidance Available Trajectories: ED Utilization – Right Care. Right Place. Right Time. CMS Releases OQR Specifications Manual Version 11.0a CMS Updates EHR Known Issues Document HRSA Offers Webinar To Assist Grant Applicants
December 28, 2017 MO HealthNet Modifies Billing Requirements For Lab, Radiology Services DHHS Invites Suggestions On New Anti-Kickback Safe Harbors CDC Issues Seasonal Influenza Health Advisory Hospital Compare Updates Available Missouri Hospitals Targeted For Theft By Unauthorized Visitors
Between Dec. 10, 2016, and Jan. 1, 2017, 52 people were killed and another 243 were seriously injured in Missouri traffic crashes. Eight of the fatalities and 20 of the serious injuries involved a substance-impaired driver. Source: Missourinet.com