October 22, 2020

This report from the Missouri Hospital Association is designed to help you stay abreast of recent developments related to COVID-19.

Share our online form with individuals interested in receiving this update.

Advocacy
Government Action
Clinical Guidance
Data & Analytics
Hospital Operations
Workforce

The effective reproductive rate, represents the effective transmission rate for COVID-19. Ideally, the Re should be less than 1. Click the Re rate above or visit our website to view the weekly regional dashboards and learn more.

Source: Washington University Institute for Public Health

Advocacy

HHS Provides New Reporting Requirements

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced updates to the September guidance that set reporting expectations for the public relief payments. HHS is revising the expectations based on the concerns raised by many organizations, including most of Missouri’s congressional membership and MHA. HHS states, “HHS is amending the reporting instructions to increase flexibility around how providers can apply PRF money toward lost revenues attributable to coronavirus. After reimbursing health care-related expenses attributable to coronavirus that were unreimbursed by other sources, providers may use remaining PRF funds to cover any lost revenue, measured as a negative change in year-over-year actual revenue from patient care-related sources.”

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Government Action

Governor Calls Special Session On COVID-19 Funding

Staff Contact: Daniel Landon or Brian Kinkade

Gov. Parson has called a special session of the General Assembly for the legislature to make supplemental appropriations for the state’s COVID-19 response. A statement from the governor’s office explains that the additional spending authority is needed because of additional funds the state has received under the CARES Act. The special session will begin on Thurstday, Nov. 5, and run no more than 60 calendar days.

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Clinical Guidance

CDC Updates Definition Of Close Contacts In New Guidance

Staff Contact: Jackie Gatz

Updated guidance released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control now includes ‘close contact’ as brief, but repeated encounters with an infected individual. Individuals spending a cumulative 15 minutes or more within six feet of someone who was infectious over 24 hours, even if the time isn’t consecutive, are recommended to quarantine.

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Data & Analytics

HHS To Publicly Report Hospital COVID-19 Data Compliance

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson or Jessica Stultz

Today, on a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services informational webinar on COVID-19 data compliance, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed their intent to publicly share hospital compliance reports on a weekly basis at healthdata.gov. MHA staff have been providing these coverage reports directly to the TeleTracking users per facility for several weeks.

Presenters clarified that rather than today, the public release will occur Monday, Oct. 26. Public reports will indicate compliance with submission of COVID-19 data that is outlined in the Interim Final Rule released on Sept. 2.

MHA will share the slides from today’s informational webinar once received, and information for a technical assistance call for early next week will be forthcoming once federal partner schedules are confirmed.

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Hospital Operations

Guidance Demonstrates COVID-19 Impact On Hospital Gas Systems

Staff Contact: Jackie Gatz

MHA’s personal membership group, Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineering, recently shared an article published by the American Society for Health Care Engineering, regarding how the COVID-19 crisis can impact med-gas infrastructure.

In addition to the article, MOSHE also shared the American Association for Respiratory Care guidance document on how additional ventilators may pose a risk to hospital gas systems.

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Workforce

Department Of Mental Health Resources Available

Staff Contact: Jill Williams or Dana Dahl

Health care workers face unprecedented circumstances as they serve on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. Therefore, it’s important for health care leaders to create a proactive work environment that supports the mental well-being of staff.

This on-demand webinar will provide an overview of select resources available through the Missouri Department of Mental Health. These resources include mental health support related to COVID-19, mental health and suicidal medical care, patient self-care, suicide prevention, Lifeline, and the crisis text line.

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Missouri First Responder Provider Network Provides Free Behavioral Health Services

Staff Contact: Jill Williams

The Missouri First Responder Provider Network, in partnership with the Department of Mental Health and Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare, can provide free behavioral health services for health care professionals who have been impacted by COVID-19. Visit www.missouricit.org/frpn to find a provider.

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NAM Event Focuses On Clinician Well-Being

Staff Contact: Jill Williams

Join the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience for a virtual meeting on Ensuring Clinician Well-Being in an Age of Uncertainty: Emerging Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Systems Approach for the Future. This public event will elevate the urgency of national action and map efforts needed to coordinate the long-term health and well-being of clinicians through COVID-19 and beyond this pandemic. Register for the virtual meeting beginning at 11 a.m. CST on Oct. 28-29.

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