MHA Today | April 27, 2022

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade

The Missouri Senate passed the 13 bills that comprise the state’s FY 2023 operating budget Tuesday. The funding package fully funds the Medicaid program, including Medicaid expansion. The Senate’s $45.1 million spending plan is far and away the largest Missouri state budget ever proposed, driven largely by federal COVID-19 stimulus funds and increases for Medicaid expansion. The Senate and House will reconcile the differences in their respective budget proposals and pass a compromised spending plan by 6 p.m. Friday, May 6.

Staff Contact: Keri Barclay or Kara Amann-Kale

The CDC issued a Health Advisory related to the availability and use of outpatient treatment for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at risk for severe outcomes of the disease. The alert also includes recommendations on treatments to not use for these patients. The CDC suggests providers should reference the NIH’s COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines, in combination with factors such as access to and availability of treatment, to inform their decision-making related to COVID-19 treatment options for patients.

Staff Contact: Keri Barclay or Kara Amann-Kale

Pfizer submitted an application to the FDA for EUA of a 10 microgram booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine in children ages five to 11. Meetings have not been set for regulatory agencies to review this application. Hospitals should not begin administration of boosters to this group until approval from the FDA and CDC has been issued. Pfizer plans to release data for use of primary series, including a third dose in children ages six months to under five.

Staff Contact: Shane VanOverschelde

The Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Payments Model is an interactive tool that provides hospitals with the ability to manipulate their hospital-specific scores to evaluate the associated change to estimated HHVBP payments. This is a companion utility to the HHVBP Analysis that was produced for hospitals on March 21.

The HHVBP Payments Model is provided to subscribers of the 2022 Premier Reporting Package. The modeling utility is located on HIDI Analytic Advantage in the following location.

• Folder: “Finance and Policy/Premier Reports” or “Quality/Premier Reports”
• File name: MOxxxx_HHVBP_CY2021_Payments_Model_2021_Q3_2022.04.27.zip

Hospitals interested in subscribing to the HIDI Premier Report Package should review the package information. Current subscribers with questions about downloading files should contact HIDI.

Staff Contact: Jessica Stultz

This week is Patient Experience Week, and the MHA Statewide Patient and Family Advisory Council encourages organizations to celebrate accomplishments, reenergize efforts and honor the people who impact patient experience every day.

Along with these efforts, the PFAC is announcing its inaugural Compass Honor Recognition, which publicly recognizes a hospital for outstanding effort in effectively engaging and integrating a PFAC throughout their hospital. By recognizing and spotlighting a model PFAC, MHA hopes to encourage and inspire hospitals to adopt PFAC best practices and advance the health care experience for patients and providers.

The awarded hospital will receive a trophy and press kit to share this prestigious recognition. To apply, fill out the online application by Wednesday, June 1.

Staff Contact: Stephen Njenga

The RWJF released its annual 2022 County Health Rankings. The national findings report highlights important areas to advancing a just recovery for economic security and health, as well as seven new measures that support local data to action as it relates to income, education, family and social support, and health outcomes.

Staff Contact: Sherry Buschjost

CMS released updated CMS Abstraction and Reporting Tools supporting ICD-10-CM and ICD-10 codes in the CMS master code tables effective April 1. The update includes CART inpatient version 4.28.1 and CART outpatient version 1.20.1