MHA Today | April 7, 2021

Staff Contact: Mat Reidhead or Stephen Njenga

In celebration of National Public Health Week 2021, the exploreMOhealth community health needs assessment platform was updated today. The Missouri ZIP Health Rankings data included on the site were updated to reflect the most recent information on the health and social well-being of populations living in 939 Missouri ZIP codes. The latest ZHR data were generated by Missouri hospitals between fiscal years 2018 and 2020, and by the 2019 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition to updating the ZIP code-level data, new county-level data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 2021 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program now are available on exploreMOhealth.

Combining both health factors and outcomes, the state’s healthiest ZIP code during the 2018-2020 study period was 63073 — the community of Saint Albans in northeastern Franklin County. At the opposite end of the distribution — ranked 939th — was 63955, the census-designated place of Oxly, Mo., in southeastern Ripley County with a population of only 208. The latest issue of HIDI HealthStats provides an overview of the latest ZHR modeling and example of communities throughout Missouri that are miles away from one and other, but worlds away on health.

Staff Contact: Daniel Landon or Rob Monsees

By a vote of 20-12, the Missouri Senate approved Senate Bill 63, which would authorize a statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for review.

Staff Contact: Daniel Landon or Rob Monsees

A state Senate committee reviewed a proposed constitutional amendment that, if adopted by the state’s voters, would restrict the use of preexisting conditions in health insurance underwriting and pricing.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the Medicare inpatient rehabilitation and the inpatient psychiatric facility prospective payment system proposed payment and policy updates for federal fiscal year 2022. CMS is estimating that IRF PPS payments will increase by $160 million or 1.8%.  Many of the IRF updates are centered on the quality reporting program, including closing the health equity gap, the COVID-19 vaccination coverage among health care personnel measure and the transfer of health information to the patient post-acute care measure. CMS is estimating that IPF PPS payments will increase by $90 million or 2.3%. Comments about these rules are due Monday, June 7. MHA soon will publish an issue brief for each payment system.

Staff Contact: Stephen Njenga

National Minority Health Month aims to create awareness about health disparities that continue to impact racial and ethnic minority populations. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, National Center for Health Statistics, and the Office of Minority Health released the health disparities data feature that displays health disparities information from DATA2020. Hospitals and health systems can use this feature to generate charts and graphs on health disparities information for measurable, population-based objectives where data are available. Having the right data on health disparities can help organizations identify gaps, thus allowing them to target interventions where they are needed most.

Studies also have shown that minorities experience health disparities because they are more likely to encounter obstacles in getting health care. The Compendium of Federal Datasets offers data-related resources that are available through federal agencies. It also provides key data relating to social determinants of health and social economic factors.

Below are some of the latest National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports and Chartbooks.

• 2019 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
• State Snapshots
• Chartbooks
• Quality and Disparities Report Data and Tools
• Data Query (search data across specific measures)

Staff Contact: Sherry Buschjost

An outreach and education webinar for hospitals participating in the Inpatient Quality Reporting Program is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 13. The event will clarify FAQs related to the sepsis measure and guidance in version 5.9 of the specification manual, and will discuss updates to SEP-1 for patient cases with COVID-19. Registration is required.

Staff Contact: Dana Dahl

On March 30, the Federal Communications Commission voted to formally adopt a Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration to establish Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The program is a $249.95 million federal initiative that builds on the $200 million program established as part of the CARES Act.

Staff Contact: Dana Dahl

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced yesterday that it is accepting applications for Distance Learning and Telemedicine program grants to help provide educational and medical services in rural areas. The application deadline is Friday, June 4.

Staff Contact: Mary Becker

Ozarks Healthcare, located in West Plains, Mo., provided booster COVID-19 vaccinations to local educators earlier this week. Ozarks Healthcare said, “These educators are ready to finish the school year strong and vaccinated! We love our educators and appreciate their willingness to serve our kids and community.”