MHA Today | December 29, 2021

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued guidance to state survey directors on assessing compliance with the Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination interim final rule published Nov. 5, 2021. The guidance denotes it does not currently apply in Missouri because the rule is presently enjoined, and the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. However, hospitals should be aware of the survey enforcement activity and criteria being implemented in other states. In addition, there are several attachments to the guidance related to each provider type covered under the rule.

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will consider hospital requests for temporary suspension of survey activity. To be considered, the hospital must have notified the appropriate state public health agency ― in Missouri, the Department of Health and Senior Services; have activated their emergency preparedness plan; and show a high proportion of hospital staff and resources is dedicated to managing COVID-19 patients. The hospital should submit the request to their state agency, as well as through the CMS PHE Emergency Web Portal. Instructions for submission via the CMS portal can be found here. MHA developed a sample letter that hospitals may use.

Staff Contact: Daniel Landon

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services withdrew a Nov. 27, 2020, Trump administration rule on Medicare Part B drug payment. The original rule would have tied Medicare payment for drugs administered in physician offices to lower amounts paid for those drugs in various foreign countries. It was paused by several federal courts for procedural flaws and again for further departmental review.

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade

MO HealthNet’s proposed telehealth rule is published in the Jan. 3 edition of the Missouri Register (see pp. 22-23). The proposed rule largely codifies the state agency’s current policy and state law. Comments on the rule must be submitted by Tuesday, Feb. 1.

Staff Contact: Shawn Billings

The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs announced grant awards totaling more than $300 million to help combat America’s substance use crisis, which has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. “The substance use crisis in American society has been a persistent and deadly problem for decades, and illicitly manufactured fentanyl and synthetic opioids have tightened the grip drugs have on our society,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. Funds will be allocated to help various groups, including veterans, youth and incarcerated individuals.

Staff Contact: Stephen Njenga

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is offering grants to support investigative and collaborative research focused on understanding and addressing disparities in surgical care and outcomes in minority and health disparity populations. The full announcement, application instructions and the application process are available online. The application is due by Tuesday, July 5.

Staff Contact: Stephen Njenga

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health released a special issue examining health disparities and the important role of physical activities in rural areas. The issue highlights gaps and offers solutions using equitable approaches.

Staff Contact: Sherry Buschjost

Hospital quality reporting system releases for Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting and Outpatient Quality Reporting programs now are available on QualityNet. The releases include all applications, processes and reports necessary to support the following programs and initiatives.

• • IQR – Updates impacting Specifications Manual for National Hospital Inpatient Quality Measures version 5.11a, effective for discharges Jan. 1 through June 30, 2022
  • OQR – Updates in support of the OQR Specification Manual version 15.0, effective for encounters Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2022

Staff Contact: Amy Schwartz

The bipartisan Missouri Rights of Victims of Sexual Assault Task Force was created in statute during the 2020 Missouri legislative session (SB 569 and Section 595.202 RSMo). The task force met throughout 2021, created subcommittees to research specific areas, conducted four public hearings and collected feedback from a public comment survey. The task force received testimony and information from approximately 100 individuals, including both experts in the field, and survivors, of sexual assault. A report of the task force findings and recommendations was presented to the governor and General Assembly on Dec. 28.