MHA Today is provided as a service to members of the Missouri Hospital Association.

Past issues are available in the Media Library.

Insights

Today, I’m sharing news of a decision that certainly was difficult to make. At today’s MHA board meeting, I announced my retirement from MHA in January 2022. A succession planning process will be led by the board’s immediate Past Chair Charlie Shields, President and CEO of Truman Medical Centers, Inc. in Kansas City.

The decision was tough because of you, the health care leaders who are dedicated to Missouri’s hospitals, and the entire MHA team of top-notch professionals who are dedicated to serving you. It’s been a privilege to lead MHA since 2009. Working together, we’ve accomplished much over the last 11 years through hard work, passion and creativity — all with the goal of improving Missouri’s health care system.

Those accomplishments include state, regional and national recognition, and awards for MHA’s quality and informatic programs. We also have had a series of successful legislative sessions both in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. And last year, we had a lead role in a coalition that achieved Medicaid expansion at the ballot box. Finally, through our long-standing commitment and management of the hospital preparedness program, we forged new partnerships and programs to support hospitals, other health care providers, educational leaders and state officials in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And, the entire team of dedicated professionals here at MHA will continue to provide the service you’ve come to expect.

Serving as President of MHA has been the capstone to my prior 30-year career in Washington, D.C. Many of you may not know that I served at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, where I was appointed by President George W. Bush to run the Center for Medicare Management. In addition, I served in many additional roles at CMS, including acting administrator, deputy administrator, and director for the Center for Medicaid and State Operations. Before that, I worked as corporate vice president for Premier, led the legislative team at the American Hospital Association and served for six years on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide. For my first seven years at MHA, I served three consecutive terms from appointment by the Comptroller General of the United States to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. All of those experiences, and many more, helped inform my leadership at MHA.

I want to close by letting you know how incredibly grateful I am to have had the opportunity to get to know so many of you. As we begin the new year, I look forward to working with you as we continue to fulfill our mission of serving all Missouri communities.

Herb B. Kuhn
MHA President and CEO

“Like so many who have considered Herb a friend and mentor, I know how blessed we have been to have someone of his experience, talent and national presence guide us these past 11 years. I feel very fortunate to lead the MHA board in his final year and help shepherd the process to find a new leader for our association. The future is bright for MHA, and we look forward to having his continued leadership this year as we move to implement Medicaid expansion and continue our response to COVID-19.”

— MHA Board Chair Jon Doolittle, President of
Mosaic Medical Center, Albany

In This Issue

CMS Medicaid Guidance Encourages Addressing Social Determinants To Drive Health Care Value
MLN Connects Provider eNews Available
November MUR Available On HIDI Analytic Advantage
TJC And CMS Release eCQM On-demand Educational Videos