MHA Today | July 27, 2022

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives sent a letter “urging CMS to further evaluate” proposed Medicare market basket updates for 2023 “and consider using its special exceptions and adjustments authority to revise the final IPPS rule to ensure hospitals have the resources they need to provide optimal care.” MHA thanks the members of Congress who signed onto the ‘dear colleague’ letter, with special thanks to Missouri’s members of Congress, including Representatives Graves, Hartzler, Luetkemeyer, Smith and Wagner.

HHS announced a proposed rule that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age and disability in certain health programs and activities. The proposed rule would implement Section 1557 of the ACA by restoring and strengthening “civil rights protections for patients and consumers in certain federally funded health programs and HHS programs after the 2020 version of the rule limited its scope and power to cover fewer programs and services.” The following proposals are included in the rule.

Missouri is receiving a one-time allocation of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine that recently received approval for emergency use in adults in the U.S. Orders are limited to quantities of 100 doses, which must cover first and second dose administration. Due to the limited availability, DHSS is asking providers to consider demand before placing an order and to plan a vaccination schedule to minimize wastage. The vaccine will be available on the DHSS vaccine order request form today after 5 p.m. for delivery the second week of August. DHSS will issue a standing order for Novavax administration on its website soon.