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

Past issues are available in the Media Library.

In This Issue

CMS Seeks Input On Improving Medicaid Access, Enrollment And Service Availability
MHA Submits Comments About Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Practices
CMS Selects Targeted Hospitals For FY 2024 Validation
Educational Funding Opportunities Available For Missouri Students And Practitioners
Gov. Parson Names Paula Nickelson As Acting DHSS Director

Upcoming MHA Event

2022 Healthcare Human Resources Spring Conference
In-Person Event

Thursday, April 21, to Friday, April 22
Register on or before Thursday, April 7.

For a complete list of events, view MHA’s calendar.

Advocacy

CMS Seeks Input On Improving Medicaid Access, Enrollment And Service Availability

Staff Contact: B rian Kinkade

CMS issued an RFI to elicit feedback from a broad spectrum of stakeholders on improving access to services for those qualifying for Medicaid. Respondents can offer suggestions in five broad areas: application for service and enrollment; maintaining eligibility; access to care; performance monitoring; and provider rates and participation. The CMS Medicaid Access to Care webpage includes a link to the RFI questions. Responses must be submitted through this portal by Sunday, April 17.

Regulatory

MHA Submits Comments About Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Practices

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

CMS previously released a proposed rule that includes an RFI about Medicare Advantage prior authorizations for hospital transfers to post-acute care settings during a public health emergency. MHA submitted a comment letter and encourages hospitals to respond with comments that include data about problematic MA prior authorization practices. MHA previously provided resources to assist hospitals that are interested in responding. Responses to the RFI are due Monday, March 7.

Quality & Safety

CMS Selects Targeted Hospitals For FY 2024 Validation

Staff Contact: Sherry Buschjost

CMS selected the targeted sample of hospitals for data validation of measures within the Hospital IQR Program for FY 2024 payment determination and the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program for FY 2024 program year. Selected hospitals will receive a direct email from CMS, and the updated list and validation resources are available on QualityNet. CMS is presenting a webinar on the data validation process at 1 p.m. CST Tuesday, March 8.

Workforce

Educational Funding Opportunities Available For Missouri Students And Practitioners

Staff Contact: Jill Williams

Educational funding currently is available for eligible nursing or medical students, or those already licensed and able to work in an underserved area of Missouri. The Health Professional Loan and Loan Repayment programs are designed to increase access to health care for Missourians in Health Professional Shortage Areas. The four programs offered through DHSS include the Nurse Student Loan Program, Nurse Loan Repayment Program, Student Loan Repayment Program and the Primary Care Resource Initiative for Missouri. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 15.

Noteworthy

Gov. Parson Names Paula Nickelson As Acting DHSS Director

ATTEND:

Register for a Fierce Healthcare webinar at 11 a.m. CST Thursday, March 3, and delve into specific strategies and tactics to keep health care professionals safe and free from racial injustice or bias.
Session one of HIDI’s three-part educational seminar series, “Community, Rural and Critical Access Hospital Survival in Today’s Cybersecurity World” takes place at 11 a.m. CST Tuesday, March 15, and will cover solutions to prepare and protect your hospital, data and patients from cyberthreats.
NAM’s virtual convening, “Clinician Retention in the Era of COVID: Uniting the Health Workforce to Optimize Well-Being,” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CST Tuesday, March 15.

ACCESS:

An on-demand webinar, “Hospital IQR Program Requirements for CY 2022 Reporting (FY 2024 Payment Determination)” is available on the Quality Reporting Center.
CMS added instructional support videos to its HQR Playlist on how to check eCQM file outcomes, submit HCAHPS, view denominator declarations and request Security Official Access.
Created in collaboration with NAM, the 2022 Healthcare Workforce Rescue Package prioritizes five actions that health system leaders can take now to safeguard the emotional and psychological needs of health care workers.

READ:

A new study shows hospitalized patients who received inpatient addiction medicine consultation services had significantly lower 90-day mortality risk compared with propensity-matched controls.

MHA Today | March 2, 2022

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

In This Issue

Upcoming MHA Event