MHA Today | November 19, 2021

Staff Contact: Kara Amann-Kale or Keri Barclay

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met today to discuss recommendations around the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for individuals ages 18 and older, six months after completion of the primary mRNA vaccine series. The committee voted as follows.

• • Individuals ages 50+ and persons ages 18+ residing in long-term care facilities should receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose six months after completion of the primary mRNA vaccine series.
  • All other individuals ages 18+ may receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose six months after completion of the primary mRNA vaccine series.

Facilities should await the recommendation from the CDC Director and updated standing orders from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, if applicable, before initiating booster vaccine administration to this expanded group.

As a reminder, the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 booster vaccine was previously approved for individuals ages 18 and older at least two months after receipt of the initial Janssen dose.

Staff Contact: Daniel Landon or Andrew Wheeler

MHA urged Missouri’s U.S. House members to consider becoming a cosponsor of new bipartisan legislation on the use of the Provider Relief Fund to offset pandemic-related expenses.

Staff Contact: Daniel Landon 

By a margin of 220-213, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.75 trillion package of social spending initiatives. Dubbed the “Build Back Better Act,” the legislation includes some health care components. It would expand subsidies of federal health insurance marketplace coverage, enhance eligibility for Medicaid and Children’s Health Care Program coverage, create a Medicare hearing benefit, increase the number of Medicare-funded medical residency slots and authorize additional federal funding of Medicaid in states that have expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The proposal moves to the U.S. Senate, where it is expected to be revamped.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The 2021 Federal Health Insurance Exchange open enrollment period began on Nov. 1. Through the second week of open enrollment, 1,624,349 individuals selected a Marketplace insurance plan, which is an increase from last year’s plan selection total of 1,622,106.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released an interim final rule, “Prescription Drug and Health Care Spending,” with request for comments. The rule compels insurers to report on prescription drug and health coverage costs. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure stated, “With today’s rule, we’re taking more steps to make sure that the care people receive is affordable. Expanding on our earlier efforts to implement the No Surprises Act, we will monitor pricing and premium trends to better identify barriers to the low-cost, comprehensive, and person-centered care we all deserve.” MHA published an issue brief with additional details.

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued several new guidance documents to state survey agencies regarding nursing home visitation, hospital survey processes and Interpretive Guidance for hospital co-location with other hospitals or health care facilities. QSO-20-39-NH includes that visitation is now allowed for all residents at all times. QSO 22-02-ALL informs on changes to the survey process for nursing homes and hospitals. QSO 19-13-Hospital includes interpretive guidelines for co-locating hospitals.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issues updates to MLN Connects Provider eNews. eNews includes information about national provider calls, meetings, events, announcements and other MLN educational product updates. The latest issue provides updates and summaries of the following.

• • changes to nursing home visitation COVID-19 & COVID-19 survey activities
  • quality payment program: 2020 doctors and clinicians preview period open until Tuesday, Dec.14
  • annual Medicare participation open enrollment period
  • It’s not too late to vaccinate.

Staff Contact: Dana Dahl

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, hosted Missouri Rural Health Day on Nov. 18 to celebrate rural health care leaders and honor the noble, community-spirited nature that prevails in rural Missouri. Missouri Rural Health Day promoted the ongoing efforts to communicate, educate, collaborate, and innovate to improve the health of rural Missourians.

Co-sponsors included the Missouri Hospital Association, University of Missouri Rural Scholars Program, Missouri Rural Health Association and Missouri Primary Care Association.

Staff Contact: Sherry Buschjost

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services contracted with Mathematica to develop, electronically specify, and maintain process and structural measures that assess clinical quality in several hospital quality improvement programs. As part of the contract, Mathematica is seeking hospitals interested in testing the Safe Use of Opioids – Concurrent Prescribing electronic clinical quality measure. A cash incentive is offered for participation in the testing, which will be conducted between November 2021 and January 2022.

Staff Contact: Stephen Njenga

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released an article on transforming rural health through economic development, highlighting the need to embrace the diversity of rural communities and approaching them as sources of innovation.

An article from the National Rural Health Association examines the important role of rural social workers and the challenges they face related to poverty, lack of transportation, mental health risks and care shortages.

The American Hospital Association published a perspective piece describing rural health disparities and health equity challenges, addressing collaborative efforts between hospitals, organizations, elected officials, and community leadership to offer health education and promote wellness.

Staff Contact: Jill Williams

Thousands of jobs in health care are waiting for just the right person to apply. With health care workforce shortages already occurring, and future demand for health services expected to grow significantly, MHA enhanced Missouri Health Careers, a website for students and job seekers to understand where they might fit in the workforce — from patient care to paperwork — and direct them to where they can get the required training.

The website walks visitors through a career quiz that can help determine their trajectory. Additionally, a new “compare careers” tool allows users to view careers of interest side-by-side to compare salary, job growth and education. The site also connects individuals with a path forward, recommending links to schools that provide training in Missouri and scholarship information where applicable, and links to job openings for those ready to start applying now.