MHA Today | November 24, 2021

Staff Contact: Jill Williams

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to announce $1.5 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery programs to grow and diversify the nation’s health care workforce. The White House said the funding will support scholarships and loan repayment for more than 22,700 doctors, dentists, nurses and behavioral health providers committed to working in underserved communities.

The administration said it also plans to award $330 million in ARPA funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program to expand the primary care physician and dental workforce in underserved communities through community-based primary care residency programs.

Staff Contact: Daniel Landon

A new federal law directs the federal Veterans Administration to report to Congress on its policies and practices for using video cameras in VA medical facilities to promote patient safety and law enforcement. President Biden signed the legislation into law on Nov. 23.

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade

The state’s purchasing office released a request for proposals for Missouri Medicaid managed care services. The current managed care contracts end June 30, 2022. The state will award contracts to three plans for services statewide for nondisabled, nonelderly adults, pregnant women and children. One contract will be awarded for services statewide for children in foster care and children in subsidized adoptions. Behavioral health services for foster children will be added to the contract for the first time. A more detailed analysis of the RFP will be available in the coming days. A call with potential bidders will be held on Monday, Dec. 6, and responses to the RFP must be submitted by Wednesday, Dec. 29.

Staff Contact: Brian Kinkade or Daniel Landon

The federal Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission released two issue briefs comparing Medicaid with other types of insurance coverage in enabling access to medical care. One addresses adults and the other addresses children.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued updates to MLN Connects Provider eNews.

• • Provider Relief Fund reporting deadline: Tuesday, Nov. 30
  • COVID-19: Pfizer and Moderna booster shots for 18 years and older
  • IPPS, IRF and LTCH: New Web Pricer released for FY 2022
  • Medicare provider compliance tips

Staff Contact: Shane VanOverschelde

Subscribers of the HIDI Premier Reporting Package now have access to the 2020 Annual Survey Seven-Year Trends report. This report displays tables and graphs depicting seven-year trends of a comprehensive set of financial metrics, as reported on the most recent Annual Licensing Survey. Reports are categorized by various peer groups, such as bed size, geographic region, ownership type, hospital type and congressional district. The report can be found on HIDI Analytic Advantage in the following location.

• • File Location: Finance and Policy/Premier Reports
  • File Name: MO0000_7-Year_Trends_2020 (11 2021).pdf

Hospitals interested in subscribing to the HIDI Premier Reporting Package should review the package information. Current subscribers with questions about downloading files should contact HIDI.

Staff Contact: Jill Williams

The Health Resources and Services Administration released a Notice of Funding Opportunity to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide. The Nurse Faculty Loan Program provides funding to accredited schools of nursing to establish and operate a student loan fund and provide loans to students enrolled in advanced education nursing degree programs who are committed to becoming nurse faculty. In exchange for completion of up to four years of post-graduation full-time nurse faculty employment in an accredited school of nursing, the program authorizes cancellation of up to 85% of the original student loan amount.

HRSA anticipates awarding as many as 80 grantees with a total of approximately $26.5 million to support training of advanced education nursing students who will serve as nurse faculty upon graduation. Applications are due Jan. 13, 2022.

Staff Contact: Jill Williams

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program helps address the health care needs of those in underserved communities and supports the ongoing development of the nursing workforce by offering funding to registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses toward payment of qualifying educational loans. Applications are accepted through Jan. 13, 2022.

Staff Contact: Becky Boyce

Steve Edwards, president and CEO of CoxHealth in Springfield, Mo., announced his plans to retire effective May 31, 2022. Edwards has been with CoxHealth for 30 years, serving in various leadership roles and as president and CEO since 2012. A search committee has been established to choose the health system’s next leader.