Trustee Matters | December 2024

MHA Shares 2024 Accomplishments

MHA Contact: Dave Dillon

MHA is a dedicated partner that works tirelessly to ensure the success of Missouri’s hospitals through advocacy, expertise and resources, and data-driven insights.

MHA’s 2024 Report of Accomplishments, released in early December, summarizes the important efforts made to strengthen the health care landscape in Missouri.

Advocacy remains at the heart of our operations, and in 2024, MHA was instrumental in shaping policy at both the state and federal levels to help hospitals and health systems thrive. From Jefferson City, Mo., to Washington, D.C., MHA not only works to influence legislation and policy but also give a voice to hospitals and the communities they serve.

Among the legislative priorities adopted and approved during the 2024 Missouri Legislature’s session were protections against contract pharmacy limitations in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and a five-year extension of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance, a major funding stream for MO HealthNet.

MHA also assisted with securing funding to support hospitals, behavioral health programs and workforce development. These achievements were notable, especially during an unpredictable legislative session and election year.

Every hospital is experiencing challenges within the workforce, and MHA offered numerous professional development opportunities this year for health care employees to enhance their skills. In fact, through October 2024, the MHA Health Institute educated more than 5,700 individuals.

MHA continues to offer hospitals access to resources to deliver high-quality care and improve the health of their communities. From maternal health to substance use to emergency preparedness and response, MHA helps ensure hospitals provide health care that is accessible, reliable, equitable, and of excellent quality and value.

Hospital decision-making should be founded on data, and HIDI’s business intelligence tools provide insight into market share, risk management and quality improvement. In 2024, HIDI expanded these services and will continue to do so in 2025.

This list of accomplishments only touches on the numerous successes of 2024. A more comprehensive look at the value MHA creates for members is available in the full report.

MHA Honors Trustees of the Year

MHA Contact: Christy Carel

Two Missouri hospital trustees have been honored for their service with MHA’s Trustee of the Year Award. The honorees were announced at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in November.

Dennis Carter
Liberty Hospital
Liberty, Mo.

Dennis Carter was initially elected to the Liberty Hospital Board in 2013 and served as secretary and vice chair before being selected as chair. During his tenure, he has led the board through several important milestones, including system affiliation and a major cybersecurity incident.

In his regular support of the hospital’s core mission and values, he remains laser focused on the people who make that mission a reality. His mantra is, “a hospital is more about people than bricks and mortar.”

A video honoring Carter is available here.