Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Week of April 12
Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Week of April 12 A somber milestone was reached April 17 when, according to Johns Hopkins University data, the global number of deaths caused by COVID-19 surpassed 3 million. The MHA continues to keep members apprised of pandemic-related developments affecting hospitals through email updates and the MHA …
MHA Board Discusses COVID-19 Surge, Behavioral Health, Sustainability Goals
Amid a third surge of cases and hospitalizations in the state, the MHA Board of Trustees began its April 14 meeting with a review of the COVID-19 data dashboard. While Michigan’s positivity rate, emergency department visits and hospitalizations have …
Prior Authorization Legislation Gets Senate Hearing
Prior Authorization Legislation Gets Senate HearingMichigan’s House and Senate policy committees took up several bills impacting hospitals during the week of April 12. They addressed a bill making changes to prior authorization for healthcare services, a bill to expand scope of practice for certain mental health …
Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule Released
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year 2022, which begins Oct. 1, 2021. …
Michigan’s Medicaid Work Requirement Rescinded
The Biden administration informed the state of Michigan April 6 it had withdrawn approval of the state’s community engagement requirement for some adult beneficiaries of the Healthy Michigan Plan, also known as the work requirement. In a 64-page letter …
Medicaid Proposal Would Standardize Lab Billing for Testing of Multiple Genes
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently released a proposed policy to standardize the billing and coding of next generation sequencing multigene panel laboratory tests across laboratory providers. The proposed changes …
Temporary Telehealth Coverage Expanded for Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released an expanded list of telehealth services March 31. The 24 newly added CPT codes for audiology and speech-language pathology will be covered through the duration of the public health …
Nominations Due April 22 for Quarterly Speak-up! Award
Nominations Due April 22 for Quarterly Speak-up! AwardThe deadline to submit a nomination for the quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award is 11:59 p.m. April 22. The award is designed to acknowledge the efforts of individuals or teams within …
CMS Restraint and Seclusion Webinar Examines Regulations
While the use of restraints can prevent significant risks to the patient, it is controversial and highly regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission. The MHA Health Foundation is partnering with the Georgia Hospital …
The Future of Acute Care Hospital is Focus of Webinar
In the initial months of the pandemic, the lack of a coordinated federal response stressed the nation’s healthcare delivery system. Market fragmentation was visible as hospitals dealt with staff and supply shortages and operating at capacity amid financial …
Headline Roundup: Week of April 12 for COVID-19 in Michigan
Headline Roundup: Week of April 12 for COVID-19 in MichiganAs Michigan hospitals care for a third surge of COVID-19 patients, the MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the increase in infections and hospitalizations over the past month …
The Keckley Report
The Short Game: 3 Issues that will Frame Biden Administration Health Priorities through 2022
“Last week, President Biden submitted his proposed FY 2022 budget for discretionary spending in the Federal Government’s 15 departments: healthcare figures prominently in the $1.52 trillion package.”
“This budget comes at a precarious time for the U.S. healthcare industry … ”
News to Know
National Hospital Week 2021 will be celebrated May 9-15, providing an opportunity to highlight hospitals, health systems and healthcare workers and the innovative ways they are supporting the needs of community members.