MHA Monday Report April 17, 2023

MHA Monday Report

Board of Trustees Meets at MHA Capitol Advocacy Center

The MHA Board of Trustees met April 12 at the MHA Capitol Advocacy Center in downtown Lansing, joined by Michigan Senate Health Policy Chair Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores). Hertel acknowledged the state’s significant challenges …


capitol buildingHealthcare Bills See Action as Session Resumes

The Michigan Legislature returned to session the week of April 10, taking up several bills the MHA is monitoring. In the House of Representatives, MHA-supported legislation to create a new tax credit for blood donations …


MHA Keystone Center Hosts Safe Patient Handling Event April 13

Healthcare workers across the state gathered April 13 in Southeast Michigan to discuss best practices for patient handling to ensure the safety of both the patient and the caregiver. The MHA Keystone Center partnered with …


CMS Releases FY 2024 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for inpatient psychiatric facilities for fiscal year (FY) 2024, beginning Oct. 1, …


Eligibility for FEMA COVID-19 Public Assistance Ends May 11

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated eligibility and programmatic deadlines for all COVID-19 emergency and major disaster declarations. Costs incurred after the public health emergency ends May 11 will not be eligible for funding …


CMS Releases FY 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year (FY) 2024, beginning Oct. 1, 2023. …


CMS Releases FY 2024 LTCH Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment system for federal fiscal year (FY) 2024. When all proposed …


CMS Releases FY 2024 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service hospital inpatient prospective payment system for fiscal year (FY) 2024. The MHA is concerned since …


The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyFrontline Voices: What Artificial Intelligence and Value-based Models mean for Not-for-Profit Hospitals and Health Systems

“On Monday, April 3 in Chicago, 11 C suite executives from some of the most prestigious not-for-profit health systems in the country convened to discuss their future. The group included Chief Medical, Officers, Chief Strategy Officers, Chief Operating Officers and Chief Information Officers with broad responsibilities and much at stake. …

There’s widespread belief generative AI and GPT-4 are game changers in healthcare. How, what, when and how much ($$$) are the big questions. The near-term issues associated with implementation–data-security, workforce usefulness, regulation, investment costs—are expected to be resolved eventually. Thus, it is highly likely that health systems, medical groups, health insurers and retail and digital health solution providers will operate in a widely-expanded AI-enabled world in the next 3-5 years. …“

Paul Keckley, April 10, 2023


Annual Meeting iconNews to Know

Eligibility for FEMA COVID-19 Public Assistance Ends May 11

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated eligibility and programmatic deadlines for all COVID-19 emergency and major disaster declarations. Costs incurred after the public health emergency ends May 11 will not be eligible for funding under the COVID-19 Public Assistance Program. However, FEMA issued guidance recognizing costs may be incurred for demobilization, disposition and disposal activities related to eligible COVID-19 emergency work and FEMA has approved an extension to these eligible activities until Aug. 9, 2023.

Members with direct FEMA questions can contact the FEMA Recovery Public Assistance Executive Office. Members with other questions can may contact Renée Smiddy at the MHA.

Federal 100% Cost Share for COVID-19 Expenses Extended

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in February 2021 increased federal funding for COVID-19 pandemic expenses from 75% to 100%, retroactive to the beginning of the pandemic in January 2020. The agency has now extended the COVID-19 federal 100% cost share for an additional three months, from April 1 to July 1, 2022.

This extension allows FEMA to pay 100% federal funding for the costs of eligible COVID-19 expenses, which include COVID-19-related medical care, vaccination and testing efforts. Absent an additional extension from the Biden administration, the federal cost share will reduce to 90% after July 1.

Members with questions on the FEMA cost share extension may contact Renée Smiddy at the MHA.

FEMA Updates Interim Policy on Eligible Public Assistance Federal Cost Sharing

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a new interim policy, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance. This interim policy supersedes version 1 that was published April 5, 2021.

This updated policy retroactively amends the applicable time period of eligibility to the beginning of the incident period of Jan. 20, 2020, and specifies that work conducted from the beginning of the incident period to Dec. 31, 2021, will be reimbursed at a federal cost share of 100 percent. Work conducted after Dec. 31, 2021, will be subject to the cost share established at that time.

This version of the interim policy maintains the same scope of work as Version 1, which includes COVID-19 diagnostic testing, purchase and distribution of face masks, cleaning and disinfection, screening and temperature scanning, and installation of temporary physical barriers and signage to support social distancing.

Member with questions on the interim policy may contact Renee Smiddy at the MHA.

FEMA Public Assistance Grant Agreements Updated, Applicant Trainings Planned

Hospitals and other organizations that have applied for Public Assistance (PA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will need to obtain updated grant agreements that reflect 100% federal reimbursement, updated from the previous agreements indicating 75% federal reimbursement and 25% local cost share. The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division is updating grant agreements for current grantees and will distribute final agreements as soon as possible. The division is currently experiencing a high volume of applicants due to the Wayne County floods and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Any hospital that is seeking FEMA PA and has not attended a training is encouraged to join one of the upcoming trainings outlined on the state’s website. Any potential PA applicant must register at the FEMA Grants Portal and attend a virtual applicant training to be eligible for FEMA PA funds. The first round of PA applicant trainings was held in May 2020, and those who attended one of those sessions have satisfied their training requirement. However, some information may have been updated and hospitals may benefit from attending an upcoming training.

Members with questions should contact Renée Smiddy at the MHA.