MHA Keystone Board Reviews Workplace Violence Prevention and Maternal Health Efforts

The MHA Keystone Board of Directors met Nov. 12 to review ongoing work to improve safety and quality across member organizations. The meeting opened with a connect-to-purpose story shared by Keystone Board Chair Doug Dascenzo, DNP, RN, CENP, vice president of nursing operations, Henry Ford Health, which reinforced Keystone’s focus on preventing workplace violence.

The board discussed strategies to address violence in healthcare settings, including clinics and off-site locations. Members reviewed efforts to strengthen policies, training and coordinated approaches that support safer environments for healthcare workers. The discussion emphasized that workplace violence affects staff well-being, patient safety and overall organizational performance.

The board also reviewed maternal health priorities, including the MI AIM program and the framework for maternal levels of care. The overview highlighted how levels of care categorize facilities based on their ability to provide specialized maternal services, ensuring that patients receive appropriate care tailored to their clinical needs.

The board will receive a detailed presentation on Keystone initiatives related to maternal health at a future meeting. The presentation will outline opportunities for board support in advancing work to improve maternal and infant care.

The meeting reaffirmed Keystone’s commitment to addressing critical safety and quality issues through collaborative leadership and continuous improvement.

Members with questions may contact Amy Brown at the MHA.

MHA Webinar to Review 2025 MI-AIM Eligibility Requirements

The MHA will host an informational webinar at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 to review 2025 eligibility requirements for hospital birthing units to receive maternal health quality payments through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The funding is geared to members that are fully participating in the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI-AIM) collaborative and have committed to participating in The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care Verification Program.

The webinar will provide time to answer questions and outline ongoing technical support being provided by the MHA Keystone Center. All birthing hospitals interested in pursuing the 2025 state funding opportunity are encouraged to register.

Additional information can also be found on the MHA’s Maternal Levels of Care webpage.

Members with questions may contact MHA Keystone Center.

Peters Appears on The Common Bridge Podcast

MHA CEO Brian Peters

MHA CEO Brian Peters joined The Common Bridge podcast for an episode published Aug. 18 to discuss various healthcare policy topics, particularly those impacting rural Michigan. Areas of focus include the Affordable Care Act, the impact of Medicaid provider taxes, clinical scope of practice, telemedicine, hospital-at-home programs, Medicare Advantage and the 340B drug pricing program.

The episode is hosted by Richard Helppie, founder of The Common Bridge. Episodes from the show focus on non-partisan policy discussions. The episode is available through Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Peters is also quoted in a press release published Aug. 22 by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on the record number of Michigan hospitals who applied for the Maternal Levels of Care verification through The Joint Commission.

“We applaud each of the hospitals and their birthing teams for the time and effort they spent over recent weeks to complete the application process,” Peters. “This work signifies the dedication Michigan birthing hospitals have toward providing high quality and safe care to Michigan mothers and babies.”

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.

 

New to Know – June 24, 2024

The MHA is hosting office hours virtually from 2 to 3 p.m. every Thursday through June 27 to assist hospitals in completing an application for The Joint Commission’s (TJC’s) Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification. Registration is required and members are asked to register by end of business the Wednesday prior to a week’s session. These sessions provide an opportunity for hospitals to collaborate across the membership, as well as to address general MLC Verification application and program/process questions. Members with questions about the MLC Verification application process are encouraged to attend the sessions. Members with questions about office hours should contact Ewa Panetta.

 

MHA Endorsed Business Partner CorroHealth will host a free webinar for members on June 26. Master Revenue Integrity with VISION: Unveiling Advanced CDI Technology for Hospitals. VISION is a cutting-edge DRG revenue integrity technology developed by physicians with deep clinical knowledge, advanced data analytics, and the latest coding guidelines. VISION instantly scores and prioritizes clinical cases for review and optimization to maximize compliant revenue capture. Members with questions may contact Laura Penton at CorroHealth or Rob Wood at the MHA.

Maternal Levels of Care Toolkit Created to Assist with TJC Verification

A toolkit of resources is now available to assist hospitals with the application process for The Joint Commission’s (TJC’s) Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification.

The toolkit contains resources from TJC and the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, as well as a verification process checklist and sample presentation slides created by the MHA. These should provide guidance and a step-by-step path throughout the verification process.

The MHA is also hosting office hours virtually from 2 to 3 p.m. every Thursday through June 27. Registration is required and members are asked to register by the end of business the Wednesday prior to a week’s session. Members with questions about the MLC Verification application process are encouraged to attend the sessions.

The deadline to complete the application to be eligible for the state funding is Aug. 1. Hospitals must complete this application and be a Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) participant to receive funds.

The funding comes from an appropriation of $10 million in the fiscal year 2024 state budget to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services to support maternal health quality improvement efforts. Michigan birthing hospitals have an opportunity to receive funding from $9 million in available general fund dollars to invest in maternal health quality improvement efforts. The remainder of the funds will aid hospitals in obtaining MLC Verification through TJC.

Additional information about funding requirements is available on the MHA MLC webpage.

Members with questions may contact the MHA Keystone Center.

MDHHS Announces $10 Million Maternal Health Reimbursement Opportunity

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced April 22 its intention to reimburse Michigan birthing hospitals for committing to participate in The Joint Commission Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification Program and the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) Collaborative.

In addition to dedicated funding available to cover the hospitals’ cost of the MLC verification, $9 million general fund dollars will be dispersed amongst MI AIM-participating hospitals for fiscal year (FY) 2024. This funding for hospitals is also included in the FY 2025 budget.

To receive funds, hospitals must be a MI AIM participant and complete an application for The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification program by Aug. 1, 2024.

How to Apply for The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification Program

All birthing hospitals in Michigan are eligible, regardless of Joint Commission certification status.

To join MI AIM, members must submit a 2024 Commitment Agreement by email to Laura Houdeshell-Putt.

For more information, members may visit the Michigan MLC Toolkit webpage or contact the MHA Keystone Center.

$10 Million Grant Available for Birthing Hospitals

The MHA and the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health recently secured a new state grant to support birthing hospitals. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is providing $10 million for hospitals to support the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) work and the cost of The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification program. There is dedicated funding available to cover the hospitals’ cost of the MLC Verification.

Hospitals participating with MI AIM and pursuing MLC verification are eligible to receive a share of $9 million general fund dollars in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This funding for hospitals is also included in the FY 2025 budget.

To receive funds, hospitals must be a MI AIM participant and completed an application for The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification program before Aug. 1, 2024.

The MHA Keystone Center is providing support to hospitals interested in pursuing this new state funding. The MHA will host an informational webinar at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17.

For more information, members may visit the MI AIM Maternal Levels of Care webpage, contact Andrew Syrek at the MHA or watch the presentation from The Joint Commission on the MI AIM webinar.