Michigan legislation modernized the scope of practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in 2022, eliminating the state requirement that a CRNA must work under direct physician supervision. CRNAs enhance the ability to deliver care in a multitude of scenarios, particularly in rural areas where anesthesia services may be limited. …
Critical access hospitals (CAHs) that accept Medicare and Medicaid payments must follow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs). The CMS Critical Access Hospital Manual has seen multiple changes to regulations and interpretive guidelines. …
The latest edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), is now available. The Dec. issue includes an article noting the uptick in hospital and health system mergers and affiliations and defining expectations for board members in a multitiered governance system. …
“At its December 8-9 meeting, MedPAC considered future funding for hospitals and physicians along with other sectors in healthcare. The 17-member commission will vote on its recommendations at its meeting January 12-13 after staff makes some changes based on commissioner feedback and then submit its official recommendations to Congress in March for FY2024…
The lag indicators used by MedPAC to evaluate Medicare utilization and payments for physician and hospital services are accurate. However, they’re of decreasing relevance to the future of Medicare’s formula for paying providers.”
Due to the holidays, Monday Report will not be published Dec. 26 and Jan. 3. Monday Report will resume its normal schedule Jan. 9. Member alerts and MHA newsroom articles will continue to be published during that time to provide relevant updates to the MHA membership, as necessary.
WOOD TV8 published a story Dec. 12 on the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 183, which includes language allowing rural emergency hospital (REH) licensure in Michigan. The bill passed Dec. 6 with overwhelming support in both the State House and Senate following collaboration between the MHA, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Whitmer administration on making the necessary changes in state statute to allow for the new federal designation. …
The Legislature took their final votes for the 2021-2022 legislative session during the week of Dec. 5. Given the results of the election, very few bills passed during the legislative lame-duck session compared to a typical year. …
The MHA conducted a virtual press conference Dec. 6 to discuss the economic and staffing challenges impacting hospitals across the state to generate awareness with lawmakers of these issues and the potential impact on access to timely, high-quality healthcare for Michiganders. …
The MHA visited Capitol Hill in Washington DC last week to emphasize year-end priorities to Michigan’s congressional delegation. The MHA and several hospital representatives met with House members and with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow to deliver the message that pending Medicare cuts are unsustainable and unacceptable. …
On Dec. 6th, the legislation needed for hospitals to begin converting to Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) in Michigan was sent to the Governor’s desk for final approval. Due to the limited session days left, the language to allow for REH licensure in Michigan were officially included in Senate Bill (SB) 183. …
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a proposed rule to modify the prior authorization process for certain payers. The proposal would require payers to: Include a specific reason when denying a request. Publicly report certain prior authorization metrics. …
Understanding the workforce’s values, preferences, triggers and character traits is essential to developing relationships that create a healthy organization. This may sound basic, but many organizations continue to miss the mark. …
“U.S. healthcare has moved into a vicious cycle marked by intensified competition and noticeable acrimony between major players. Growing tension between major health insurers and health systems is illustrative.
Virtuosity to insurers is predicated on the core belief that keeping providers honest and care affordable and their domain; its vicious pursuit is to attribute unsustainable health costs to hospital inefficiency and price gauging.
The virtuous cycle for hospitals is premised on community health and provision of services to those unable to pay; the vicious cycle is the unwelcome intrusion of insurers and private investors who put profit above all else by paying them less so they can keep more. …”
Medtel was approved for associate membership in Nov. 2022. Medtel was founded in 2016 with a mission to improve surgical care experiences and outcomes for patients and providers by developing and delivering technology solutions. …
The MHA received media coverage the week of Dec. 5 following a virtual press conference Dec. 6 on the financial and staffing challenges impacting hospital viability, as well as topics including hospital capital improvements, mergers and acquisitions and respiratory illness hospital admissions driven by RSV and COVID-19. …
On Dec. 27, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 759, which codifies a licensure exemption provision that has given hospitals regulatory flexibility to appropriately respond to the pandemic, specifically staffing challenges.
The new law took effect immediately and allows licensed, out-of-state providers who are in good standing the ability to render clinical care in Michigan without a Michigan license during an “epidemic-related staffing shortage” as currently identified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
MHA CEO Brian Peters released a statement Dec. 14 applauding lawmakers for prioritizing the bill. The provision that was previously in place, activated by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, was originally set to expire Jan. 11. Members with questions may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.