Tag: SUD

National Rural Health Association Funding Opportunities Available

Member News

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) recently announced two new funding opportunities to support initiatives that will improve healthcare access in rural communities.

The Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will accept applications for the USDA Rural eConnectivty Program starting March 22 until April 22. This program offers loans and grants to support the construction, improvement or acquisition of facilities and equipment that are necessary to expand broadband internet service in rural areas. Funding opportunities for eligible applicants will vary based on the needs of each Proposed Funded Service Area.

Additionally, the HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response (RCORP) Funding Program is currently accepting applications through May 6 to expand access to treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) in rural communities. Throughout this four-year project, grantees are eligible to receive up to $750,000 per year. Funding is intended to support the establishment or expansion of the SUD workforce, collaboration with social services for long term recovery support, and sustainability of programming beyond the grant period. Public, private, non-profit, for-profit groups, tribal government, educational institutions and faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a part of a network involving at least four entities, with at least two located in HRSA-designated rural service areas.

Eligible MHA members are encouraged to consider applying for these funding opportunities to expand and enhance healthcare services in rural communities.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report March 11, 2024

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

capitol buildingMichigan Legislature Advances Healthcare and Economic Measures

The Michigan Legislature reviewed, discussed and moved forward legislation the week of March 4 that positively impacts patients, hospitals and health systems. Notably, the legislature took final action a bill related to the Renaissance Zone …

Congressional Spending Package Solidifies Medicare SUD Coverage

The President signed March 8 a six-bill Congressional funding package to avoid a federal government shutdown that evening. The funding package included several healthcare provisions, including a measure expanding access to substance use disorder (SUD) …

Michigan HR Professionals Gathers at the MHA HR Conference

More than 90 healthcare human resources (HR) professionals from across the state gathered at the MHA Human Resources Conference March 5 in Lansing. Attendees participated in hands-on facilitated discussions that developed innovative ideas focused on …

Change Healthcare Outage Continues to Impact Members

The MHA has been in close contact with the American Hospital Association, the Michigan Healthcare Security Operations Center and other partners regarding the Change Healthcare cyberattack that has impacted hospitals nationwide over the …

MHA Behavioral Health Learning Series: Second Webinar

The MHA is hosting a five-part webinar series to provide hospital staff with a deeper understanding of Michigan’s behavioral health system and the hospital’s role in connecting patients with care. These webinars are part of …

MIHI Hosts Webinar Series on BEAD State Challenge Process

The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) will be hosting three educational webinars to answer questions about the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) State Challenge Process, which is currently pending approval from the National Telecommunications …

MHA Podcast Uplifts Importance of Submitting Adverse Event Data to Improve Patient, Staff Safety

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast during Patient Safety Awareness Week to uplift why hospitals should prioritize submitting adverse event data, in addition to what can be done to improve the culture around reporting. …

The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyHealthcare Spending 2000-2022: Key Trends, Five Important Questions

“Last week, Congress avoided a partial federal shutdown by passing a stop-gap spending bill and now faces March 8 and March 22 deadlines for authorizations including key healthcare programs. …

The reality is this: no one knows for sure what the U.S. health economy will be in 2025 much less 2035 and beyond. There are too many moving parts, too much invested capital seeking near-term profits, too many compensation packages tied to near-term profits, too many unknowns like the impact of artificial intelligence and court decisions about consolidation and too much political risk for state and federal politicians to change anything. …”

Paul Keckley, March 4, 2024

News to Know

MHA-member communications professionals are encouraged to save the date for this year’s MHA Communications Retreat, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at the Henry Center for Executive Development in Lansing.

MHA CEO Brian PetersMHA in the News

Chief Healthcare Executive published an article March 5 about the impact of the Change Healthcare cyberattack on hospitals and health systems across the country. The publication spoke with several state hospital associations representing Michigan, Florida, …

MHA Monday Report Dec. 18, 2023

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

MDHHS Expands Medicaid Coverage to Include CHW Services

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced an expansion of Medicaid coverage effective Jan. 1, 2024 to include community health worker (CHW) services. The MDHHS also issued a final policy establishing …

Hospital-based Substance Use Disorder Consultation Reimbursement Coverage

Physicians and other qualified practitioners will be reimbursed for substance use disorder (SUD) consultations in the inpatient hospital or emergency department setting effective Jan. 1, 2024. These services include assessment, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of individuals during …

Coverage of Office-based Substance Use Treatment Services

Primary healthcare providers will be reimbursed for substance use disorder (SUD) treatments that are provided in an office-based primary care setting effective Jan. 1, 2024. This applies to providers who do not have a specialty SUD benefit services contract with a Prepaid .…

Guide and Action Plan Created to Support Health Equity Programming

As strides are made to address inequities and disparities in healthcare, governing and regulatory bodies including The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have created guidelines, benchmarks and policies that evolve over time. The MHA Keystone …

Enrollment Deadline Friday for MHA Governance Affinity Group

The deadline to enroll a trustee in the new MHA Governance Affinity Group is Friday, Dec. 22. The benefits of a well-run meeting go beyond parliamentary procedure. Proper communication and facilitation skills needed to make decisions about strategic issues drive performance and .…

Hospital Vaccine Resources Available

The MHA is at the forefront of advocating for vaccination awareness and education, particularly focusing on the challenges associated with the Beyfortus (nirsevimab) monoclonal antibody for infants entering their first respiratory syncytial virus season. The association is …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Outlines the Board’s Role in Patient Experience

The December edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), includes an article on the board’s role in patient experience. The average hospital has turned over 105% of its workforce in the last five years and national …

The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyThe Affordable Care Act is Back on Stage: What to Expect

“In the last 2 weeks, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been inserted itself in Campaign 2024 by Republican aspirants for the White House …

It’s no surprise. Health costs and affordability rank behind the economy as top issues for Republican voters per the latest Kaiser Tracking Poll. And distaste with the status quo is widespread and bipartisan: per the Keckley Poll (October 2023), 70% of Americans including majorities in both parties and age-cohorts under 65 think “the system is fundamentally flawed and needs major change.” To GOP voters, the ACA is to blame. …

The ACA is back on the radar in U.S. healthcare. Stay tuned.”

Paul Keckley, Dec. 10, 2023

News to Know

  • Clarence RuckerClarence Rucker, manager, patient safety and quality, MHA Keystone Center, is featured in COLOR Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Powerlist.
  • Due to the holidays, Monday Report will not be published Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and will resume its normal schedule Jan. 8.

 

MHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage the week of Dec. 11 related to post-secondary nurse degree programs and telehealth.

2023 Ludwig Nominee: Munson Healthcare Expanding Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Recovery in Northern Michigan

Member News

Since 1990, the MHA has honored member healthcare organizations working to enrich the overall welfare of their local communities through the Ludwig Community Benefit Award. This year, the MHA is excited to showcase all award nominees, highlighting the exceptional and creative work being accomplished by Michigan’s hospitals.

Munson Healthcare (MHC), a 2023 nominee, is advancing the health of northern Michigan communities through the Regional Community Health Opioid Initiative, which offers resources for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery. This includes efforts to address stigma, ensure safe prescribing and educate both patients and providers.

In a 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, SUD was identified as a top concern in the regions Munson serves. The issue affects people from all demographics, income levels and educational backgrounds. Although SUDs are common, recurrent and often serious, treatment options in rural Northern Michigan are limited. In many cases, patients seeking help are tasked with travelling several hours for treatment or go without care because of this barrier.

The MHC initiative improves access to treatment by providing on-demand resources in the emergency and inpatient setting while reducing SUD-related medical complications through offerings like take-home naloxone for at-risk individuals. The health system also focuses on fostering community partnerships; implementing stigma reduction campaigns, staff education and peer recovery coaching; expanding harm reduction and enhancing suicide prevention efforts.

In addition to serving the residents of Grand Traverse, Wexford, Manistee, Kalkaska, Antrim and Otsego counties, MHC teams hope to expand programming into more areas where SUD resources are limited or not available. Simultaneously, they are working to share best practices for treatment with regional primary care clinics and extend long-term recovery resources for Michiganders.

Members with questions about the program or the Ludwig Community Benefit Award should contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.

DEA Change in X-Waiver Requirement

Member News

President Biden approved the elimination of the DATA Waiver (X-Wavier) requirement and several other prescribing practice changes when he signed Dec. 29 the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Changes to prescribing practices include:

  • No longer requiring the X-Waiver to treat patients with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
  • Removing any limits or caps on the number of patients a prescriber may treat with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
  • Only requiring a standard Drug Enforcement Administration registration number for all prescriptions for buprenorphine moving forward.
  • Maintaining existing state laws or regulations that may be applicable.
  • Introducing new training requirements for all prescribers that are expected to take effect June 21, 2023. These requirements have not yet been made clear, but do not impact the elimination of the X-Waiver.

Biden held an event at the White House Jan. 24 celebrating the policy change as a bipartisan success that will increase access to medication for opioid use disorder. The additional barriers the X-Waiver presented deterred providers from offering these services and a similar license was never required for prescribing other controlled substances like opioids.

Current laws and regulations in Michigan have not changed because of the changes to federal X-Waiver requirements, but the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is in the process of revising substance use disorder (SUD) rules that would no longer require a SUD program license for buprenorphine providers. The Michigan Public Health code currently states:

  • A substance use disorder services program license is required if a prescriber is providing buprenorphine treatment to more than 100 individuals OR is providing methadone treatment.
  • No license is needed if a prescriber is administering buprenorphine treatment to less than 100 individuals at a time.

Michigan’s current rules and regulations regarding prescribing buprenorphine are available on the LARA Substance Abuse Program Licensure webpage.

Members will be updated once the revised SUD rules are approved by the Michigan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. Updated federal information will be available on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website.

Members with questions should contact the MHA Keystone Center.