Tag: The Joint Commission

$10 Million Grant Available for Birthing Hospitals

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

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. $1 million of the funding will be dedicated 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 the remaining $9 million 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.

MHA Monday Report Jan. 8, 2024

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

MHA Partners with AAPL for CME Courses

The MHA is pleased to partner with the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) to provide a series of in-person Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses in 2024 at the MHA headquarters at 2112 University Park Drive, Okemos, MI …

The Joint Commission Revises Definition of Suicide in Sentinel Event Policy

The Joint Commission has updated the definition of suicide in its Sentinel Event Policy to include time frames with the highest risk for suicide and highlight the healthcare organization’s continued responsibility for ongoing assessment …

MDHHS Expands Medicaid Coverage to Include CHW Services and Releases Beginner Guide

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 this coverage for Medicaid …

Nominations Open for Hometown Health Heroes Award

The MHA is pleased to sponsor Michigan Public Health Week, scheduled for April 10, 2024, with the theme of “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health.” MHA members are encouraged to submit nominations …

MHA CEO Report — Vaccinations & Respiratory Illness Season

The last four years have generated tremendous awareness about vaccines, but also a large public health challenge as disinformation has exploded and anti-vaccine sentiment has emerged from the fringes to become widely embraced. This likely isn’t news to any of you, but the …

The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyAn Open Letter to Hospital Boards of Directors: Long-Term Strategic Planning needs Your Attention

As 2023 comes to an end and prognostics for 2024 pepper Inboxes, high anxiety is understandable. The near-term environment for hospitals, especially public hospitals and not-for-profit health systems, is tepid at best: despite the November uptick in operating margins to 2% (Fitch, Syntellis), the future for hospitals is uncertain and it’s due to more than payer reimbursement, labor costs and regulatory changes. …

Hospitals are not alone in dealing with money-driven pressures that seem out of sync with lofty aims like ‘student athletes’ and ‘community benefits.’ That’s why hospitals must embrace long-term strategic planning with an outside-in frame of reference now.”

Paul Keckley, Jan. 1, 2024

MHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage over the holidays during the weeks of Dec. 18, Dec. 25 and Dec. 31. Topics covered include the healthcare workforce, the MHA Keystone Center, air ambulance services and a review …

The Joint Commission Revises Definition of Suicide in Sentinel Event Policy

Member News

The Joint Commission has updated the definition of suicide in its Sentinel Event Policy to include time frames with the highest risk for suicide and highlight the healthcare organization’s continued responsibility for ongoing assessment of the patient as they progress through their treatment plan. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, this revision applies to all Joint Commission accreditation and certification programs (with limited exceptions).

The revised definition of suicide in the Sentinel Event Policy reads Death caused by self-inflicted injurious behavior if any of the following apply:

  • While in a healthcare setting.
  • Within 7 days of discharge from inpatient services.
  • Within 7 days of discharge from emergency department.
  • While receiving or within 7 days of discharge from the following behavioral health care services:
    • Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization Program/Intensive Outpatient Program.
    • Residential.
    • Group home.
    • Transitional supportive living.

The prior definition, which has now been replaced, was:

Suicide of any patient receiving care, treatment, and services in a staffed around the clock care setting or within 72 hours of discharge, including from the health care organization’s emergency department.

Members may visit the Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Policy and Procedures webpage for more information.

Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.

Webinar Prepares for The Joint Commission and CMS Health Equity Requirements

Member News

Recently, The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their commitment in driving the next decade of health equity for people who are underserved. The commitment to advancing health equity will help foster a healthcare system that benefits all for generations to come. These new requirements include the expansion of collection, reporting and analysis of standardized data. Hospitals and health systems must be prepared to understand and report these new requirements to continue to receive reimbursement from the CMS.

The MHA Health Foundation webinar Prepare for The Joint Commission and CMS Health Equity Requirements will:

  • Describe the new health equity-related reporting requirements to stay compliant with TJC and the CMS.
  • Demonstrate how you can assess hospital readiness to meet the new requirements.
  • Outline sources for data, including hospital community health needs assessments, for health equity reporting.
  • Describe how to assess and analyze your patients’ social risk factors and how these needs evolve over time.

The webinar is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon, Nov. 15 and MHA-member hospitals can register for an unlimited number of connections per hospital/entity for $200.

Members with questions should contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.

Ligature Risks and Regulatory Requirements Reviewed in MHA Webinar

Member News

Suicide safety continues to be a priority for accrediting organizations such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission (TJC), requiring many providers to evaluate various policies and processes. They include how to keep suicidal patients safe when care is needed outside of the psychiatric unit, how to ensure suicidal safety in the emergency room, controlled entrances and exits, and more. The MHA Health Foundation webinar Ligature Risks and Preventing Inpatient Suicide: Compliance with the CMS and TJC Standards will review ligature risks in behavioral health, emergency department, and the inpatient setting, complying with regulatory and accreditation requirements, and related issues.

The webinar is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon ET June 14, and MHA members can register for a connection fee of $200. Members with questions should contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.

Webinar Reviews Ligature Risks and Regulatory Requirements

Member News

Suicide safety continues to be a priority for accrediting organizations such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission (TJC), requiring many providers to evaluate various policies and processes. They include how to keep suicidal patients safe when care is needed outside of the psychiatric unit, how to ensure suicidal safety in the emergency room, controlled entrances and exits, and more.

The MHA Health Foundation webinar Ligature Risks and Preventing Inpatient Suicide: Compliance with the CMS and TJC Standards will review ligature risks in behavioral health, emergency department, and the inpatient setting, compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements, and more.

The webinar is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon ET June 14, and MHA members can register for a connection fee of $200. Members with questions should contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.