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Hospital Bill Clears House W&M Committee
Debbie Johnston
Senior Vice President, Policy Development
The House Ways and Means Committee this week approved the newly unveiled Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act
(H.R. 5273). The bill includes a number of provisions impacting hospitals. Significantly, it would modify the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program to risk-adjust for patients’ socioeconomic status. AzHHA has long supported these changes in order to keep hospitals from being penalized based on the patient populations they serve.
The bill would also partially address concerns hospitals raised with the passage of last year’s Bipartisan Budget Act. The BBA included a “site-neutral” payment provision for off-campus hospital outpatient departments. While the bill included a grandfather clause for existing HOPDs, it did not account for facilities under construction. The proposed legislation moves the grandfather date from Nov. 2, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2016, or 60 days after enactment, whichever is later. This will allow some HOPDs that were in mid-build but missed the November deadline, to qualify for the HOPD rate. It is unclear if and when the full House will take up the legislation, and its ultimate fate in the Senate.
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Trauma and Emergency Services Fund
Jim Haynes
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Don't leave money on the table. Hospitals that would like to receive a payment from the Trauma and Emergency Services Fund should send an email to Amy Upston at AHCCCS by June 24, 2016 indicating that:
“The (Hospital Name) Emergency Department was open and continuously operational from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 and has a fiscal year 2015 UAR on file with the Arizona Department of Health Services”
Current rules state that 10% of monies deposited in the fund are distributed to hospitals that have an emergency department to help reimburse for unrecovered emergency room costs. The source for these funds is gaming dollars generated in the State. Hospitals will also need to file their 2015 uniform accounting report (“UAR”) report. For hospitals with December 31 year ends, they are due by May 31st. AHCCCS anticipates making a payment to each qualifying hospital in either August or September after all gaming funds have been deposited.
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Engaging Patients and Community Stakeholders in CHNAs
Marcus Johnson
Director, Policy and Community Health
Healthcare facilities recognize that care provided within their settings is only one factor in a larger equation that results in one’s health. This free webinar,
hosted by the American Hospital Association and the Association for Community Health Improvement (ACHI), will present a comprehensive model to improve patient and stakeholder engagement throughout the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) process; thereby initiating health improvement and community benefit practices which accurately reflect a community’s greatest needs. Numerous facilities including not-for-profit hospitals, health centers and local health departments are required to conduct such assessments and are invited to join in this educational event. The webinar is part of ACHI’s
Community Health Improvement Week.
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Point of Pride
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we are highlighting the great work done by our member, Aurora Behavioral Health System. For the community, they provide a full spectrum inpatient and outpatient services for adults, adolescents and seniors needing mental health and chemical dependency treatment. For professionals, they provide ongoing educational seminars free of charge every month, January through October, alternating between their Glendale and Tempe locations. Take advantage of this opportunity in June! Email
for more information.
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