June 23, 2016

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Do You Need To Revalidate With CMS?
Jim Haynes, Senior Vice President and COO

CMS has begun Cycle Two Revalidation in 2016 and Arizona responses have been low. Click here to see if you need to revalidate with Medicare. If a due date is listed you should submit your application right away.  If you do not see a due date or TBD you do not submit an application until a date has been provided or it will be returned. For Arizona, Part A response rate through November 30 is currently at 12%.  It is important for providers to submit an application to Noridian (Medicare Administrative Contractor) prior to the due date, otherwise their revalidation application will risk the chance of payments being suspended with the possibility of their enrollment file being end dated which will result in a gap in coverage.

Medicare Trustees Report: Continued Slow Cost Growth
Debbie Johnston, Senior Vice President of Policy Development

The Medicare Trustees projected that the trust fund financing Medicare’s hospital insurance coverage will remain fully funded until 2028, 11 years longer than they projected in 2009 before the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The Medicare Trustees highlighted an area of spending growth, noting that growth in the costs of prescription drugs paid by Medicare continues to exceed growth in other Medicare costs and overall health expenditures. In addition, early data shows the potential for a small Social Security cost of living adjustment and that Medicare’s Part B premium “hold harmless” protection will be triggered again this year. The full report is available here. 

GOP Releases Policy Paper Regarding ACA
Debbie Johnston, Senior Vice President of Policy Development

The House Republicans have released a policy paper with a framework to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Part of the plan would provide refundable tax credits, but many are waiting for additional details of the plan to be shared.

Last Chance To Respond To Community Health Survey 
Marcus Johnson, Director of Policy & Community Health

Is your community a good place to live, learn, work, and play? The Maricopa County Community Health Survey is your chance to make your voice heard and influence how community organizations serve you. Click here to take the survey before June 30. Please share the survey with anyone in Maricopa County—friends, family, community members, and colleagues. The broader the survey is spread, the more representative the data will be.

NACCHO Conference Is Coming To Phoenix
Shayna Diamond, Director of Community Affairs

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) will be holding their annual conference in Phoenix July 19-21. Local public health has the ability to convene community members, create public health advocates, and strengthen understanding of local cultures to raise public awareness and build collaborations that result in effective change. To that end, the conference theme is Health Equity, and the goal of sessions is to forge new partnerships to address the underlying causes of health inequity and disparity:

• Assess and Investigate
• Building Relationships and Alliances
• Shifting Public Awareness and Consciousness
• Transforming Locals from Within

Trustee Symposium A Success
Gina Hillis, Director of Governance & Special Assistant to the President

AzHHA is proud to have hosted the 20th Annual Western Regional Trustee Symposium June 8-10 at the Arizona Grand Resort.  This conference was very well-attended by trustees and hospital CEOs from over 11 states. Attendees shared that this was the best symposium ever!

Point of Pride 

This week we are recognizing Hacienda Healthcare and the 1 year anniversary of their Hacienda Children’s Hospital located in Mesa, AZ. The services offered mirror those offered at its sister hospital, Los Niños Hospital, and offers 24/7 visitation for parents and caregivers, has 24 private patient rooms with pullout beds to accommodate those who wish to stay overnight, large in-room bathrooms, shared outdoor playground. Here is a video of the facility and the 2016-2018 Community Health Needs Assessment. Thank you for the great work you do and congrats on your ongoing success!