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AzHHA Calls for Revisions to Proposed 340B ADR Process
Debbie Johnston, Sr. Vice President of Policy Development
This week AzHHA submitted comments
on proposed rules to establish an Administrative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process for covered entities and drug manufacturers who participate in the 340B Drug Pricing program. While expressing general support for the proposed process, AzHHA voiced concern that lack of access to ceiling price information would severely limit covered entities’ ability to effectively utilize the process. In addition, the comment letter calls for more flexibility in the panel construction, clarification of panel member qualifications, and a longer time frame for parties to respond to draft agency decisions in order to facilitate a fair, efficient and timely resolution of claims.
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AHPCO 2016 Fall Conference
Genesis Verduzco, Communications Manager
The Arizona Hospice & Palliative Care Organization
(AHPCO) will hold its 2016 Fall Conference November 16, 2016. This conference will focus on effectively navigating the complexities of chronic disease and end-of-life care. Additionally, the importance of thoughtful, informed and engaged healthcare professionals will be covered. Attendees will include nurses, physicians, social workers, and chaplains. To view more details about this event or to register, click here. AzHHA members can receive a discounted rate by contacting gverduzco@azhha.org and requesting the promo code.
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Drug Pricing
Debbie Johnston, Sr. Vice President of Policy Development
A new analysis of drug pricing data
finds that inpatient hospital drug spending increased more than 38% per admission between 2013 and 2015, the predominant cause of which was price - not utilization.The analysis examines trends in inpatient drug spending and prices, and the impact these increases have on hospitals and their patients. The report, commissioned by the
AHA and FAH, also looks at the unit purchase price for a subset of drugs identified by expert pharmacist and hospital workgroups as “high spend” – due to volume, price or both. Many of the drugs identified experienced significant price increases in recent years. Data were collected from 712 community hospitals. Additional data were contributed by group purchasing organizations (GPOs) representing more than 1,400 community hospitals. The report and other resources are available
here.
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AzHHA Hospital Improvement Innovation Network Recruitment Now Open
Sandy Severson, Vice President of Care Improvement
AzHHA is currently recruiting Arizona hospitals to participate in a national program, Hospital Improvement Innovation Network
(HIIN), funded by CMS to reduce hospital-acquired conditions by 20% and 30-day readmissions by 12%. This improvement collaborative involves work that every hospital in the nation should be doing. Participating hospitals can avoid CMS penalties and will have access to evidence-based resources and consultation by subject matter experts who will advise on preventing harm, saving lives, and reducing healthcare costs. Participation in HIIN also meets the Federal requirements to take part in a Patient Safety Organization (PSO) and will support implementation of evidence-based initiatives to reduce all cause preventable harm, prevent hospital readmission, and improve care coordination.
This is the first year AzHHA will be partnering with Health Services Advisory Group in this improvement collaborative to support Arizona hospitals with innovative models to transform clinical care. For more information or to participate, contact Sandy Severson at sseverson@azhha.org.
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Webinar: Bringing Value to Healthcare
Karen Fallquist, Education and Office Coordinator
Based on Numerof’s latest book, Bringing Value to Healthcare: Practical Steps for Getting to a Market-Based Model, this webinar will outline where the healthcare industry is headed, the specific forces driving a focus on value, the challenges of moving from fee-for-service to a value-based model, and the profound changes organizations will have to make to their business model to stay competitive. This webinar will take place on November 15 from 10:00am-11:00am and targets executive leadership, service line management and others with operational responsibility in making population health work in the organization. For more details and to register,
click here.
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Point of Pride
It isn’t prom season, but last week was Hacienda Healthcare’s prom. This event was created over 11 years ago, after a patient commented that he never had the chance to attend prom. Since then, this yearly event full of fun and smiling faces
gives patients the opportunity to participate in their own prom. Patients also vote for their prom Queen and King (view this year’s royalty click here). When patients are able to participate in day to day activities or in special moments, that’s when AzHHA members know we are helping to make Arizona the Healthiest State in the Nation.
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