The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has submitted a 653-page finalized rule governing Medicaid managed care to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, according to Modern Healthcare. Reports indicate that the rule will take a step to reduce the institution for mental diseases (IMD) prohibition on treating adult Medicaid patients in freestanding psychiatric hospitals by permitting states to pay managed care organizations (MCOs) for behavioral care to beneficiaries who stay 15 days or less in an IMD. Additionally, the rule is reported to contain a medical loss ratio of at least 85%, which would allow 15% to be paid to MCOs for administration, marketing and profit. The rule also contains requirements for improving network adequacy through time and distance standards for certain types of providers, including hospitals and physicians.

OMB can take up to 90 days to review the rule, therefore, it could be published sometime in May. KHA’s comments were among the 900 comment letters CMS received on proposed rule....

On February 12, KHA submitted comments to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding site-neutral payment policies in response to a request from the Committee to the health care community for input.

The Association expressed concern over payment proposals that would reimburse hospitals at the same payment rates of facilities with lesser clinical capabilities. Since the costs of operating hospitals, which are the safety nets for so many communities, are much higher than other medical facilities, and Medicare and Medicaid reimburse providers at a much lower rate than the cost to care for patients, KHA urged the Committee to reject any further site-neutral payment policies.

KHA expressed disappointment in Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. The law would result in substantial reductions in payments for services furnished in provider-based hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and prevent beneficial outpatient services from being developed.

The full comment letter is...

KHREF will host a webinar on Telemedicine Coding, Billing and Compliance on March 8 at 1:30 p.m. (ET). Telemedicine services continue to grow both in volume and breadth of coverage, and much of the guidance for telemedicine or telehealth services comes from the Medicare program. However, program changes occur almost every year, so it can be a challenge to make sure your staff is faithfully following the latest Medicare guidelines and regulations. This webinar will help your team decipher the rules and regulations to ensure your hospital stays in compliance.

View the brochure for program details and registration information.

Note: In the original publication of this article, Rockcastle Regional Hospital was not listed among honorees; a corrected list is below.

Eight Kentucky hospitals were recently honored with 2016 Women's Choice Awards for creating an extraordinary patient experience for women and their families. The honors are awarded annually to help women make smart health care choices. The methodology is based on surveys of tens of thousands of women, as well as research conducted in partnership with the Wharton School of Business on what drives the consumer experience for women vs. men.

The following Kentucky hospitals were honored for performance in different categories:

Baptist Health Lexington

100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience (251-400 beds) Bariatric Surgery Breast Center Cancer Care Patient Safety Stroke Baptist Health Louisville

100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience (over 400 beds) Heart Care Cancer Care Baptist Health...

KHA will host two Swing Bed Seminars for Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) at KHA Headquarters in Louisville as follows:

PPS Hospitals

- April 11-12

CAHs

- April 13-14

Follow the corresponding links above for program details and registration information.

Mary Guyot with Stroudwater Associates will instruct both courses. The seminar is supported by the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program in an effort to keep costs as low as possible for rural hospitals.

If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Cobb at KHA (502-426-6220 or 800-945-4542 or via email at ecobb@kyha.com).

The KHA Hospital Day at the Legislature will be held on Thursday, February 25 at the Frankfort Country Club, 101 Duntreath Street, in Frankfort. Registration will begin at 7:30 AM ET, with breakfast starting at 8:00 AM, ET. Confirmed speakers include Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson and Senator Dr. Ralph Alvarado, the sponsor of SB 20, the MCO appeals process legislation. The program will begin at 8:15 AM, ET and will adjourn by 10:15 AM, ET so members can go to the Capitol to meet with their legislators. All members are asked to schedule their own appointments with their legislators.

There will be a luncheon for KHA members and legislators at the Capitol Annex, in Room 149, from 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM, ET. KHA members are encouraged to contact their legislators and personally invite them to the luncheon. The Legislature will go into session at 2:00 PM, ET. A registration form is available at

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KHA will host a seminar on the Joint Commission Environment of Care (EOC) Standards on March 29 at the Hilton Garden Inn Northeast in Louisville.

This one-day program will offer valuable information on how to use the Environment of Care Committee to improve facility environment of care safety and compliance with the Joint Commission. A well-developed Environment of Care Committee can make a measurable improvement to the safety of hospitals and in outcomes from surveys.

For details, view the brochure. Registration for all KHA events is available by clicking "Events" on the KHA home page, www.kyha.com.

If you need additional information, contact Carol Walters at KHA (cwalters@kyha.com).

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the attestation deadline for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs to Friday, March 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET, from the original deadline of Monday, February 29.

Eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program can attest through the CMS Registration and Attestation System. Providers participating in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program should refer to their respective ...

The 2016 Federal Poverty Guidelines were released in the January 25 edition of the Federal Register. As the guidelines affect who can qualify for Medicaid, the new numbers are important for hospitals to keep in mind when assessing presumptive eligibility.

2016 Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and Washington, DC

Persons in family/household	Poverty Guideline
1	$11,880
2	16,020
3	20,160
4	24,300
5	28,440
6	32,580
7	36,730
8	40,890
For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,160 for each additional person.

Further details can be found by viewing the Federal Register entry in its entirety.

Kentucky Hospital Association is pleased to partner with other infection prevention stakeholders in offering the fourth Statewide Infection Prevention Boot Camp on March 8 and 9 in Lexington. The sessions are designed for both experienced IPs and those new to the field. All hospital IP professionals should plan to attend as topics will include emerging pathogens, outbreaks and compliance with newly implemented regulations.

On March 9 and 10, KHA is hosting its Annual Quality and Hospital Engagement Network Conference. All hospital chief nursing officers and quality leaders are encouraged to attend. Education will center on patient safety culture, physician accountability, information technology and building successful improvement systems. There is no cost for the Quality Conference as HEN funds are supporting the event.

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Broadband access is required to meet certain objectives outlined in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs final rule. Therefore, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has maintained exclusions for providers in areas with limited broadband availability as identified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):

Objective 8, Patient Electronic Access - Eligible providers (EPs) and eligible hospitals/CAHs Measure 2 Only:...

The American Hospital Association will hold its annual meeting in Washington, DC, May 1-4. Please, register online at www.aha.org to attend the conference.

KHA has booked a block of rooms at The Hotel Palomar for KHA members planning to attend. If you wish to stay at the Hotel Palomar, please complete the AHA Hotel Reservation Form and return to Carol Walters at KHA (cwalters@kyha.com) by March 7.

The 2016 Infection Prevention Boot Camp, developed through a statewide collaborative aimed at supporting Kentucky infection prevention professionals in their daily work to reduce health care associated infections and provide quality patient care, will be held March 8-9 in Lexington. The two-day conference builds on foundational skills provided in previous educational offerings and explores topics with emerging importance.

A brochure is available at http://www.kyha.com/docs/EventBrochures/IPBootCamp2016.pdf.

To register for this or any other upcoming KHA events, click on "Events" at www.kyha.com and choose the event you plan to attend.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched important changes to the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program hardship exception process that will reduce burdens on clinicians, hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs). These changes are a result of recent Medicare legislation – the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act (PAMPA), Pub. L. No. 114-115 – and the agency’s ongoing efforts to improve the program.

CMS has released an FAQ outlining the documentation requirements for submitting the new hardship application to avoid the 2017 payment adjustment.

FAQ #14113 - On the new hardship application form for the 2017 payment adjustment there is nothing which says documentation is required to be submitted with the application form. Does this mean that CMS will only require the selection of a hardship category and the completion of the provider’s identifying information in order to approve a hardship exception? Or will CMS be reviewing the application...

The AHA Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 1-4 in Washington, DC. You can register online for the meeting now. KHA will have information available soon on the KHA host hotel and planned meetings specifically for the KHA members who attend the national meeting. Make your plans now to attend!

Details on the AHA conference are available at http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/annual-meeting/index.shtml.