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September 13, 2020
50 Years of Advancing Health Care
This year, MHA celebrates its 50th anniversary. That’s 50 years working for and alongside you to advance health and health care in our state.

I speak for the entire MHA team when I say it’s a privilege to advocate and educate on your behalf.

MHA is truly a member-driven organization and has been since its formation. You set the tone and vision for health care in Maryland—and how your association can fulfill that vision.

Central to our work for much of the association’s history has been Maryland’s one-of-a-kind rate setting system, which begat the All-Payer Model and now the Total Cost of Care Model.

But there’s so much more we support you on. Quality of care. Community engagement. Health equity. Legislative matters. The list goes on.

Your shared mission to care for Marylanders is seeing our state through the deadliest pandemic in a century. Your dedicated caregivers—committed to keeping us healthy and hopeful during this challenging time—are true heroes.

To mark this milestone, take a moment to enjoy acknowledgement from leaders around the state and country.

And, be sure to visit our website, review a timeline of MHA’s history, interact on social media, and read the media release.

Thank you for the opportunity to represent your fine organizations; here’s to the next 50 years.
Bob Atlas
President & CEO
FAQ: HHS Daily COVID-19 Data Reporting
MHA continues to seek clarity on evolving guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on COVID-19 daily data reporting. In response to questions from members, MHA compiled this document from conversations and emails with HHS and CMS. MHA will continue to update this document with the latest guidance and resources for hospitals. For specific questions you’d like to have answered, contact Katie Eckert or Ahmed Elsayed.
School-Based Health Centers Advisory Council issues Report and Recommendations
The Council on the Advancement of School-Based Health Centers (Council) issued recommendations to maximize the effectiveness of school-based health centers (SBHCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies. Recommendations include actively promoting continuity of care for vulnerable students, developing clear processes and lines of authority to provide SBHC flexibility, supporting remote care (telehealth) by SBHC practitioners, enhancing central agency resources for the SBHC program, and considering access to closed school buildings for certain SBHC activities.

In addition to the final recommendations the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission and the Council on the Advancement of School-Based Health Centers partnered with Harbage Consulting LLC on a report to show the value of SBHCs in Maryland. Harbage Consulting found SBHC stakeholders are committed to providing high quality services to children and reducing barriers to care. SBHCs fill a critical role in the health care system by providing needed acute and ongoing physical and mental health services to children in Maryland schools, particularly in underserved areas. The reports and recommendations can be accessed here.  
HSCRC Reviews COVID-19 Funding, MPA Recommendation
The Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) reviewed a summary of COVID-19 funding and rate year 2020 global budgeted revenue (GBR) considerations during its public meeting Wednesday. HSCRC staff plans to lower future GBR for federal funds received in excess of the rate year 2020 undercharge. Exceptions will be made if hospitals can show additional costs related to COVID-19—based on fiscal year 2020 annual filings—or if the federal government requires the funds to be returned. HSCRC also previewed the Medicare Performance Adjustment Recommendation. Read more in this month’s Newsbreak.
MHA Sponsoring HealthCare Access Maryland’s Fall Community Conversation Series
As part of our Commitment to Racial Equity, MHA is sponsoring HealthCare Access Maryland’s fall virtual speaker series. The first event, Investing in Employee Health in the Age of COVID, will be Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. The session will focus on the employer’s role in ensuring health equity among their employees and in their community. Dr. Michelle Gourdine from the University of Maryland Medical System will participate on the panel. To register for the event click here.
MHEI: The Conversation on Race: Combating Systemic Racism in Healthcare
Free Elder Abuse Prevention and Response Training Opportunity
ElderSafe Center, a comprehensive healthcare-based elder abuse shelter in Montgomery county, is offering to host free webinars for hospital members focused on identifying and combating elder abuse. ElderSafe offers interactive trainings for all hospital personnel involved in the care of older adult patients. Key components of the training include the complex dynamics of elder abuse, warning signs, screening tools, barriers to disclosure and the role of health care professionals as mandatory reporters. To schedule training for your staff or to find out more information, contact Tovah Kasdin.
Clinical Lessons From the COVID-19 Surge
The Northeast Hospital Associations and the Jefferson College of Population Health will host a webinar Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. offering clinical lessons from the COVID-19 surge. This webinar will feature a discussion among Massachusetts acute and post-acute care providers regarding their strategies for managing through a pandemic and lessons learned, and for managing future surges. More information and registration details are available on their website.
CMS Price Transparency Requirements
On Sept. 2, CMS released the FY 2021 IPPS final rule. The rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register Sept. 18 and contains requirements for hospitals to submit median payer-negotiated charges for payers that are Medicare Advantage organizations on their Medicare cost reports. MHA’s analysis of the rule finds that Maryland hospitals are exempt from this requirement and will remain so for the duration of the Total Cost of Care Model.

Still, pending the outcome of an American Hospital Association (AHA) lawsuit, Maryland hospitals must comply with the Hospital Price Transparency final rule, part of the 2020 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule, which requires publicly posting hospital charges in a machine-readable format and charges for shoppable services in a consumer-friendly format starting Jan. 1. Earlier this year, AHA lost a lawsuit opposing these regulations. AHA appealed, and a decision is anticipated in November at the earliest. In the meantime, MHA is working with its Technical Work Group to prepare the field for implementation of this rule by 2021. For additional information, contact Diana Hsu.
MHA Hosts Care Redesign Program User Group
MHA hosted a Care Redesign Program (CRP) User Group meeting Sept. 10 for hospitals enrolled in the Hospital Care Improvement Program (HCIP) and the Episode Care Improvement Program (ECIP). During the meeting the group discussed the 2021 performance period roll out, opportunities to reduce administrative burden and the CRP program in the era of COVID. For more information on the meeting or if you’d like to be added to the distribution list for future CRP User Group meetings contact Erin Dorrien.
CMS Issues Decision on Quality Payment Program Calculations
CMS issued a final decision on Quality Payment Program (QPP) and the Maryland Care Redesign Program (CRP) calculations for 2018-2020. CRP provides an opportunity for certified care partners to be considered eligible for MACRA bonuses under the QPP. Over the last year, HSCRC staff encouraged CMS to make needed corrections to its QPP programming to ensure results are accurate for Maryland providers.

HSCRC staff announced last week that CMS implemented the necessary programming corrections for Qualifying APM Participant (QP) calculations for CRP care partners for the 3rd snapshot of 2020 and beyond. CMS does not plan to re-run 2018 and 2019 calculations using the corrected programming. The process to appeal 2018 QPP results has passed. However, there is still an opportunity to appeal 2019 results through the CMS targeted review process. CMS recently released instructions on targeted reviews for 2019 calculations. The deadline to submit 2019 appeals is Oct. 5.

Information on the targeted review process can be found at the top of the QPP Resource Library under “General Resources.” For more information contact Erin Dorrien.
Project ECHO Dementia Care Cohort Offers Virtual Training
Would you like a free CME opportunity to enhance your abilities to identify and treat dementia? The Alzheimer's Association offers Project ECHO Dementia Care Cohort.

This 12-week series engages primary care practices across the United States in a virtual interactive case-based learning environment similar to clinical grand rounds. Up to 12 CME hours are available at no cost to participants. Primary care practices (i.e., clinical and non-clinical staff) are encouraged to participate in the 12-week series together. For more information or to register yourself and your practice, please email Eme Martin. 
Series of Webinars Focused on Diabetes Care, Prevention
The Center for Population Health Initiatives is launching a series of webinars this month, discussing different aspects of diabetes care, education, prevention, management, resources, and more. There are eight webinars, which are free.
Relief Funds Support Health Care Workers in Oregon, Louisiana
Devastating wildfires in Oregon have caused dozens of front line health care workers to lose their homes and possessions. To help, the Oregon Association of Hospitals Research & Education Foundation Health Care Heroes Relief Fund, was established to ensure displaced health care workers have access to shelter, clothing, and other essential items, and begin to help them get back what the fires took away.

Also, while Louisiana continues to recover from Hurricane Laura, the Louisiana Hospital Association Research and Education Foundation established the Louisiana Care Fund to support hospital workers who experienced significant property loss or personal hardship but continued to care for patients before, during, and after the storm.
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