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September 29, 2019
Working as One, Moving as One
Your hospitals compose the Maryland Hospital Association, and in turn, the association is the hospitals. Your needs, concerns and direction drive our work. And, thus MHA’s success is yours.

That’s why your expertise and guidance are so valued and are vital to our work.
MHA’s governance councils, work groups and task forces shape MHA’s priorities. Our dedicated staff use this guidance to advocate on your behalf year-round.

Our board is made up of all member CEOs who elect an Executive Committee that sets overall strategy. We have three governing councils guiding our main workstreams of financial policy, clinical and quality issues, and legislative and regulatory policy. And, we have many work groups and task forces that delve deeper into specific concerns and opportunities.

This year, we’ve created a few new member-engaged teams to look at Medicaid systems of care, health equity, and workforce diversity and inclusion. These groups’ charters show how hospitals and MHA are expanding beyond just the model contract and Medicare to fuller care transformation.

We’re also aiming to get more input via phone calls, one-on-one visits, and fieldwide surveys – though we always strive to minimize intrusion into your time.

MHA succeeds in driving its mission and message thanks to each of you.

While we come from different regions and your hospitals face different challenges, we are most effective when we come together as a field. It’s been that way since your MHA was established nearly 50 years ago. And it continues to be your association.
Bob Atlas
President & CEO
HSCRC: Methodology Approved to Credit Maryland For Population Health Improvements Under Total Cost of Care Model
The Health Services Cost Review Commission recently released the federally approved methodology to determine the diabetes incidence outcomes-based credit in Maryland. Under the methodology , Maryland will estimate averted cases of diabetes by calculating the difference in diabetes incidence rate (newly diagnosed diabetes cases) between Maryland and a pre-established control group to estimate the impact of the Maryland Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Model. The difference will be multiplied by the Maryland population aged 45 and over to estimate the number of averted cases. The averted cases will then be multiplied by a pre-established cost estimate to calculate the outcomes-based credit.

Under TCOC, the state can receive credit for savings generated by addressing health conditions, like diabetes, that affect Marylanders in large numbers. By improving the health of our population, the state can also reduce all-payer health care spending, a key goal under TCOC. This unique opportunity recognizes that the state is now investing in programs that prevent/delay diabetes onset over the long term, but that may not immediately result in cost savings. Under the model, if Maryland can prevent or delay diabetes onset, the state will receive credit to offset federal investment in Maryland. Any credit earned increases TCOC savings, which may benefit hospital global budgets. In this way, Maryland aims to further incentivize health system transformation and public health intervention alignment.​

For details, contact Traci La Valle .
Patient Bill of Rights Guidance Issued
Beginning October 1, all hospitals in Maryland will be required to have a Patients’ Bill of Rights and make it available in hard copy to patients. The law , which passed during the 2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly, is applicable to all areas of the hospital operated under its license. Hospital-owned outpatient centers and physicians’ offices that are not in regulated hospital space are not required to comply with the revised law. The Office of Health Care Quality(OHCQ) released guidance on the new requirements of the state law. OHCQ will require each hospital to submit a copy of their Patients’ Bill of Rights for their records. For more information, contact Jennifer Witten .
Maryland Earns A for Palliative Care
Maryland earned an A in the 2019 Palliative Care Report Card released Thursday. The report tracks the growth of hospital palliative care programs nationwide. Data for the report card, from the Center for Advance Palliative Care, comes from the American Hospital Association and the National Palliative Care Registry. Maryland’s A grade—a score of 95—is higher than the 87.5 score the state earned when the report card was last updated in 2015.
Recognizing 20 years since “To Err is Human”
It has been 20 years since the release of the IOM report " To Err is Human." MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Health Institute for Quality and Safety will celebrate that landmark paper with an expert panel discussion including Lucian Leape and Carolyn Clancy. They will address what has worked, what hasn't worked, why it hasn't worked and what needs to happen in getting us to zero preventable deaths in hospitals. Hospital Quality and Safety leaders are invited to this special event. The event is free, but registration is required. as seating will be somewhat limited. The good news is that the panel discussion will also be streamed so those who can't make it to the event can watch it from their computers or handheld.

More information and details on streaming this live event are available here .
Funding Available for Child Sex Trafficking Screening & Service Act Regional Navigator Program Grant
In May, Governor Larry Hogan signed the Child Sex Trafficking Screening and Services Act of 2019 into law. This comprehensive legislation requires law enforcement and local Departments of Social Services to notify a regional navigator when a youth under 24 is identified as a suspected victim of sex trafficking. Under the law, data on the number of reported cases of child sex trafficking and the disposition of each child will be reported annually to the governor. This law also establishes a grant program for agencies to ensure that services, both acute and long-term are available for youth statewide by January 1, 2022. These services will include safety planning, emergency response, basic living needs (not including housing), trauma counseling, drug and alcohol abuse treatment, legal services, victim advocacy and case management. Prior to developing the statewide program, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention is soliciting applications for agencies to apply to operate a pilot program. Child advocacy centers, sexual assault crisis programs and qualified community-based victim service providers are eligible to participate in the pilot. The Notice of Funding Availability can be found here . The application deadline is October 11 at 3 p.m. 

Contact: Jane Krienke
Cybersecurity Symposium – Save the Date
In collaboration with the Health Services Cost Review Commission, Maryland Health Care Commission and Maryland Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, your MHA will host a free cybersecurity forum October 23 from 3:30-6 p.m. The event will include networking, followed by presentations, panel discussion with executive leaders and a question-and-answer session. The forum will focus on re-evaluating security, risk and governance to ensure a well-rounded approach to cybersecurity. A more detailed agenda and link for registration is forthcoming. For more information, contact Jennifer Witten or Jane Krienke .
Registration Open for Maryland Rural Health Care Conference
Registration is open for the Maryland Rural Health Care Conference in October. Your Maryland Hospital Association is proud to partner with the state’s Rural Health Association on this event and year-round efforts to educate and advocate for the optimal health of our rural communities and their residents. MHA staff will be co-presenting with HSCRC on the Maryland Model, Total Cost of Care progress and future considerations. In addition, MHA staff will co-facilitate a lively discussion with key legislative leaders about priorities for the 2020 legislative session.
Maryland Continues to Work on Improving the Behavioral Health Delivery System
Two state led groups discussing improvements to the behavioral health delivery system met last week: the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health System of Care Work Group and the Crisis Services Subcommittee of the Lieutenant Governor’s Mental and Behavioral Health Commission. The system of care work group continued development of guiding principles related to improving quality, integrated care management; cost management; and access to behavioral health services for the Medicaid population. The discussion focused on ensuring continuity of care for patients transitioning between payers and ways to increase provider quality measurement. The Crisis Services Subcommittee discussed the possibility of EMS alternative destinations and the current landscape of crisis services providers in Maryland. For information on upcoming meetings click here and here .

For more information on the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health System of Care Work Group contact Maansi Raswant .

For more information on the Crisis Services Subcommittee of the Lieutenant Governor’s Mental and Behavioral Health Commission contact Erin Dorrien .
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