MISSOURI HOSPITAL ASSOCATION

Health Issues

-Prepared a letter to CMS to promote a one-year delay in implementing the findings of pending DSH audits and to express concern about the imposition of potential DSH payment reductions in advance of expanded coverage associated with federal health reform legislation. -Promoted legislator endorsement of a letter to CMS expressing concern about a proposed CMS regulation on the ability of critical access hospitals to include state provider taxes in their cost reports. -Promoted legislator endorsement of a letter to DHHS promoting a one-year delay in implementing the findings of pending DSH audits. -Responded to a legislative staff query regarding the Missouri Hospital Associations stance on H.R. 2381, the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009. -Forwarded to congressional staff a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services from an MHA-member hospital regarding concerns about policies concerning the definition of DSH-allowable costs and the application of pending DSH audits. -Distributed information on hospitals financial performance, with an emphasis on Medicare margins. -Promoted congressional action to delay applying the findings of pending DSH audits until state fiscal year 2012. -Supported legislation to revamp the Medicare physician payment system and permanently eliminate the sustainable growth rate component of the payment formula. -Expressed thanks to the members of the congressional delegation for past assistance to hospitals.

TargetedSENATE · HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS) · Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)