The Latest News From SDAHO

SDAHO annual Continuing Care Conference just 3 weeks away

SDAHO's 18th annual Continuing Care Conference is just three weeks away. The conference, scheduled for Wednesday, April 26-Thursday, April 27 at the Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma/Chamberlain, is designed to create the opportunity for networking and education for post-acute care professionals including administrators, directors of nursing, nursing staff, social services, activity coordinators and home health directors and staff.

CMS revisiting guidance on “shared space” arrangements

In many South Dakota communities, hospitals have developed “shared space” arrangements with other providers, such as visiting specialists, to ensure access to care. These...

April is Donate Life Month

“Let it Bloom” activities are happening all across South Dakota this April as health care providers celebrate Donate Life Month. The celebration, instituted by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003, features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.

Final Rule Issued on Medicaid DSH Third-Party Payments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the final rule that addresses how third-party payments are treated in calculating the hospital-specific...

President’s executive order addresses opioid epidemic

President Trump signed an executive order this week to establish the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. The commission is...

AHA releases an updated community health assessment toolkit

The American Hospital Association (AHA), through its Association for Community Health Improvement (ACHI), has updated its community health assessment toolkit. The toolkit offers a...

Calls for regulatory relief are reaching HHS

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today released a proposed rule to delay the effective date for the final rule on new...

Organizations invited to apply for 2017 Foster G. McGaw Prize

The American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Baxter International Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust is accepting applications for the 2017 Foster G. McGaw Prize. The prize honors health care organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service. Applicants should showcase strong leadership within their community, a commitment to service and care, partnerships that help meet community needs, a breadth and depth of community service initiatives, and a high level of community involvement.

What’s next after failed attempt to repeal and replace the ACA?

After seven years (and 50 votes) to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), House Republican leaders and President Trump last Friday decided to pull the American Health Care Act (AHCA) bill when efforts to garner the necessary 216 votes for passage could not be achieved. House caucus groups met Tuesday morning to regroup, reflect and prioritize their next steps related to the health care agenda.

Membership engagement survey

SDAHO will be conducting a membership engagement survey beginning the week of April 3. The biennial survey gathers important feedback about the value and effectiveness of services provided by the association. This year, a web-based format will be used with the deadline to submit responses set for Friday, April 14.

Verma, Price support extending time frame for compliance with HCBS settings rule

The heads of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have issued a joint letter to U.S. governors saying they support extending the time frame for compliance with the home and community-based services (HCBS) settings rule. CMS Administrator Seema Verma and HHS Secretary Tom Price said in the letter that they support including more state involvement in assessment of settings compliance.

Help save lives: SDAHO joins campaign to register organ, eye and tissue donors

SDAHO is joining other hospital associations in the annual National Hospital Organ Donation Campaign sponsored by the Division of Transplantation, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This campaign challenges hospitals to educate employees, patients, visitors and the community about the crucial need for organ, eye and tissue donation

AHA: SAMHSA offering grants to integrate primary, behavioral health care

The American Hospital Association (AHA) says the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is offering $22.6 million in grants to help qualified community health programs to integrate primary and behavioral health care for adults and children.

GOP withdraws AHCA ahead of vote

After four hours of floor debate Friday, House Republican leaders withdrew the American Health Care Act (AHCA) before the legislation went to a full vote. Republican Leaders determined they didn't have enough votes to pass the bill that would repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Section Q training of MDS now available

The South Dakota Office of Licensure and Certification says Section Q training of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) is now available. The 20 minute webinar, which is posted to the Department of Health website under Provider Training, is designed to provide beneficial training to providers and ultimately improve the care to long-term care residents.

House GOP leaders delay AHCA vote

House Republican leaders have delayed Thursday’s planned vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA). GOP members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are withholding support of the bill, saying it does not go far enough in rolling back the tax subsidies of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

SDAHO visits Hill during LeadingAge PEAK conference

The LeadingAge PEAK conference was held this week in Washington, D.C., in the midst of high lobbying activity around the House health care bill. SDAHO board members and LeadingAge delegates Erica Peterson and Justin Hinker joined Jen Porter, vice president post-acute care, and 1,000 other attendees.

Online webinar to cover documentation and coding for behavioral and mental health services

The Association of Rural Heath Professional Coding is offering an online webinar April 12 on Documentation and Coding for Behavioral and Mental Health Services. The webinar runs 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CDT/10:30-11:30 p.m. MDT.

New AHA video explains what’s at stake with AHCA

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has produced a whiteboard video explaining what’s at stake as the American Health Care Act (AHCA) heads for an expected vote in the U.S. House on Thursday. The AHA and SDAHO cannot support the bill in its current form.

GOP House leaders tweak AHCA in effort to woo votes

House Republicans made several changes to the American Health Care Act (AHCA) in an effort to garner support from GOP holdouts who could prevent...

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