December 2009

12/21/09

• MHA AND NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY TO HOST OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE SERIES
• WINTER BREAK FOR MONDAY REPORT
• PARTICIPATE IN AONE’S NURSING SATISFACTION SURVEY REGARDING SUPPORT SERVICES
• IN MEMORIAM: Peter Levine, M.D.
• HCQCC MOVING TO "PHASE 2" ON WEB SITE, ROADMAP – OPENS DISCUSSION ON ACOS
• H1N1 VACCINE AVAILABITY NOW EXPANDED IN MA
• GOOD NEWS FOR NURSING EDUCATION FROM CONGRESS
• AHRQ: HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR CERTAIN PREVENTABLE CONDITIONS ARE DOWN

12/14/09

• HOSPITALS WEIGH IN ON NATIONAL REFORM
• STATE BUDGET: GOOD AND BAD NEWS
• MHA EDU: 2010 TJC Update
• STATE RELEASES OBSTETRICS REPORT
• THE RECOVERY ACT'S DEFINITIONS

12/07/09

• HOSPITALS TESTIFY ON INSURANCE REGULATIONS
• MHA EDU: 2010 TJC UPDATE
• TRANSITION
• REVIEW YOUR HCQCC DATA
• HOSPITALS BRING SUIT AGAINST EOHHS
• KERRY DISCUSSES REFORM
• SCORING PATIENT SAFETY
• MASS. DOES NOT OVERUSE MEDICAL SERVICES

November 2009

11/23/09

• Health Plan Audit Reviews
• MHA's ACO Report
• State Senate Bills
• Lehman Award Sign-Up
• Schwartz Center Honoree
• U.S. Senate's Reform Bill
• MassHealth Budget Shortfall

11/16/09

• 30th Annual NEHA Trustee Conference
• HOSPITALS JOIN EFFORT TO FIGHT HUNGER
• THE LATEST ON HIT DEPLOYMENT
• NOT JUST JOBS, BUT GOOD JOBS
• MHA REPORT: ALL ABOUT ACOs
• DISAPPOINTMENT OVER DHCFP REPORT

11/09/09

• TJC Education Program
• WHERE'S H1N1 VACCINE?
• STICKING TO THE FACTS ON RN STAFFING
• MHA: HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR COSTS
• MHA WEIGHS IN ON FEDERAL REFORM

11/02/09

• HEALTH PLAN AUDIT REVIEWS
• MASS. HEALTH COUNCIL DINNER TONIGHT!
• BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S LINKS WITH R.I. FACILITY
• NURSE STAFFING HEARING SET FOR TUESDAY
• DHCFP CHANGES FINAL HSN RULES
• MHA'S 9TH ANNUAL WORKFORCE SUMMIT
• GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO CLOSE BUDGET GAP

October 2009

10/26/09

• MHA SUPPORTS RESPONSIBLE U.S. REFORM
• MHA'S MID-WINTER LEADERSHIP FORUM
• SCHWARTZ CENTER DINNER, NOV. 19
• NATIONAL RECOGNITION OF MASS. HAI EFFORT
• TRANSITIONS
• SOUTHCOAST'S DISASTER EFFORT
• M.D. CUTS

10/19/09

• MASS. RESIDENTS SUPPORT REFORM LAW
• 9th ANNUAL WORKFORCE SUMMIT
• CDC ISSUES FLU INFECTION GUIDANCE
• THE U.S. SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE BILL
• INFECTION/RE-ADMISSION PROJECTS
• PRESSURE ULCER CALL ON OCT. 22
• QUALITY OF CARE FORUM

10/12/09

• PANDEMIC BILL, AND OTHER FLU NEWS
• THE KICKOFF OF CUSP
• MHA EDU.: Peer Review: Responding to DPH Non-Payment Regulations
• TRANSITIONS AND OTHER NEWS
• MHA PAPER LAYS OUT PAYMENT REFORM ISSUES
• MEDICAID'S NEW UR CONTRACTOR
• MHA FINDS THAT FY10 RFA IS FLAWED
• HOSPITALS ON PAYMENT REFORM: DO IT RIGHT!

10/05/09

• H1N1 VACCINE TO BEGIN ARRIVING THIS WEEK
• MHA EDU.: NON-PAYMENT & PEER REVIEW
• SCHIP MONEY COMES TO MASS. TO FINISH THE JOB
• U.S. SENATE NEARS COMPLETION ON REFORM BILL
• HOSPITALS WORK TO REDUCE READMISSIONS
• MASS. PRESSURE ULCER TEAM PRESENTS
• TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH DEBATE BEGINS

September 2009

09/28/09

• TRANSITIONS IN HOSPITALS ...
• MHA RAISES HSN CONCERNS, SOLUTIONS
• BAUCUS AND COLLEAGUES DEBATE REFORM
• FLU FIGHT CONTINUES
• MEDICAID CONTRACT: $30 MIL. HIT FOR HOSPITALS
• Paul Kirk Sworn In
• MHA TO STATE: TRY 3rd PARTIES FORST
• TRANSITIONS IN THE STATE

09/21/09

• Workforce Programs on the March in Mass.
• Obama Follows Up on Malpractice Promise
• Gov. Patrick to U.S.: Follow the Mass. Model
• Baucus Plan is Least Expensive So Far
• MHA Endorses Temporary Appointment
• Oct. 21 Trustee Program Focuses on Safety

09/14/09

• Baystate Franklin: Reimbursements & Cuts
• More on Flu: A Focus on Kids
• Hospital Officials Say: Let Governor Fill Kennedy's Seat
• Get in Line for H1N1 Vaccine & Supplies
• Lucian Leape Gala is October 9
• State Discusses Provider Payment Freeze
• In Memorium: Tom Sager

09/07/09

• Compensation: AG's Office Looks at Exec. Compensation
• Transitions
• MHA Supports Temporary Senate Appointment
• A New Cop in Town: More About a New Accreditation Option
• Feds Get Serious About HAI Funding
• How Many Ventilators Do You Have?
• Hallmark's Nursing Program in Egypt
• STATE DOES BEST IT CAN WITH LIMITED FUNDS
• State Does Best it Can With Limited Funds

August 2009

08/31/09

• Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009): A Friend of Patients and Their Caregivers
• Monday Report
• Tributes: Those Who Knew and Worked With Him Share their Thoughts
• EDWARD M. KENNEDY (1932-2009):

08/24/09

• Premiums are Skyrocketing
• Transitions
• Stimulus Funds Help Nursing
• RWJF Grant Money
• FUNDING CUTS BRING CHANGES TO PHONE SYSTEM
• Pandemic Liability Protections
• The New Wild Wild West: Social Networking
• New Flu Shot Regulations
• Funding For Phones Cut

08/17/09

• TRANSITIONS
• New CoP in Town: More About the DNV, a New Accreditation Option for Hospitals
• MHA HELPS LEAD REGIONAL NURSING EFFORT
• ACUTE HOSPITAL RFA DELAYED
• KENNEDY RECEIVES MEDAL OF FREEDOM
• TJC TELLS HOSPITALS IT'S RESCINDING SRE POLICY
• THE LATEST IN THE LOOMING BATTLE AGAINST FLU

08/10/09

• IPPS, SNF, and IRF
• E-MAIL EXTRA: The Rand Report
• Administrative Simplification
• $10,000 for Nursing
• THE RAND REPORT ON HEALTHCARE COSTS
• Training for Up-and-Coming CEOs
• Staffing Transparency
• TJC's New Speak Up Brochure
• 09 IPPS Medicare Update

08/03/09

• LEGISLATORS DO THEIR BEST TO COVER 30,000
• Transition
• A Note On Our Publications
• Behavioral Health Toolkits
• Flu Shots
• ARRA Money for Workforce
• Covering the 30,000 Legal Immigrants
• Red Flag Rules
• New NQF Data Posted
• PFAC Material Available

July 2009

07/27/09

• New Website Locates Behavioral Health Services
• Plans Stagger, but are OK
• A New Cop in Town: More About the DNV, a New Accreditation Option for Hospitals
• MITSS Award
• Obama Says Reform a Necessity
• Thank you Lois Kinzer
• Will Mass. Coverage Be Preserved?
• Redistributing Medicare Funds Out of Massachusetts?
• Transitions

07/20/09

• MHA: Yes To Payment Reform (With Caution)
• Coverage For 30K Still In Limbo
• Congratulations & Thank You Paul Dreyer
• Bidmc Wins Aha-Mckesson Award
• New Plan Addresses Payments, Not Input Costs
• 09 IPPS Medicare Update

07/13/09

• National Hospital Groups Agree to Big Cuts
• The How-Tos of Patient-Family Councils
• The National Reform Issue at the State House
• MHA Scores Win on SRE Duplicate Reporting
• 8th Annual Executive Women in Healthcare Conference
• Fighting the Good Fight for 30,000

07/06/09

• Tightening The Rules On Use Of Funds
• Unified Rn Initiative Garners Another $250K
• New Leadership Of Ahea Chosen
• $1 Million Budget Item Hailed As Big Win
• 11Th Annual Emergency Medicine Conference
• Budget: Some Wins But Hospital Woes Continue
• Partiy Law Extended On July 1

June 2009

06/29/09

• State Fiscal Pain Puts Hospitals At Risk
• Brigham And Women'S Wins Nova Award
• Bigby Unveils Health It Plan
• Swine Flu
• Masshealth Takes It Week By Week
• ACHE's Three Leaders
• Protecting Caregivers Against The Flu
• In Memoriam
• Congrats Leadership Graduates For 2009!

06/22/09

• SREs Policy Rolled Out; Rules Later
• FY09 MassHealth Funding Running Low
• Hospital Research Nets ARRA Funding
• Reform Effort Could Cost Hospitals Billions
• ONLINE EXTRA: RWJF Rewards Area Coalition
• FEDs Define "Meaningful Use" for Funding
• Transition
• Next Generation Website Strategy

06/15/09

• AHA's Umbdenstock: Reform at "Breakneck Speed"
• Committee Leaders and Award Winners
• Tufts' Zane to Lead MHA Board of Trustees
• Murray: M.D. Recruit Funds Could be Cut
• Transition

06/08/09

• H-IT From Community Hospital Perspective
• MHA Supports Observation Bill
• Nominate a Caregiver
• HCQCC Annual Meeting June 25
• Health Exchange? Check. Mandate? Check.
• MHA and Falls Coalition Working on Solutions
• Do You Have a Big Idea For The Governor?

06/01/09

• MHA Testifies on Healthcare Bills
• RNs Win Tufts/MHA/ MDHE Scholarships
• Are Retail Clinics Located Where They're Needed?
• Main Medicare Rule Not Good For Hospitals
• Reform is Working; Speaker Promises More Action
• June 29: AG's Community Benefits Conference
• Next Generation Hospital Website Strategy

May 2009

05/25/09

• Transitions: Lawrence General and MHA
• CommCare Enrollment
• H1N1 Flu Rates Steadily Rising
• Falls Group Honors DPH'S Paul Dreyer
• Upcoming Events
• MHA Rally Urges No Flat-Line of Hospitals

05/18/09

• AG Expands Eligibility for Victim Assistance Program
• BCBS Foundation To Hold Medical Debt Forum
• MA Hospital Leaders Rally at State House
• Senate Budget Proposal for Commonwealth is Sharply Lower
• Nursing Initiative Also Gets Senate Budget Ax
• AHA & Other Healthcare Groups Pledge Best Efforts On Health Savings

05/11/09

• Storage Tank Oversight to Change Hands
• Charlton Tech Aide Wins Scholarship
• Mass. Expert Panel on End-of-Life Care
• TJC Extends SRE Response Time
• MHA's 3rd Annual Construction Forum
• Meta-Leadership Summit for Preparedness
• Senate Budget Forecast Harsher than House's
• PPS Rules Out; Minimal Gains to Hospitals
• Hospital Day on Beacon Hill: May 18

05/04/09

• Schwartz Center Women's Event May 20
• H1N1: Globally, Nationally, Locally
• MHA Testifies on State HIT Role
• Delegation Solidly Behind Reform
• APR-DRGs: PositioningYour Hospital for Best Results on Reporting
• House Strongly Supports Hospitals

April 2009

04/27/09

• MHA, AHA on Same Page: Downturn Hurts
• Three Important State Budget Amendments
• Health IT from the Community Hospital Perspective
• MHA to TJC: Let's Move Forward Not Backwards
• Falls Prevention Symposium Set for May 19
• MASS. Hospitals in D.C. This Week

04/20/09

• More HIT Meetings
• Schwartz Center Deadline Extended
• Keep HEFA & MDFA Separate
• House Releases State Budget
• NIH Looking to Fund Big Ideas
• FinCom Holds Reform Roundtables
• MMS' Misery Index
• Transitions
• TJC Seeks Info

04/13/09

• Another Compelling Case Against RN Ratios
• Consider Signing Up for Quality Initiative
• A Step Toward Universal Health Records
• MHA's 3rd Annual Construction Forum
• MHA Wins Lamplighter Award
• Support for Removing Sugar/Alcohol Tax Exemption
• MHA: Hospital Cuts Could Mean 10,000 Job Loss
• Teaming Up to Find Admin. Simplification
• Listening Program: $1.1 Billion for CER

04/06/09

• MHA Study Makes Case for FMAP Funding
• Monday Report is Now Electronic
• Harrington & Hubbard Hospitals Reach Agreement
• Mass. Care Transitions Seminar: Apr. 29
• Bad Economic News Getting Worse
• MHQP: MDs Doing Well; Variations Exist
• Transition
• Emerging Healthcare Leadership Series
• Time to Discuss Advance Directives
• Specialty Hospitals Make their Case in D.C.

March 2009

03/30/09

• Specter Announces Vote on "Free Choice" Act
• Hospital Funding: Positive Step; More Needed
• Communicating the Community Benefit
• MNA's Unwarranted Attack on Hospital
• A New Avenue for Hospitals to Get Stimulus Funds
• The Latest Facts on MA RN Employment
• Lots of Regulations to Come from DPH
• Focusing on Patients
• Excess Surplus Hearing Set for April 15

03/23/09

• TOPIC: Hunger
• Hospitals Play Role in Poison Control
• Transitions
• Patient-Centered Care: An MHA Edu. Program
• Bay State Providers Attend Obamaâ??s Forum
• Mental Health: Progress, But More Help Needed
• HHS' Focus on Comparative Effectiveness Research
• Hearing on Pandemic Flu This Thursday
• Special Program for Trustees April 15
• MHA Creates New Forum for CMOs

03/16/09

• Health Council Passes Tough Pharma Rules
• How to Distribute $137 Billion
• State Holds Line on Lower Income Premiums
• WHO Sprint Racing to April 1 Deadline
• U.S. Health Forum Tomorrow in Vt.
• Obama Wants to Lift Conscience Reg
• Colleges Get Healthcare Workforce Grants
• Emerging Healthcare Leadership Series

03/09/09

• Transitions
• Moore Bill: Preparedness from A to Z
• MHA and MONE Win Betsy Lehman Award
• State Gets $1 Million to Help Enroll Kids
• Time to Start Thinking About June on Cape
• Obama: Reform a Fiscal Imperative
• Which Surgery List is Correct? JC Says, Both, but...
• Trying to Beat Up Hospital CEOs Again

03/02/09

• Obama Health Plan Redistributes Medicare
• DPH Releases Report On Mass. Birth Data
• Healthcare Strategy in Unprecedented Times
• Heads Up: HRET is Conducting Survey
• Schwartz Center Nominations Open
• An Alternative to Card Check
• MHA Supports National Patient Safety Week
• Transition

February 2009

02/23/09

• HIT Privacy Provisions are Wide-ranging
• Governor Patrick on the Shortfall & Relief
• CPOE Universitys Upcoming Schedule
• Communicating the Community Benefit
• Audio conference: Testing the WHO Checklist
• HPHC Releases Tier Plan for GIC Members
• MRSA Rates Declining in Hospitals
• Deadly Flu Still Rampant in Mass.

02/16/09

• New Rollout Schedule for RACs
• Items of Note
• Hospital-Based International Programs
• Bear with us on the e-mail Monday Report Rollout
• Guidelines Help Refine Hospital/Community Link
• Updates Coming to HCQCC Website
• Fed. Stimulus Means More Funds for Mass.
• How are the Plans Doing?

02/09/09

• SCHIP Bill Signed; Mass. Gets Boost
• DPH Says: Flu is Rising
• MHA Supports Broader Health IT Funding
• Tufts Plan Foundation Offers RN Scholarships
• States Active RN-building Culture Joins Summit
• Patient-Centered Care: An MHA Edu. Program
• Five Hospitals Get BCBSMA Funding
• MITSS Program on Disclosure & Apology

02/02/09

• Short Day Stays: Data Mining, Auditing Medical Necessity & Rebilling/ Appeal Options
• Monday Report Going Electronic
• Gov. Makes Tough Choices on FY10 Budget
• Attention Turns to Bill in the U.S. Senate
• Race & Ethnicity Duplication of Effort
• Large Health System Reorganizes

January 2009

01/26/09

• Bigby Testifies in D.C. on Ch. 58 Wellness Program
• N.H. Medicaid Cuts Ripple through Mass.
• Obama and Patrick Eye Health IT as a Cure
• Checklists Save Lives; IHI Leads U.S. Effort
• Moore Re-files Staffing Bill; Is This the Year?
• Focus on Health IT at MHA Education Forum
• HCQCC Plans Second Launch of its Website

01/19/09

• Newest Reform Discussions Get Underway
• Obama's First Health Bill: Expand SCHIP
• MedPAC Recommends Updates & Freezes
• The 2009 TJC Program
• Over-the-Border Hospital Cuts
• This Year's Annual Meeting Features Chairman of ACHE
• Hospitals Employ! Both Nationally & Locally

01/12/09

• MHA to Lead Infection-Fighting Effort
• Baldrige Winner at MHA IT Event
• Insurance Company Targets Hospital Labs
• MHA Seeks Fair Piece of Recovery Pie
• Monday Report Going Electronic
• Transitions
• Hubbard & Harrington Link Up
• Two Groups Set to Look at Payments
• Looking for a Healthcare Job?