| Advocacy |
|
We continue to work diligently on the DSH issue. On June 17, VHP will hold a Legislative Luncheon with board members to reinforce the message of DSH. Our message includes these talking points:
DSH
All hospitals are facing challenges with the current economic climate. VHP members are especially challenged because of our heavy case mix of Medicaid patients, uncompensated care and the recent staggering events surrounding the Auto Industry - potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of current and retired Auto Workers and suppliers.
Medicaid DSH funding to outstate Michigan hospitals has been inequitable compared to southeast Michigan hospitals for more than 25 years.
- Southeast Michigan
$45 million Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH-1) funding allocated primarily to southeast Michigan hospitals since 1983.
- Outstate Michigan
$5 million DSH-2 funding allocated primarily to outstate Michigan hospitals since 2006.
- Under the current allocation of the $50 million total DSH funding in place today, it is evident that southeast hospitals have benefited from receiving a greater percentage of funds compared to their volume of Medicaid patient days.
(1)
|
Region |
DSH Distribution |
Medicaid Patient Hospital Days |
|
Southeast |
78.07% |
53.29% |
|
West/Southwest & Northern |
8.94% |
23.97% |
Representative McDowell demonstrated support by placing a $1M placeholder in the DCH budget for DSH-3.
Now is an important time for the legislature to provide equity with a new DSH-3.
We will be asking legislators to contact the State Senator(s), asking them to encourage Senator Kahn to continue his efforts to free up additional funds for DSH-3.
Key VHP-area Senate Members on the DCH Subcommittee include Senators Kahn, George, Stamas and Barcia - please continue to stress the importance of DSH-3 when speaking to these Members during budget deliberations.
(1) Per Fy 06 & 07 data from MDCH
|
|
Value Maximizatoin |
|
Terry Khan, Director, Value Maximization
Welcome to Terri Khan as the Value Maximization Director for VHP. Terry started the week of May 25.
She has 27 years of healthcare administrative and technical experience. Terry's education includes:
- Master of Science in Engineering Management/Computer and information Systems from Northeastern University, Boston
- Bachelor in Science in Industrial Engineering/Operations Research from University of Massachuesetts, Amherst
Terry most recently held the position of COO of Muskegon Family Care where she was a leader in process re-design and grant acquisition for numerous national level disease state collaboratives and innovation projects.
Mary Kay and Terry are currently scheduling visits to each member's organization.
|
| Community |
|
Community Benefits
Many thanks to Allegiance Health for hosting the May 15 Community Health meeting.
The workgroup has developed:
- Catalog of every community health program that our organization's offer
- Template for community benefit philosophy that can be adopted by members.
- Methodology for funding programs.
- A tool for determining low to high value programs. This is in the testing phase currently.
The workgroup is collecting data on the following conditions to determine best practice.
These are:
- Tobacco Cessation
- Obesity Programs
- Prenatal Education
|
