At their monthly meeting this week, Health Services Cost Review Commission members discussed potential actions the commission may take before the end of the calendar year should the Medicare Total Cost of Care guardrail be in jeopardy for calendar year 2016. In addition, commissioners voted on the fiscal year 2017 update for psychiatric hospitals and Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. A draft recommendation on the Population Health Workforce Support for Disadvantaged Areas program was also received as part of a busy August meeting agenda. Read more in this month's Newsbreak.

The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) 340B hospital recertification process for 2016 opened this week and runs through September 7. All 340B hospitals are required to recertify with HRSA to ensure they continue to meet the 340B hospital eligibility requirements. A recent HRSA webinar on the recertification process is available on HRSA's 340B website.

The Institute for Diversity in Health Management, in collaboration with the American Hospital Association, will host a free webinar, "Change and Diversity: Two Constants in a Tumultuous Health Care Environment," Tuesday, August 23 at noon. Kevin Lofton, FACHE, chief executive officer, Catholic Health Initiatives and former AHA chair, will discuss significant changes in the health care environment as it moves toward a delivery system focused on valued-based care, population health, consumerism and outpatient services. Lofton will also highlight key leadership traits and efforts across the field to promote diversity and enhance the quality of care for all patients. Click here to register.

The minutes from the June MHA Executive Committee meeting are available on the Governance page on our website. Members must be logged in to download the minutes.