LegisLetter

February 8, 2012 Utah Hospital Association

In This Issue

• Medicaid Funding
• School of Medicine Funding
• Any Willing Provider 
  
• OIG Legislation
• HAI Legislation
• Peer Review Legislation
• Other Healthcare Legislation
• Legislative Luncheon
• UHA Is Here to Help
• Be Politically Involved

Medicaid Funding Generally On Track

The Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee has had a number of public meetings dealing with Medicaid funding. UHA continues to work closely with legislators on Medicaid Funding and we are still cautiously optimistic at this point that adequate hospital funding is still on track. UHA does have a new concern that the Legislative Fiscal Analyst is not recommending appropriate funding for the state to implement the Medicaid waiver and UHA is working to educate the legislators that without this funding the success of the Medicaid waiver could be in jeopardy. UHA will continue to work hard to make sure that there is appropriate Medicaid funding for Utah’s hospitals.

UHA Supports Funding for Additional Students at the University of Utah Medical School

You may recall that a couple of years ago due to the economic crisis, 20 student slots were eliminated from the University of Utah Medical School. UHA is working with others to encourage the Legislature to find funding to replace these student slots.

Any Willing Provider Legislation Becomes Public

Any Willing Provider legislation has finally surfaced as H.B. 134 – Patient Access Reform.  The bill would effectively stop hospitals or other facilities from offering insurers discounts in return for volume. A broad coalition of hospitals, health insurers, businesses and business associations have come together with UHA to oppose this legislation. It is clear this legislation would increase and not reduce health care costs. Please talk to your legislators and tell them that H.B. 134 is not necessary and will increase costs to businesses and consumers.

UHA Sponsoring Legislation Clarifying Powers and Duties of the Medicaid Office of Inspector General

UHA is working with other interested parties to draft legislation amending the Medicaid OIG legislation that passed last year. There are a number of due process concerns as well as questions regarding the OIG’s authority that were not sufficiently addressed in last year’s legislation. Both the OIG and UHA gave public testimony at the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this week with regard to the OIG issues. Attached are talking points you can use to educate your legislators with regard to this legislation. 

Healthcare Acquired Infections Legislation Passes House 

UHA is working with other interested parties to draft legislation amending the Medicaid OIG legislation that passed last year. There are a number of due process concerns as well as questions regarding the OIG’s authority that were not sufficiently addressed in last year’s legislation. Both the OIG and UHA gave public testimony at the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this H.B. 55 passed the House last week with UHA’s support. This legislation will increase transparency for the public with respect to certain infections but will not cause additional work or burden for Utah hospitals. UHA has worked with the sponsor for a year to get this legislation to a point that it could be supported.  The bill will be heard in the Senate Health Committee tomorrow afternoon.

UHA Supporting Peer Review Legislation

UHA is working with other interested parties to draft legislation amending the Medicaid OIG legislation that passed last year. There are a number of due process concerns as well as questions regarding the OIG’s authority that were not sufficiently addressed in last year’s legislation. Both the OIG and UHA gave public testimony at the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this H.B. 55 passed the House last week with UHA’s support. This legislation will increase transparency for the public with respect to certain infections but will not cause additional work or burden for Utah hospitals. UHA has worked with the sponsor for a year Recently, for the first time in Utah, a judge has ruled that trial attorneys can review peer review records but not use them as evidence in a malpractice case. This is the first time that the state’s peer review law has been breached and this is of major concern to UHA. UHA is working with UMA to pass a resolution to amend the court rules to make it clear that these peer review documents are not subject to legal discovery.

Myriad of Other Health Bills Could Still Surface

At this point in the legislative process, there are a lot of numbered bills with no real language.  These bills are called “boxcars” because they do not have any actual bill language and may or may not ever become a real bill. Nevertheless, there are a number that UHA is keeping a close eye on dealing with Medicaid, licensure, hospital liens and other issues impacting hospitals.

Please Join Us At UHA's Annual Legislative Luncheon

Please plan to attend our annual Hospital Day at the Legislature Luncheon to be held at the Little America on February 15, 2012 at noon.  This will be a great time to meet with your UHA colleagues as well as many state legislators to discuss issues of importance to the hospital community. Please call Jackie at 801-486-9915 or email her at Jackie@utahhospitals.org to RSVP and reserve your seat by this Friday. Thanks for your support.

UHA Is Here To Help You Keep Informed

For additional legislative information you can go to the legislative website at www.le.state.ut.us where you can read and track proposed legislation, see committee agendas, listen to legislative debates, learn about your legislators and find lots of other pertinent information. If you have specific questions or concerns, please e-mail Dave Gessel at dave@utahhospitals.org or call him at 801-231-3404.

Be Politically Involved This Year

The upcoming election this fall will be one of the biggest elections in Utah in decades. With redistricting, virtually every federal and state office with have an election and you should make your voice heard by actively participating in the political process. Mass meetings will be held in March and the people elected as delegates at those meetings will have a major impact on who is elected in the fall. You can be one of those delegates. Please encourage your employees to be actively involved as well. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are providing information how to be involved.  Please go to www.utgop.org or www.utahdemocrats.org for more details. In addition, the Utah Republican Party is offering a free trainer to come to your hospital to explain the caucus process and encourage your employees to be involved. If you would like this training, please contact Sarah Nitta at sarah@utgop.org or call 801-533-9777.