In This Issue
Year-End Flash Survey
MWI and MA
Survey Update
Thank You
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Future Meetings
Past Meetings
Programs of Interest
Sponsors:
Hospital Council Releases Year-End Flash Survey
Hospital Council's year-end Flash Survey shows the overall operating margin for the region's hospitals declined from 4.44 percent to 1.81 percent over the past Fiscal Year. The Flash Survey covers Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012. Hospital Council released the survey to both members and the media earlier this month.
Of the 58 hospitals reporting, 39 hospitals (67 percent) reported a decline in their operating margins and 25 hospitals (43 percent) reported a loss from operations. The declining margins and loss from operations are the result of several factors including several forms of payment reductions in Medicare and retroactive reductions in case weight by Medical Assistance as well as the continuing shift of patients to observation status.
The survey also showed that expenses increased by only 3.3 percent, indicating that hospitals are controlling costs.
The Flash Survey results received coverage from The Pittsburgh Business Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
For more information about the Flash Survey contact Denis Lukes.
Medicare Wage Index and Medical Assistance
For the first time, a wage index review is underway for the Pennsylvania Rural Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA). Hospital Council initiated and is coordinating this data scrub which includes rural hospitals statewide. There are 32 rural hospitals statewide in the 2015 Pennsylvania Rural CBSA. At the same time, Hospital Council is continuing its wage index review for the Pittsburgh CBSA. Both reviews are intended to improve the wage index and increase net patient revenue for Fiscal Year 2015.
Hospital Council continues to work to improve Medical Assistance payment levels, particularly for observation and outpatient fee for service.
For more information contact Denis Lukes.
Hospital Council Survey Update
Hospital Council is in the process of collecting data for the next Human Resource surveys and the next Flash Survey. Below is an update on the surveys and the deadlines for data submission:
Benchmark Salary Survey and Management Compensation Surveys
Data for both surveys needs to be submitted by November 6, 2013. Survey results will be sent to participating members in January 2014.
Collective Bargaining Survey
Information for the annual Collective Bargaining Survey needs to be submitted by November 6, 2013. Survey results will be sent to participating members in December 2013.
Flash Survey
Data for the first quarter of FY 2014 needs to be submitted by October 31, 2013. Survey results will be sent to participating members by the end of December 2013.
Physician Practice Management Survey
Data for the Physician Practice Management Survey needs to be submitted by October 30, 2013. Survey results will be sent to participating members in December 2013.
For questions about data submission for any of the above surveys contact Carmela Breslin. For general questions about the Flash Survey contact Denis Lukes. For questions about the Human Resource Surveys contact Pat Raffaele. For questions about the Physician Practice Management Survey contact Jane Montgomery or Pat Raffaele.
Special Thank You to Sponsors of Fall Membership Conference
On behalf of the members, staff and Board of Directors, Hospital Council would like to thank the sponsors of the Fall Membership Conference. The Conference attracted more than 180 healthcare leaders from throughout the region. Participants heard outstanding speakers and had the opportunity to network.
Platinum sponsors were: Alpha Financial Solutions, Amerinet, Corazon, Cowden Associates, Inc. and Cura Hospitality.
Gold sponsors were: Fox Rothschild, LLP, Highmark, K&L Gates and Littler Mendelson.
Silver sponsors were: American Healthcare Solutions, Inc., CFMA, Carbis Walker, LLP, Celtic Healthcare, Human Arc, MiJack Systems & Technology, ParenteBeard, Perkins Eastman, Phigenics and Strategy Solutions, Inc.
Bronze sponsors were: Bottom Line Systems, Inc., Buck Consultants, Jackson Lewis, Leech Tishman, Point Security and Sanofi.
All of the conference sponsors are Allied Members of Hospital Council. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Practice Administrators Committee
ICD-10 implementation and education will be the key focus of the Practice Administrators meeting on October 31, 2013. Cathy Aniszewiski Bolar, client relationship executive with 3M Health Information Systems Division, will join the group to discuss ICD-10. Other agenda items include physician contracting, benchmark survey data, governance structure and transitions of care. For more information or to register contact Jane Montgomery.
Risk/Quality Committee
The Risk/Quality Committee will meet on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at Hospital Council and at Clearfield Hospital. Video conferencing will be used to join Hospital Council and Clearfield Hospital. The Committee will discuss part of the implementation of the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule. The Committee will also discuss: the two-midnight stay, physician certification and integration of the IQR and HER incentive program. There will be an education program regarding root cause analysis. The Committee will also discuss several new standards from the Joint Commission. For more information contact Jane Montgomery, Pat Raffaele or Kathy Wonderly.
CFO Committee
The CFO Committee will meet on Friday, November 8, 2013 at Hospital Council's Conference Center. The Committee will focus on Medical Assistance, Medicare, the Insurance Exchange, and Medicare Wage Index, among other topics. For more information contact Denis Lukes.
Fund Development Committee
External foundations and grantmaking organizations will be the focus of the November 19, 2013 Fund Development Committee meeting. Michele Rone Cooper, M.S., executive director of McAuley Ministires, will be the guest speaker. She is vice chair of the Board of Directors of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania. McCauley Ministries is a member of the Pennsylvania Health Funders Collaborative and is the grantmaking arm of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System. Michele will discuss each of these organizations and their roles in funding health-related programs and projects in the city of Pittsburgh, across western Pennsylvania and statewide. The Committee will also discuss plans for 2014 and hold a roundtable discussion. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.
Future Meetings
CNO Committee
The CNO Committee will meet on December 5, 2013 at Hospital Council's Conference Center. For more information contact Jane Montgomery.
Allied Member Meeting
The Allied Member Meeting will be held on December 5, 2013 at Hospital Council's Conference Center. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.
CMO Committee
The Chief Medical Officers meeting will meet at Hospital Council's Conference Center on December 6, 2013. For more information contact Denis Lukes or Jane Montgomery.
Human Resource Committee
The Human Resource Committee will meet on December 6, 2013 at Hospital Council's Conference Center. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.
Compliance Committee
The Compliance Committee will meet on December 12, 2013 at Hospital Council's Conference Center. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.
Past Meetings
Risk/Quality Committee
The focus of the Risk/Quality Committee meeting on August 14, 2013 was disruptive behavior by hospital employees including clinical staff. Bill Maruca, a partner at Fox Rothschild, LLP, led the discussion and offered strategies on how to effectively manage disruptive behavior. The meeting also included an update on surveys as well as a roundtable discussion. For more information contact Jane Montgomery.
Fund Development
The impact of the new privacy regulations on fundraising was the key topic at Hospital Council's August 27th Fund Development Committee meeting. Bill Maruca, a partner at Fox Rothschild, LLP, reviewed the new requirements with the Committee. The Committee also discussed best practices related to grateful patient programs. The meeting concluded with a roundtable discussion. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.
CNO Committee Meeting
The CNO Committee Meeting was held September 6 at Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania. Janne Dunham-Taylor, PhD, RN, professor at East Tennessee State University joined the Committee to discuss management strategies to maintain and mentor nurse managers. The presentation and discussion was based on Dr. Dunham-Taylor's recent article in Nursing Management, Save our Ship: Steering Clear of Nurse Manager Shortage. Following the discussion with Dr. Dunham-Taylor, the Committee discussed a variety of topics during roundtable discussion. For more information contact Jane Montgomery.
CMO Committee Meeting
The CMO Committee Meeting was held September 13th at Hospital Council. Mark A. Piasio, MD, MBA, medical director, Provider Strategy & Integration Highmark Health Services, joined the Committee to discuss a Highmark Health Services vision for moving toward value based models. Cathy Aniszewski Bolar, RHIA, client relationship executive, 3M Health Information Systems Division joined the Committee to review the 3M physician training modules for ICD 10. Following Ms. Aniszewski Bolar's presentation, the members participated in a roundtable discussion covering a variety of topics. For more information contact Jane Montgomery.
Human Resources Committee
Human Resources and issues related to employees and social media was the focus of the September 26th Hospital Council HR Committee meeting. Terry Murphy, an attorney with the firm Littler Mendelson, provided a presentation and facilitated the discussion. In addition, the Committee discussed Hospital Council's salary surveys and the new Physician Practice Management Survey. The Committee also held a roundtable discussion. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.
Other Programs of Interest
Accounting and Auditing Update Offered by HFMA
The western Pennsylvania chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) will hold The Accounting & Auditing Update on Friday, November 15, 2013 at The Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township. The day-long program features speakers from Carbis Walker LLP on several topics including Accounting and Auditing Standards Update, Current Tax Issues, Uncompensated Care and others. For more information contact Debbie Szczypinski.
Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania is a strategic partner with health care providers and affiliated organizations, enabling them to realize their mission while maintaining their status as economically viable entities.
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Call: 1-800-704-8434
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