KHA is always looking for new ways to communicate with its members. To provide a new platform that presents the latest Association information in a convenient format, KHA is proud to present its brand new resource: The Kentucky Hospitals Podcast.

Members can access the latest episodes at www.kyha.com/podcast. Just log in on any desktop or mobile device for a list of episodes. You can click the Subscribe button there to receive email notifications with a new episode is produced.

The inaugural episode covers key issues KHA is currently working on for the membership including "surprise...

When a public health crisis or natural disaster strikes, increased demand may overwhelm your facilitiy’s staff. While every hospital has an emergency plan, updating your plans to include contacting Qualivis for supplemental staffing needs during emergencies is an easy way to improve your strategy. When rapid response staffing is essential to meet health care demands, facilities can count on Qualivis.

How to initiate Qualivis’ Rapid Response Staffing

If a facility needs rapid response staffing, it is simple. You can contact Pam Kirchem at KHA (pkirchem@kyha.com) or your Qualivis account specialist, and they will take it from there to ensure needs are met as quickly as possible.

How Qualivis helps facilities when disaster strikes

Easy access to a nationwide network of health care staffing agencies to simplify and speed the search process, so you can focus on providing patient...

The Kentucky Hospital Association and Collective Medical Technologies are committed to supporting patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and the providers who care for them. Medication-assisted therapy and coordinating care is proven to improve outcomes. As a part of this commitment, Collective Medical is adding Kentucky SUD clinics, behavioral health practices and related treatment facilities to this growing Kentucky network.

In Elizabethtown, Stepworks Recovery Centers is now connected to Hardin Memorial Health. Through the Collective Platform, care managers from Stepworks can now collaborate with Hardin Memorial emergency department (ED) staff when a Stepworks client presents in the ED to ensure that they aren't prescribed medications that could result in a relapse.

Deron Bibb, a board of directors member at Stepworks, explains, “It can be frustrating for centers like ours when patients leave our doors, relapse and return to the hospital — and we have no way of knowing because...

KHA recently received a letter from a company called Widelity which is acting on behalf of the Kentucky Educational Television (KET) system. KET, along with other television stations around the state, is beginning the process of changing the frequencies they broadcast on across the commonwealth, and there is a chance that depending on what your facility is using for wireless devices associated with patient care monitoring and remote operation of equipment, the change in frequencies could potentially create interference if they are within 70 miles of a transmitter.

While the information KHA has received from Widelity seems to indicate that something may have been sent directly to hospitals, it is not clear who in your organization may have received it. It also looks like a commercial solicitation; therefore, it may have been ignored, misdirected or discarded.

Due to the amount of wireless technology that has become part of the patient care system, the risk management exposure...

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) has issued emergency regulations for Behavioral Health Services Organizations (BHSOs) which became effective July 1. These regulations were issued on an emergency basis to implement the state’s 1115 substance use disorder (SUD) waiver. The public comment period on these regulations will be held in August, with any public comments due by August 31.

One of the regulations amends state licensure requirements for BHSOs offering mental health treatment [902 KAR 20:430]. The remainder address Medicaid coverage and payment for BHSO services.

Action Needed

KHA staff has reviewed these regulations and did not identify particular issues. However, please review the changes, including the new regulation governing BHSO SUD services, and contact Nancy Galvagni at KHA (ngalvagni@kyha.com) by August 15 if changes are needed so KHA can file comments before the August...

All members are invited to join KHA staff on Friday, July 12 to volunteer for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Louisville. Staff members will be working at the Motor Rally event at Churchill Downs, but there are other events all over the city.

To volunteer for the rally or any other event you'd like to attend!, visit https://lnkd.in/guEQgDQ.

Earlier today, KHA submitted comments to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the No Surprises Act, legislation focused on ending surprise billing.

While applauding and supporting the legislators' plans to protect patients, KHA detailed the ways the proposed legislation could affect Kentucky's hospitals including imposing arbitrary rates on providers and creating unfunded mandates on hospitals.

To see a full copy of KHA's comments, members can visit the Policy page of www.kyha.com.

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Galvagni at KHA (ngalvagni@kyha.com).