A complete legislative package could be ready for consideration by the House of Representatives as soon as the end of this month.
Concurrent budget resolution passed by U.S. House and Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on February 5 passed a concurrent budget resolution giving Congress the option to pass the president’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package with a simple majority vote in the Senate via the budget reconciliation process. The concurrent budget resolution allocates funding to various Congressional committees that have jurisdiction over matters contained in the president’s American Rescue Plan. The various committees are instructed to report legislation consistent with the budgetary targets to the Budget Committees by February 16. A complete legislative package could be ready for consideration by the House of Representatives as soon as the end of this month.
Legislative update: Deadline to introduce bills has passed
As we reach day 32 of legislative session, AzHHA is tracking more than 200 bills that may directly or indirectly impact hospitals in addition to advocating for our priority legislation.
The deadline for legislators to introduce bills has passed in both the Senate and House. Only one week remains for senate committees to hear senate bills and house committee to hear house bills. Bills not passed in their assigned committees by February 19 will effectively be “dead,” though it is still possible for the bill to be resurrected using a strike-everything amendment.
A list of key bills may be found on our website by visiting azhha.org/azhha_priority_and_key_legislation. Members who wish to learn more about the bills are encouraged to attend our weekly legislative update calls held on Fridays.
ADHS publishes vaccine administration data and announces new administration site
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) this week published vaccine administration data on its website. The dashboard will track key demographic information on those getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Arizona. In addition, the department announced a new southern Arizona vaccination site in Tucson. Read more, here.
COVID-19 disease outbreak outlook
While data reports continue to reflect improvement in the decrease of COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations, Joe Gerald, M.D., Ph.D. published his weekly forecast models report with some words of caution. He states, “absolute levels of transmission remain very high (on par with the summer peak). Hospitals are still full to the brim and hundreds of Arizonans are dying each week. While conditions are improving, it is still vital that we "hold the line" on our public health mitigation efforts.” Read more information and analysis in Dr. Gerald’s report here.
Health and wellbeing support for our healthcare heroes
In these unprecedented times, our healthcare workers are stressed and need our support. AzHHA is a proud partner of the Wellbeing Collaborative which has created an online community for sharing best practices and stories of support and gratitude for healthcare workers. We ask the healthcare community to share ideas, tips and program information - big and small - for supporting the wellbeing of all healthcare workers. Organizations interested in sharing their stories can record a short video or audio on a phone or other device (under two minutes) and upload it to wellbeingcollaborative.org/.Â
Purchase your license to access AzHHA’s updated consent manual
The 2020 AzHHA Consent Manual, reviewed and updated by Coppersmith Brockelman’s Health Care Practice Group, is available for purchase. This manual is the only comprehensive resource guide for Arizona healthcare consent laws, rules and guidelines. Learn more about consent manual updates or submit a purchase request form here.
Webinar: CYE 2022 DAP program requirements
Health Current and the Arizona Health Care Cost and Containment System (AHCCCS) will host two webinars to provide an overview of the CYE 2022 DAP requirements and answer any questions hospitals and health facilities may have. The webinar targeting hospitals, inpatient facilities and Indian Health Service/638 providers will be held on February 17 at 12 p.m., registration is available here. Integrated Clinics, Behavioral Health Clinics (77), and Nursing Facilities (SNF/22) can register for the February 24 event here.
Webinar for HIM professionals - Cardiac coding tips and guideline review
In conjunction with American Heart Month, AzHHA’s Affiliated Partner, NJHA-HBS invites you to join them on February 25 for its live webinar session Cardiac coding tips and guideline review. This program geared towards health information management professionals (HIM), will review and reinforce coding concepts related to the heart. Objectives include:
- Summarize cardiac coding guidelines for ICD-10-CM & ICD-10-PCS.
- Provide a brief overview of cardiovascular anatomy.
- Teach participants to recognize clinical indicators for correct diagnosis code assignment,
- including COVID-19.
- Demonstrate difficult but common cardiac procedure coding.
- Show examples with coding scenarios.
To register, click here.
Save the date - Working Together: Forging the Future of Serious Illness Care
In collaboration with partners from California and Hawaii, AzHHA is working to hold a virtual summit, Working Together: Forging the Future of Serious Illness Care, on June 22 and 23. The virtual summit will be for those who would like to learn more about improving or are working to improve care for those with serious illness. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Sponsorship opportunities available for AzCHER’s 2021 Virtual Conference
AzCHER invites you to consider a sponsorship of the coalition’s premiere conference, to be held virtually in April 2021. The primary audience of this conference are emergency managers, planners, clinical staff and various responders in the fields of healthcare, public health, EMS and emergency management, among others. Our sponsorship prospectus outlines the many opportunities to reach this audience through participation, recognition and branding opportunities. Should you find interest in sponsoring AzCHER’s debut conference, email Abigail Zieger at [email protected] or call 480-893-6110.
Member Spotlight: Kingman Regional Medical Center expands its emergency department
The Kingman community can now access Kingman Regional Medical Center’s (KRMC) newly expanded emergency department (ED). The expanded space opened its doors the community on February 10 doubling the patient care spaces, now totaling 48. KRMC’s new ED features private patient rooms, additional trauma bays and negative pressure rooms, as well as expanded decontamination facilities. A virtual tour of the facility can be viewed here.
In memoriam: Patrick Thomas Walz
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AzHHA celebrates the life and legacy of Patrick (Pat) Walz, who died on January 31, 2021. Pat was a valued member of the Arizona healthcare community serving many roles in finance and chief administration throughout the state. His obituary eloquently states, “Pat is recognized as a healthcare leader in Arizona and is well known for his legislative efforts alongside state officials including Governor Jan Brewer, to expand AHCCCS coverage. He served as a healthcare advocate in Arizona and specifically for the Yuma community and its healthcare needs.”
Pat retired as the President and CEO of Yuma Regional Medical Center in 2014. It was during his tenure in Yuma that he served on the AzHHA Board.
The Walz family asks, in lieu of flowers now or in the future, please consider a donation to Pat's charities of choice: Yuma Community Food Bank, Boxer Luv Rescue or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in loving memory of Patrick T. Walz. Please visit hansenmortuary.com for online condolences.
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Upcoming Events
March 17 – Introduction to POLST workshop
The one-hour Introduction to POLST workshop equips healthcare professionals with knowledge and resources to begin using POLST in Arizona. The objectives are to describe what POLST is at the state and national level, explain why POLST is important, define the population for POLST, when to begin the conversation and who completes POLST, describe the process for completing, reviewing and updating POLST and learn the process of submitting healthcare planning documents to the Arizona Healthcare Directive Registry. Register here.Â
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