Read about an update on IV fluid supply, CMS releasing the 2025 OPPS final rule and applications for cohort four of the Arizona Transition to Practice Program.
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This week, read about: An update on IV fluid supply. CMS releasing the 2025 OPPS final rule. Applica
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Connection Newsletter
By AzHHA Communications ● Nov. 7, 2024
Smart Brevity® count: 3 mins...810 words
This week, read about:
- An update on IV fluid supply.
- CMS releasing the 2025 OPPS final rule.
- Applications for cohort four of the Arizona Transition to Practice Program.
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What’s new: Baxter has restarted the highest-throughput IV solutions manufacturing line at the North Cove facility.
- At its peak operation (prior to Hurricane Helene), this line represented approximately 25% of the site’s total production and approximately 50% of the site’s production of one-liter IV solutions, the most commonly used size by hospitals and clinics.
- Initials batches will be manufactured concurrently with ongoing quality activities and would only be released in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements to ensure the quality and safety of products.
- The earliest that new North Cove product could start to ship is late November.
- Stay up-to-date on Baxter’s response here.
The bottom line: The Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER) team continues to work with coalition members to ensure hospitals and public health agencies are informed about the situation and provided with guidance on how to conserve supplies.
- Biweekly surveys are being conducted with situational awareness calls occurring on Tuesdays and Fridays.
What’s next: Contact [email protected] or [email protected] with questions or to be sure you are included in the situational awareness calls.
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CMS releases 2025 OPPS final rule
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule for 2025 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical centers rates for calendar year (CY) 2025.
The final rule would:
- Increase OPPS rates by 2.9% relative to CY 2024, which includes a market basket update of 3.4% less a productivity factor cut of 0.4 percentage points. This rate is slightly above the 2.6% CMS proposed earlier this year.
- Pay separately for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals with per day costs above $630.
- Establish new conditions of participation for hospitals and critical access hospitals offering obstetrical services.
- Pay an add-on to the all-inclusive rate for Indian Health Services and tribal facilities for certain high-cost drugs.
- Maintain the existing rate structure for intensive outpatient program (IOP) and partial hospital program (PHP).
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Arizona Transition to Practice Program: Apply now for the February 2025 cohort!
Applications are now open for the fourth Arizona Transition to Practice Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses cohort beginning in February 2025.
- Any Arizona healthcare facility licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services that hires new graduate registered nurses may apply.
- Priority is given to critical access hospitals or hospitals located in counties with a population of less than 500,000 people.
- Hospitals with existing 12-month Transition to Practice programs are not eligible.
Why it matters: The Arizona Transition to Practice Program:
- Supports and develops new nurses.
- Provides evidence-based professional development.
- Accelerates the novice nurse to a competent nurse more rapidly.
- Addresses resilience and emergency preparedness.
👉Applications are due Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.
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Op-ed: Medicare Advantage isn’t worth the promised perks
Neal Jensen, CEO of Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center and Immediate Past Chair of the AzHHA Board of Directors, wrote an op-ed about Medicare Advantage that was featured in the Daily Independent online.
- The article discusses how Medicare Advantage plans employ tactics to delay or deny necessary treatment.
- These delays primarily target local physicians or hospitals, who work tirelessly to ensure that patients receive the care they need and deserve.
Go deeper: Read the article here.
Thank you, Neal, for raising awareness on this important issue.
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2024 STAB Report and opportunities for injury prevention
Each year, the State Trauma Advisory Board (STAB) collaborates with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Bureau of EMS and Trauma System to publish an annual report and interactive online Trauma Dashboard.
By the numbers: In 2023, 47 trauma centers reported a total of 71,015 trauma incidents to the Arizona State Trauma Registry.
- This is 4% increase from 2022 and an average of 195 trauma incidents reported per day.
What’s next: Arizonans can help to reduce the impact of traumatic injury by participating in injury prevention efforts such as passenger restraints and wearing helmets.
Go deeper:
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Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 - Social Cohesion Dialogue 2024
Join the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy director Lois Brown, PhD, and authors Jeff Goodell and Dr. Rob Gore for a riveting dialogue about health, environmental crises, violence, vulnerability, leadership and community engagement. Learn more and register.
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