This week, read about:

Shutdown avoided…for now

What’s new: Congress did what conventional wisdom suggested was impossible over the weekend—they agreed to continue funding the government for 45 days (through Friday, Nov. 17) and avoided a shutdown.

What’s next: The path forward is not clear yet.

Hospital operating margins continue to struggle

What’s new: KaufmanHall released its August 2023 financial report which shows data from more than 900 hospitals nationwide.

By the numbers: August’s operating margins were 1.1%, the second time they have exceeded 1% in 2023.

Key takeaways from the report were that lengths of stay are beginning to decline, returning to normal and increased expenses were offset by increased revenue.

👉The report also recommends that hospitals consider re-engaging in strategic financial and capital planning efforts since waiting too long “could threaten the long-term relevance and viability of organizations as they fall behind the needs of their communities and actions of their competitors.”

Deadline to register is fast approaching!

⌛Time is running out to register for the 2023 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference! Deadline is Friday, Oct. 13. Register today.

What you need to know:

Survey highlights issues with denied health insurance claims

What’s new: A Kaiser Family Foundation survey of adults with health insurance found that roughly six in 10 insured adults experience problems when they use their insurance.

Go deeper: Read more insights from this survey.

Vicki Buchda recognized with Contexture award

🏆Vicki Buchda, SVP, Care Improvement at AzHHA, received this year’s Contexture Excellence Award - Leader at the Contexture 2023 Summit.

Vicki was recognized for her work with the Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry (AzHDR) Rural Hospital Incentive Program.

Congratulations, Vicki!

📢Here we grow again! 🙌

AzHHA is looking for two exceptional individuals to join the team!

➡️AzCHER Southern Region and Statewide Planning Manager. Read the job description and apply.

➡️Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Program Manager - RN. Read the job description and apply.

ADHS COVID-19 dashboard updates

What’s new: The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) COVID-19 data dashboard is now updated to represent trends and data in a way that will allow for quick analysis of trends in Arizona and its counties.

👉Data that will remain visible within the dashboard, but with a new look:

Ageism Awareness Day is Saturday, Oct. 7

📢This day is an opportunity to draw attention to the existence and impact of ageism in our society and how we can reframe aging in our communities.

Why it matters: It’s important to promote age inclusion and advocate against ageism.

Go deeper: Check out additional information and resources:

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, Oct. 10 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Leadership commitment webinar
CDC’s partners will share real-life examples, strategies and best practices to help organizations successfully implement the new core elements, with a focus on dedicating the necessary human, financial and information technology resources. Register today.

Wednesday, Oct. 11 - Improving maternal and neonatal safety webinar
This webinar will highlight the sobering statistics for both maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the U.S. This will be paired with current high reliability strategies of deference to expertise, high performance practices and continuous process improvement that can be used to optimize maternal and neonatal care. Register here.

Friday, Oct. 13 - Arizona Burn Symposium
The Arizona Burn Symposium is an opportunity for medical professionals to gather, learn and connect with experts in the field of burn care. The symposium features engaging speakers, informative panel discussions and interactive workshops that provide the latest advancements in burn care. Register today.

Monday, Oct. 16 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Accountability and multi-professional expertise webinar
CDC subject matter experts and partners explore the importance of appointing a leader responsible for program outcomes, the benefits of setting concrete program goals and how to engage key partners throughout the organization. Register now.

Thursday, Oct. 19 - Introduction to POLST 
Join physician orders for life-sustaining treatment paradigm (POLST) for their one-hour virtual workshops equipping healthcare professionals with knowledge and resources to begin using POLST in Arizona. Register here.

Oct. 25-27 - 2023 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference
The 2023 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference will once again be held at the exquisite Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson on Oct. 25-27. This will be an inspirational gathering of more than 200 hospital and healthcare executives seeking opportunities for continuing education, meaningful discussion and relationship building. Register now.

Thursday, Nov. 2 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Action webinar
Gain valuable insights from CDC subject matter experts and partners about how to implement effective structures and processes to improve sepsis identification, management and recovery. Register today.

Thursday, Nov. 16 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Tracking and reporting webinar
CDC subject matter experts and partners discuss how to measure sepsis epidemiology, outcomes, program goals and the impact of sepsis initiatives. Register now.

Thursday, Dec. 7 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Education webinar
Discover the impact of sepsis education for healthcare professionals during onboarding and as an annual refresher. Register today.

IN THE NEWS

Hospitals are dropping Medicare Advantage left and right (beckershospitalreview.com)

Hospitals’ rocky road to recovery (beckershospitalreview.com)

Lawmakers want answers from UnitedHealth, other major payers on Medicaid prior auth denials (beckerspayer.com)

Cigna pays $172M to settle MA upcoding allegations (healthcaredive.com)

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