March 2017 Vol. 7 No. 2

In This Issue:

2017 Labor & Employment Update HCWP Provides Testimony Flash Survey Released Studer Group Conference Allied Member Meeting New Educators Committee Navigation Assistance Available Current Surveys Upcoming Meetings New Allied Members Other Items of Interest

2017 Corporate Sponsors

Healthcare 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.

Visit:  http://www.hcwp.org Call:  1-800-704-8434

2017 Labor & Employment UpdateHealthcare Council is hosting the 2017 Annual Labor & Employment Update on Friday, May 5, 2017, at the Jack C. Robinette Conference Center. This year's program will provide participants with the latest information related to labor and employment trends.

The Conference will begin with an overview and update on trends in healthcare labor organizing presented by Chris Cimino, president and chief executive officer of Chessboard Consulting, based in Chicago, Illinois. For more than 25 years, he has been providing clients with strategic employee and labor relations consultation aimed at improving employee satisfaction, boosting organizational performance and lowering vulnerability to union organizing. Chessboard Consulting works with clients in the healthcare, manufacturing, service and financial industries.

Two expert attorneys, Terrence H. Murphy, shareholder with the firm Little Mendelson, and Ron Andrykovitch, director with the firm Cohen & Grigsby, will provide participants with the latest regulatory and legal developments related to workforce issues. Murphy has represented employers for more than 35 years in multiple areas of labor and employment law including collective bargaining, labor arbitration, National Labor Relations Board proceedings and several others. Andrykovitch's labor and employment practice is focused on representing employers in a broad array of cases, including collective bargaining, unfair labor practices, regulatory compliance and general employment counseling.

The program will conclude with a presentation by Lesa Votovich, vice president Health and Benefits for Cowden Associates. She will discuss key federal initiatives such as the fiduciary rule, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the impact of these initiatives. She has more than 20 years of experience in the employee benefits consulting field.

The program is designed for senior Human Resource executives, chief nursing officers and senior nursing management, chief operating officers and other members of the senior management team. The program is sponsored by Cowden Associates, Corazon, CURA, Intalere, Saul Ewing and Strategy Solutions.

The cost of the program is $50 for members. Registration information will be sent to members in early April. For more information contact Pat Raffaele. For registration information contact Monica Palmer.

Healthcare Council Provides Testimony at Recent HearingsA.J. Harper, president of Healthcare Council, testified on behalf of members in two recent public hearings. On March 29, 2017, Harper testified at a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on the impact of a potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act and a potential repeal of the expansion of Medical Assistance (Medicaid). Earlier in the month he testified at an Allegheny County Council hearing in support of a recommendation by the Allegheny County Health Department's Board of Health on a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in public places where the use of cigarettes are banned.

Healthcare Council President A.J. Harper testifies at House Democratic Policy Committee hearing with panelists (left to right) Cassie Narkevic, navigator, Consumer Health Coalition and Kristy Trautmann, executive director, FISA Foundation.

In the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing, Harper provided testimony on the impact of a potential repeal of Medicaid Expansion. A repeal could mean less access for 700,000 Pennsylvanians on Medicaid. He also discussed the potential impact on small hospitals (under 100 beds) and critical access hospitals in the region. He testified with two other panelists, Cassie Narkevic, a navigator with the Consumer Health Coalition and Kristy Trautmann, executive director of the FISA Foundation. In the Allegheny County Council hearing, Harper provided testimony in support of the Allegheny County's Board of Health recommendation to ban the use of e-cigarettes in public places where the use of cigarettes are banned.Allegheny County Council did vote in favor of the ban. For more information contact A.J. Harper or Pat Raffaele.

Flash Survey ReleasedThe fiscal year 2017 Second Quarter Flash Survey was released to members at the end of March. One of the primary indicators in the Healthcare Council's Flash Survey quarterly report is operating margins. According to the Flash Survey, operating margins continue to decrease. The report shows that the average operating margin came in below the prior year at 3.53 percent. Hospitals under 100 beds continue to have negative average operating margins at negative 3.31 percent. The operating margins for the 23 hospitals under 100 beds are a negative 4.99 percent in the second quarter of 2016 compared to a negative 3.31 percent in the second quarter of 2017. In total, these 23 hospitals had a negative operating margin of $14.5 million. Since fiscal year 2009, hospitals under 100 beds have had negative operating margins in each year except 2012.

The report shows an increase in admissions across most hospital categories of 1.12 percent overall. Other indicators show patient volumes decreased in emergency room visits, outpatient surgeries and other outpatient registrations.

For more information contact Denis Lukes. Studer Group Conference to Focus on Engagement and LeadershipHealthcare Council's sold-out Studer Group program will be held April 6th and 7th at Healthcare Council's Jack C. Robinette Conference Center. The program features two nationally recognized Studer Group speakers: Mark Noon and Pam Beitlich.

The first speaker for the Conference is Mark Noon, a national speaker who excelled in military and civilian healthcare leadership for more than 20 years. He is an expert at conveying the value connection driving results by teaching leaders how to create and cultivate value in the people they manage. He will focus on The Foundation- Evidence-Based Leadership: Communication, Consistency, Engagement. Pam Beitlich is a national speaker for Studer Group and has more than 30 years of experience in patient care, medical staff relations and nursing administration. She also works full time as a hospital chief nursing officer. Her presentation will focus on Evidence-Based Leadership: Tactics & Techniques.

The Conference includes a networking reception immediately following the conclusion of the first day as well as other networking opportunities. For more information contact Jane Montgomery or to become part of the wait-list contact Monica Palmer. Allied Member MeetingHealthcare Council's Allied Member meeting will be held on May 17, 2017 at Healthcare Council's Jack C. Robinette Conference Center. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude with a networking lunch at noon. Healthcare Council's President, A. J. Harper, will provide an overview of federal, state and regional issues and events. An additional speaker will be added to the agenda in the near future. The meeting will conclude with a roundtable discussion.

For more information contact Pat Raffaele.

New Educator's CommitteeEducators from Healthcare Council's member facilities are invited to participate in a new member Committee designed for those responsible for both clinical and non-clinical education. The first meeting of the Educator's Committee will be held on April 25, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. until noon at Healthcare Council's Jack C. Robinette Conference Center. The meeting will focus on the process of "onboarding" new employees including employee orientation, employee follow-up and other processes related to "onboarding."

The chair of the Educator's Committee is Joan Colbert, manager, Organizational Development, for Conemaugh Health System. The newly formed Committee is accepting members. A meeting notice and registration will be sent to those that have already expressed interest as well as to the HR Committee and the Chief Nursing Officers to share with others who may be interested in participating.

For more information contact Jane Montgomery or Pat Raffaele. Navigation Assistance Available for Special EnrollmentsEven though the open enrollment period for individuals to enroll in the health exchange is over, Healthcare Council offers navigation assistance to those eligible for special enrollment. Healthcare Council's navigator, Barbara McDowell, is available to assist individuals with enrollment who qualify for special enrollment. Members can also refer patients who have questions regarding enrollment to Healthcare Council.

Individuals can qualify for special enrollment 60 days after the date of a qualifying event. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) define qualifying events as a life change resulting in loss of health coverage. These events include loss of coverage due to loss of job-based coverage, loss of COBRA coverage, loss of eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP, or other events. Individuals can also qualify if there is a loss of coverage due to death or a divorce or other life changes such as marriage or having a baby or adopting a child.

Healthcare Council's enrollment work is funded under a CMS navigator grant through the Consumer Health Coalition and through funding from private foundations. For more information contact Barbara McDowell. Current SurveysCompensation SurveysThe annual Management Compensation Survey was sent to participating members in March 2017. The report reflects data for top level positions for member facilities.

The Benchmark Salary Survey, which reflects data on more than 70 positions, will be sent to participating members in early April 2017. Participating members will also receive a customized compa-ratio report.

For more information contact Pat Raffaele or Betty Steup.

Upcoming MeetingsFund Development Committee Best practices in donor cultivation and stewardship will be the focus of the April 11th Fund Development Committee meeting. The Committee will meet from 9:30 a.m. until noon at Healthcare Council's Conference Center. Emily Peters, JD, development Director at The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh will provide a presentation on donor cultivation and stewardship and facilitate a discussion on best practices. The Committee will also hold a roundtable discussion. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.

HR Committee and HR Long-Term Care Committee Both the HR Committee and the HR Long-Term Care Committee will meet on April 12, 2017 at Healthcare Council's Conference Center. The HR Committee will meet from 9:30 a.m. until noon and the HR Long-Term Care Committee will meet in the afternoon, immediately following a networking lunch.

Rick Applegate, partner with Cantor Fitzgerald Wealth Partners, will update the Committee on the pending fiduciary rule, ERISA, Pension Committees and other related topics.

In addition, two speakers from Gateway Rehabilitation Center will provide a presentation on healthcare organizations as employers and the challenges related to hiring and retaining employees in the current environment with the increasing use of opioids and other drugs. Kyle Harder, director, Business Development, and Bonnie Rack-Wildner, manager of the Back on Track Employee Assistance Program at Gateway Rehabilitation, will provide a presentation and facilitate a discussion. The meeting will conclude with a discussion on workforce and a general roundtable discussion. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.

Long-Term Care Quality Committee The Long-Term Care Quality Committee will meet on April 19, 2017 at Healthcare Council's Conference Center. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at noon with a networking lunch. Participants will discuss several topics including requirements for participation, value based purchasing and surveys, among other topics. The meeting will conclude with a roundtable discussion. For more information contact Jane Montgomery.

Accounts Receivable Committee The Accounts Receivable Committee will meet on April 27, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. until approximately noon at Healthcare Council's Conference Center. Meeting details will be available in the near future. For more information contact Denis Lukes.

Compliance Committee The Compliance Committee will meet on May 11, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m. at Healthcare Council's Conference Center. The keynote speaker for the meeting is Kurt Spear, vice president of Financial Investigation and Provider Review for Highmark. In addition to his presentation, the Committee will review the key presentations from the national conference of the Health Care Compliance Association. The meeting will conclude with a roundtable discussion. For more information contact Pat Raffaele.

Chief Operating Officers Committee The Chief Operating Officers Committee will meet on May 16, 2017 at Healthcare Council's Conference Center from 9:30 a.m. until approximately noon. Meeting details and registration information will be sent to Committee members in the near future. For more information contact Pat Raffaele. New Allied MembersHealthcare Council welcomes the following new Allied Members:

ASCC Inc. ASCC, located in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, provides cost effective, quality, integrated technology solutions. ASCC serves healthcare clients with a consultative approach that addresses clinical, financial and operational initiatives. Life safety and security solutions include nurse call communication systems by Rauland Bork, Versus RTLS, Stanley Roam Alert, Video Insight, Video Management, Biamp Critical Paging and Mass Notification. For more information visit www.asccinc.com or contact Michelle Pekich, sales consultant by phone at 724-772-2722.

RiskControl 360 RiskControl 360 is a professional service firm focused on the integration of worker and patient safety to create an organizational culture of safety. RiskControl 360 specializes in such topics as aggressive behavior in healthcare and benchmarking as well as education and the culture of safety project management, specifically related to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN) program. RiskControl360 is headquartered in Seven Hills, Ohio, and has an office in Pittsburgh. For more information visit www.riskcontrol360.com or contact Courtney Ulrich at at 330-301-3262.

For information on Healthcare Council's Allied Membership program contact Pat Raffaele.

Other Items of InterestEmerging Philanthropy Conference Pittsburgh's Emerging Philanthropy Conference, co-presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Western Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council, will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the Hilton Garden Inn Southpointe. The day-long program begins with a keynote presentation by Lynne Wester, founder and principal of the company Donor Relations Guru. She will speak on the topic, How Creative Thank Yous and Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude Can Boost Fundraising. There are several break-out sessions focused on topics ranging from grant programs, creating a development plan and fundraising during a crisis, among other topics. For more information and to register visit www.afpwpa.org.

JHF, PRHI and HCF Announce JHF Feinstein Fellowships The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF), Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI) and Health Careers Futures (HCF) are recruiting graduate students in health-related fields for two summer JHF Feinstein Fellowships. Applications for the fellowships must be completed by May 3, 2017 and the program for both fellowships will be held in June, July and the beginning of August.

The two Fellowships are: The Patient Safety Fellowship is designed to foster the next generation of healthcare leaders in quality by introducing them to PRHI's Perfecting Patient Care methodology-a Lean-based quality improvement system.

The QI2T Health Innovators Fellowship is a series of learning sessions coupled with a competition designed to allow Fellows to work closely with mentors and a multidisciplinary team to create and present a future health technology visual to a panel of judges for an opportunity to win $5,000.

Students from diverse health-related disciplines are invited to apply. For more information visit www.jhf.org. or contact Nancy Zionts, chief operating officer for JHF at 412-594-2559.