CHS Committee Meeting Minutes

 

December 8, 2007

Called to Order at 10:45 Am

Present:  Beverly Jaynes, Karen Al Saadi, Lisa Bardach,

Susan Tranquilla, Carolyn Doty, Melissa Witsil, Tim Weise.

  MEETING AGENDA                                                                                                                                              

I.  STANDING BUSINESS

  1. CSA Award:  no new business
  1. Medical Forum/Conference

Sue Fleming has agreed to participate on the panel.  Joe Murray will be asked.  At least 2-3 others still need to be identified.

C.     Reimbursement reports:  none at this meeting. 

  1. Meeting dates were set for only the first 2-3 meetings in 2008.  The next meeting   is February 7, 2008, 6PM at the home of Fran Eldis.  Subsequent dates will be confirmed or finalized at that meeting.

  II. ONGOING ISSUES: 

Medicaid coverage for Children’s Services

    1. Additional discussion regarding the work group formation to deal with Prior Authorization Office.  Kris Rutkowski at Beaumont, Fran Eldis,  and Tara Mahaney at Sparrow hav agreed to date.  Liz Stevens has to "read" content and give feedback.  Looking for at least 2 additional members.
Licensure

            A.     No new updates

Adjourned at 8:0

Next meeting tentatively set for Feb 7, 2008, 6PM

 

October 11, 2007

  Called to Order at 6:00PM

Present:  Beverly Jaynes, Karen Al Saadi, , Fran  Eldis, Lisa Bardach,

Susan Tranquilla, Randy Sax, Carolyn Doty, Melissa Witsil, Tim Weise.

  MEETING AGENDA                                                                                                                                              

I.  STANDING BUSINESS

  1. CSA Award :  no nominees
  1. Medical Forum/Conference

Helen Sharp at WMU is unavailable for the 2008 Forum.  Will continue with plans for a small panel on swallowing issues.

    C.  Reimbursement reports:  none at this meeting

II. ONGOING ISSUES: 

Medicaid coverage for Children’s Services

    1. Bev Jaynes and Margot Beckerman Aud V-P conference called with Michelle Warstler and Evelyn Greaux as planned.  There was limited immediate value in this contact, however it was agreed that Aud and SLP issues would proceed separately.  A work group of SLP’s will be formed to address specific issues, as requested by Ms. Greaux. 
    1. The committee felt the constant rejection of services on the basis of “that is an educational not medical goal” could be the first area of development of a paper on when hospital vs school based services are indicated.  Public School support would be needed, at least for providing feedback and editing.  A team of 4-6 SLP’s representing different parts of the state is optimal. Bev will try to put team together for first of 2008.
Licensure

A.    Work groups with the legislators being planned:  bills remain in committee per report from Tim Weise.

Adjourned at 8:00 PM

Next meeting tentatively set for December  8, 2007  10:30 AM at the home of Karen Al Saadi

April 27, 2006

Called to Order:  6:00 PM

Present:  Randy Sax, Bev Jaynes, Karen Al Saadi, Lisa Bardach, Tim Wiese, Sue Tranquill, Carolyn Doty, Melissa Witsil, Fran Eldis                    

MEETING AGENDA                                                                                                                            

  1. NEWS FROM EXEC. COUNCIL       

           a. LICENSURE (SB 0204, HB4439)

                1. REMINDER that May 17th is Legislative Day at the Capitol

  1.   STANDING BUSINESS                                                                                    

a.       Reimbursement : 

BC-BS:   Copy of letters sent regarding Theramatrix contract have been sent

Medicaid:  Fran Eldis reports problems with obtaining approval for treatment and refusal of treatment continue to be noted both at CHM and U of M.  She continues to discuss these issues with Elaine Ledwon-Robinson:  both are reporting Children’s Special Health Care Services are increasing demands for documentation and seem to be looking for more educational vs medical goals.

Also noted was anecdotal reports from the parents of their clients is the complaint that the children are not receiving treatment at the prescribed frequency.

b.      CSA Award:  discussion of how to improve evaluation process ongoing.  Several sites were extensively discussed.  No specific QA tools were suggested this meeting: Bev will attempt an approach for the next meeting, to review both scores and set the stage for developing specific questions based on those scores. 

 c.     Medical Forum/Conference

        1.Initial conference feedback:  is was successful.

        2. A future speaker list was developed based on informal survey,  Aura Kagan,                 JoAnn Robbins and Paula Sullivan currently top the list.  Joe Murray has            already declined to participate due to a conflict.

Adjourned at 8:30 PM

Next  meeting June 27, 2006

 

June 7, 2006

Called to Order:  6:00 PM

Present:  Randy Sax, Bev Jaynes, Karen Al Saadi,  Tim Wiese, Sue Tranquill, Fran Eldis

Absent:   Lisa Bardach, Carolyn Doty, and Melissa Witsil

MEETING AGENDA                                                                                                                                              

  1.   STANDING BUSINESS                                                                                       

a.       CSA Award: 

The primary focus of this meeting was retrospective review of scoring patterns of all past CSA nominees.  Three small groups broke to tally distribution of individual scores.  Items B5 and B8 were tagged for the highest number of split scores.  B4, B6 and B8 were also identified as having the greatest amount of disagreement amongst scores. 

At the next meeting, it was agreed we will review the tally with the comments as available and address the following questions:

1.      When is something “not applicable”?.

2.      Is there a specific cluster of problems that cause “split scores?”

3.      Can some criteria be made more objective?

b.      Medical Forum/Conference

We are awaiting Aura Kagan’s final decision for participation.  There is a need to ID a key presenter, preferably in swallowing.

c.       Miscellaneous

The Department of Community Health has contacted MSHA asking for Information as to how they can reach as many providers and possible in order to educate them about their new billing system.  They have accepted participation at MSHA.

Adjourned at 8:30 PM

September 22, 2005 

Called to Order:  6:15PM

 Present:  Fran Eldis, Randy Sax, Bev Jaynes, Karen Al Saadi, Carolyn Doty, Melissa Witsel, Lisa Bardach, Tim Wiese.                          

 MEETING AGENDA                        

1.  News from Exec Council     

a. LICENSURE (SB 0204, HB4439)  State budget is close to done, committee asked to share need of  increased legislator contact with colleagues.  Health Policy Committee members were specifically identified as needing contact. In addition, the committee quickly reviewed the OT Licensure bill. Concerns were expressed over some wording regarding communication and swallowing.  A recommendation was made to have ASHA review the draft.

b. MSHA’s creation of Ad Hoc Committee to establish Foundation presented.  Suggestions regarding make up of board and donors was requested; please forward to MSHA office.

c.  Strategic Planning:  informed committee to watch for review of planning outcomes in next et cetera.  Suggestions such as     reducing the size of the executive council and increasing focus on committee development presented.  

d. Continued utilization of a Lobbyist confirmed as a need by exec. Council and now a line item in budget.  CHS supported this action in the past and is willing to provide feedback for any proposed evaluation process.

e.  Audiology Mega conference decision reviewed.  Committee agrees that audiology presence is necessary at our own March convention to address multidisciplinary issues.   We strongly urge Ex. Council to not only plan for the fall Mega conference in 2006 but to also make contingent plans to re-integrate audiology if needed, for March 2007.

2.  STANDING BUSINESS

a.  Reimbursement: 

1.  Lisa Bardach reported:  The AAC group has informally disbanded.  “It does not appear that individuals have the luxury of time (or resources) to specialize in AAC.”    She identified that there continues to be a need for central resources in information in the state.  There has been another 4% Medicaid cut in speech generating devices.  Lisa expressed concern that this will force suppliers to limit product lines and services available to the consumer.  The proposal for competitive bidding by third party payers to provide devices was seen as a way to limit access.  As many users are school age, it was suggested that this issue be brought to attention of V-P of Education.  A joint medical and school task force may be needed.  Tim invited Lisa to join MSHA’s discussion of BC-BS coverage.

2.  BC-BS:   It was moved that Tim Wiese proceed in the CHS committee and MSHA’s behalf,  and send  a letter to BC-BS regarding their awarding  Thera-Matrix an exclusive contract to provide all PT services to Ford BC-BS employees. This has a significant negative impact on the neurological population and potentially the cancer population who need other services (PT, OT, RT, etc.).  As the contract is on a one-year trial basis, it is hoped that it will not be renewed as is.

b  CSA Award:  there is one nominee accepted who will be scheduled for a site visit.

c.       Medical Forum/Conference

1.      The committee considered the recommendation that Conferences have a “theme” and expressed concern that a narrow focus would discourage attendance rather than encouraging it.  It is hoped as CEU requirements become universal, that an increased audience would make it possible to expand topical areas.

2.      It was agreed the medical forum would not have a reimbursement format in 2006..  Potential focus on dealing with multicultural clients, volunteers and technology updates as potential topics.  Next meeting will focus on forum.

Adjourned at 8:15PM

Next formal meeting December 10, 2005  Ann Arbor 10:30 am