Reports - Mississippi Renewal

174 | ROAD MAP TO ACCOUNTABILITYRECOMMENDATIONS14 Opportunities on the Gulf Coast should be aggressively marketed to healthcare providers nationwide to ensure that physicians fully realizethe revitalization efforts underway and the accomplishments achieved.15 The state should submit a state plan amendment to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a supplementalphysician retention payment based upon average commercial payor rates.16 Educational opportunities should be broadened for potential nursing students, including providing additional resources to communitycolleges and universities to increase capacity and to recruit students to their programs.17 The Commissioner of Insurance should consider the establishment of a State Insurance Pool for health care providers for business interruptioncoverage in the event of a disaster.18 The Governor and Legislature should monitor malpractice premiums trends and insurance options to ensure the availability of affordableinsurance for health care providers.19 The federal government should partially compensate some providers for increased costs and reduced revenues by establishing a “fl oor”for the wage index for providers in the affected areas equal to 1.0.20 The federal government’s share of reimbursement available for Medicaid costs associated with serving hurricane victims should beincreased.Responsible Entities and Funding SourcesHospitalsState governmentState governmentCommissioner of InsuranceGovernor and State legislatureFederal governmentCongress21 Legislation should be passed holding all states harmless for any scheduled reduction in a state’s FMAP for fi scal years 2006-2007. Congress22 Legislation should be passed holding all providers harmless for any changes to programs such as Upper Payment Limit, DisproportionateShare, and wage index for fi scal years 2006-2007.Congress23 Disaster relief funds should be available for mental health services for residents and fi rst responders Congress24 Legislation should recognize that the impact of the disaster on healthcare providers will last for many months and should provide forcoverage for affected individuals for a period of at least 24 months.25 The “uncompensated care pool” created in the Section 1115 waiver should cover services provided for dates of service through at leastthe next two years.26 Reimbursement from the federal uncompensated care pool should be defi ned as uncompensated care provided to any individual from adesignated disaster area.27 Services provided by all health care providers which are not covered in a Medicaid benefi ciary’s home state should qualify for theuncompensated care pool.28 Measures available to protect and strengthen Mississippi’s Medicaid program, including the support of federal legislation to provide 100%federal funding for all Medicaid expenditures for individuals who are Katrina survivors and for associated administrative costs, should besupported.29 The Mississippi State Department of Health (DOH) should adopt a CON exemption or waiver for rebuilding after certain qualifyingdisasters.30 The DOH should adopt a policy that allows for an expedited CON review for expenditures related exclusively to future disaster planning. DOH31 A thorough outside assessment of the Trauma System should be conducted. DOH32 An independent assessment of mental health needs by an outside consultant should provide recommendations to better align the deliveryof services and develop the infrastructure it requires.CongressFederal governmentFederal governmentFederal governmentCongressDOHDepartment of Mental Health33 State legislative action that ensures mental health benefi ciaries enjoy parity with all other medical benefi ciaries should be supported. State Legislature34 A child care plan should be coordinated by the HHS Disaster Director and funded by local businesses, medical providers and/or local andstate governments.35 The state should evaluate the potential for incentives to encourage the private sector to develop child care facilities, or partner withexisting providers, in order to make available the child care our workforce needs.36 Case management should also focus on children under state custody and ensure that displaced parents with child support obligationsmeet their responsibilities.37 DHS should develop a resource center for the aged which would provide information and services including home-based services, independentliving services, volunteerism, physical activity and wellness programs, vocational training, housing options, long-term care planning,and information related to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.HHS Disaster Director. Funded by local businesses, medicalproviders, and/or local and state governments.State governmentDHSDHS. Funded by United States Department of Human Services’Administration on Aging.