CEO Update | 18

CMS Releases Final IPF Prospective Payment System Rule for 2019 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a Medicare payment increase of 1.1 percent next year for inpatient psychiatric facilities in the final Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) rule the agency released on July 31. Compared with the 2018 payment rate, the increase reflects a total increase of $50 million for Medicare-participating inpatient psychiatric facilities in fiscal year 2019. The payment update aligns with the agency’s proposed rule earlier this year. CMS removed five of the eight Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting (IPFQR) program measures that it had proposed to eliminate. These include Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel, Alcohol Use Screening (SUB-1), Tobacco Use Screening (TOB-1), Use of an Electronic Health Record, and Assessment of Patient Experience of Care. NABH led the effort to remove these measures, which will take effect in fiscal year 2020. Three other measures that CMS had proposed to remove—Physical Restraint Use, Seclusion Use, and Tobacco Use Treatment at Discharge—will not be removed from the IPFQR program. NABH, along with many other groups, encouraged CMS to keep the Physical Restraint Use and the Seclusion Use measures because they are critical to patient safety. Click here to read the CMS fact sheet on the final rule and  here to read the complete text of the final rule. National Academy of Medicine Launches Collaborative to Address Opioid Crisis The National Academy of Medicine (NAM)—in partnership with the Aspen Institute—has launched the NAM Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic, a public-private partnership of more than 35 organizations to address the nation’s deadly opioid crisis. “It is clear that no single institution nor sector can solve the opioid crisis alone,” Admiral Brett Giroir, M.D., HHS’ assistant secretary for health and the collaborative’s co-chair, said in an announcement about the collaborative. “The only viable approach to addressing the opioid misuse epidemic, the most pressing public health challenge of our time, is through multi-sector collaboration and a patient-centered approach,” he continued. “This collaborative brings the best from academia, industry, nonprofits, and public service to identify opportunities and recommend bold action plans to yield results.” Giroir also serves as HHS’ senior advisor for mental health and opioid policy. The National Academy of Medicine has posted Admiral Giroir’s video and slides from his presentation. SAMHSA Accepting Applications for State Opioid Response Grants The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for $930 million in State Opioid Response Grants. The funds are meant to increase access to medication assisted treatment (MAT), close treatment gaps, and ultimately reduce overdose deaths. States must apply for the grants by Monday, August 13 to receive funding. Click here for more information. FDA Issues Warning about Emergencies Caused by Synthetic Cannabinoid Products Laced with Brodifacoum The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning statement about a number of health emergencies, primarily in Midwestern states, caused by consuming synthetic cannabinoid products laced with brodifacoum, a blood-thinning compound commonly used in rat poison. “These unapproved products are being sold in convenience stores and gas stations as substitutes for marijuana under names such as “K2” and “Spice,” the FDA said in its statement. “Use of these illegal products post significant public health concerns for both individuals who may use the contaminated products and the U.S. blood supply, as there is the potential for contamination of blood products donated by individuals who have used these substances.” Click here to read the warning statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D.; Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; and Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Partial Hospitalization Program PEPPER Review Resources Available The TMF Health Quality Institute has posted handouts from its webinar this week to review the most recent Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) PEPPER (version Q4CY17). The resources are located in the “Training and Resources” section at PEPPERresources.org. Morning Consult Issues Reports about Americans’ Views on Smoking and Drinking Technology company Morning Consult has released three new reports about U.S. consumer views on alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco and vaping use following surveys of more than 2,200 adults conducted in July. The surveys included questions on consumer preferences—such as what type of alcohol consumers prefer and why—as well as why consumers use substances. Among users in the marijuana survey, 71 percent said they use it to relax, while 46 percent said they use it to help them sleep.   For questions or comments about CEO Update, please contact Jessica Zigmond