Nearly 150 providers gathered for the 2011 Spring Leadership Conference on April 20 to hear from experts on topics ranging from health care reform to rehospitalization.

Starting the day, health care reform panelists (Dr. Jennifer Lundblad, president & CEO of Stratis Health; Dr. David Moen, executive medical director for Fairview Health Services; Nancy Rehkamp, principal, LarsonAllen LLP; and John Selstad, state program administrator coordinator, Aging & Adult Services Division, Minnesota Department of Human Services) discussed quality-related opportunities for long-term care in the Affordable Care Act, including value-based purchasing; care transitions and reducing unnecessary re-hospitalizations; and health system re-design through the new Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program (QAPI). The multi-payer advance primary care practice demonstration was also reviewed.

Business planning panelists (April Boxeth, partner, Voigt, Klegon & Rodè; Robert Castle, partner, Oppenheimer, Woff & Donnelly; and Sam Orbovich, attorney, Fredrikson & Bryon, PA) offered recommendations for long-term care employers regarding labor and employment issues, including workforce reduction plans, post-termination obligations, and labor law issues. Voluntary withdrawal from Medical Assistance; factors to consider when weighing bankruptcy or closure, including financial and non-financial factors; the difference between out-of-court closure and bankruptcy; closing beds; and state receivership were also discussed.

Re-hospitalization panelists, including Kathy Cummings, clinical improvement facilitator for the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement; William Nersessian, chief medical officer for Fairview Physician Associates; and Mark Sonneborn, vice president of information services for the Minnesota Hospital Association, turned the discussion to understanding hospital readmissions: the impact of and contributory factors for readmissions, and actions to take to lower readmissions. Panelists offered a perspective on why hospital readmissions are important and also reviewed the findings of the FPA Medicare Readmission Pilot.

The program concluded with an energized and informative public policy landscape panel presentation. Minnesota’s current financial situation, an update on the remaining legislative session, and a vision of what Minnesota’s new leadership has for long-term care fueled a spirited discussion and question-and-answer period. Rep. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka); Lucinda Jesson, commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services; Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie); Thomas Hanson, associate, Winthrop & Weinstine, PA; and Edward Ehlinger, commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health (pictured from left to right below), shared both facts and objectives relating to this year’s legislative session and agency priorities for the future. They reiterated the value of the input and perspectives members provide as policy and legislation is developed.

The Spring Leadership Conference is an annual event designed to bring executive-level topics to the forefront of discussion. We are grateful to our 2011 sponsors for their support of this program: Presenting Sponsor Premier Diagnostic Imaging and the Luncheon Sponsor McKesson Medical-Surgical.

Cyndi Spencer
952.851.2490
cspencer@careproviders.org