2009 Annual Conference Summary

Strengthening the Safety Net through Reform

NAPH strongly believes that real health reform expands coverage to include all individuals and families, guarantees access to physicians and health care services, and improves the quality and efficiency of patient care. To reach these goals, significant changes are needed. Building blocks for reform must include health information technology, as well as changes to the health care payment system and patient care management.

At the 2009 NAPH Annual Conference senior hospital leaders discussed strategies for approaching the complex challenges that lie ahead, including ways to transform care delivery. Presenters and participants shared information about:

• The impact of the economic downturn on safety net providers;
• Health reform legislation;
• Effective uses of health information technology;
• Improving the patient experience;
• Value based purchasing - performance measures, incentive structures and their impacts; and
• Member strategies to provide quality care more efficiently.

Schedule At-A-Glance -- Please Search Presenters for Downloadable Presentations!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
1:30pm - 3:30pm

340B Update: Nuts and Bolts of the 340 B Drug Discount Program 
Addressed the range of issues relating to 340B compliance and opportunities for savings, including inventory management, Medicaid billing and contract pharmacies.

• William H. von Oehsen ― President and General Counsel, Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access

3:30pm - 5:00pm

340B Drug Discount Program Update: Current Developments and Maximizing the Program
This session provided an update on 340B legislative and regulatory developments and described how to maximize savings in this complex federal program.

• William H. von Oehsen ― President and General Counsel, Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access

Thursday, June 25, 2009
8:30am - 10:30am

Plenary Session
From Washington to Washington (Welcome remarks only - no presentations)

• John W. Bluford, III ― President/Chief Executive Officer, Truman Medical Centers, MO; Chair, NAPH
• Larry S. Gage ― President, NAPH, DC
• Eileen Whalen ― Executive Director, Harborview Medical Center, WA

How Does Delivery System Reform Fit into the Current Health Reform Debate
True health reform requires revamping, revitalizing, and retooling of the US health care delivery system. This session described whether sufficient attention is being paid to the delivery system side of the equation as health reform is being debated, what a truly reformed health system should look like and gave examples of high performing delivery systems.  (Please select individual presenters for related presentations.)

• Philip Mehler, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Denver Health, CO
• Stephen C. Schoenbaum, MD, MPH ― Executive Vice President for Programs, The Commonwealth Fund, NY
• Alan R. Weil, JD, MPP ― Executive Director, National Academy for State Health Policy, DC

10:50am―12:20pm
Breakout Sessions

Value Based Purchasing: Impact on Safety Net Providers
Public and private payers are implementing value based purchasing (VBP) programs as a tool for improving quality and patient safety. Speakers described VBP--the criteria that will be used, program structure, target populations, performance measures and incentive structures, and what the impact will be on safety net hospitals and health systems. Presentation also described a program to re-engineer hospital discharges to decrease hospital re-admissions. (Please select individual presenters for related presentations.)

• Mark Keroack, MD, MPH ― Vice President & Director, Clinical Practice Advancement Center, University HealthSystem Consortium, IL
• Michael Paasche-Orlow, MD ― Boston Medical Center, MA

Workforce: Impact of Health Reform on Workforce Needs
If coverage is expanded will there be a sufficient supply of physicians and other primary care providers to meet the potential increase in demand? What are the workforce implications of proposals for health care reform? Speakers described innovative approaches for expanding primary care capacity and capabilities. (Please select individual presenters for related presentations.)

• Peter Delgado ― Chief Executive Officer, LAC+USC Healthcare Network, CA
• Mark Doescher, MD, MSPH ― Director, Health Workforce Studies and WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, University of Washington, WA

Using Social Networking Tools to Transform Care
You can’t escape the digital revolution. Today, social media is clearly the biggest opportunity, and challenge, facing organizations—and safety net hospitals are not immune. From social networks like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube to blogging (and cultivating relationships with health care industry bloggers), web videos, RSS feeds, and podcasting—each are important tools that you should employ to further demonstrate your value to the communities you serve, control the conversation, and engage your key stakeholders. This session presented examples of how and why to develop a social media strategy. (Please select individual presenters for related presentations.)

• April Foran ― Director, Corporate Communications, Parkland Health & Hospital System, TX
• Kate Fowlie ― Communications Officer, Contra Costa Health Services, CA
• Hanson Hosein ― Professor, University of Washington, WA

1:45pm―3:15pm
Breakout Sessions

Patient-Centered Medical Homes: Successes and Challenges Facing the Safety Net
The benefits of a “medical home” are many… and so are the definitions. A medical home is often defined as a health care setting that provides patients with timely, well-organized care and enhanced access to providers. Features of a medical home can include having a regular provider or place of care; the ability to contact their provider by phone, the ability to get care or advice on weekends or evenings; and having office visits well organized and on schedule. This session described different models, successes and challenges in providing “medical homes” and coordinating systematic, patient and family-centered, primary care to vulnerable populations. (Please select individual presenters for related presentations.)

• Michael K. Butler, MD, MHA, CPE ― Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana State University, Health Care Services Division, LA
• Bonni B. Croy, MHA, CPHQ, CPEHR ― Senior Consultant, Outlook Associates LLC-a division of Qualis Health, CA

Transforming Care: Role of Senior Executives, Boards, and Medical Staff
Turbulent times create chaos for some and opportunity for others. Successful leaders clarify vision, set effective strategies, connect with key constituencies, and help people achieve great results. At this session, two members presented case studies of how boards, executives, and medical staff align incentives and redesign care delivery models to improve outcomes, expand capacity, and save money. (Please select individual presenters for related presentations.)

• Michael Karpf, MD ― Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Kentucky HealthCare, KY
• Liz Kniss ― Fifth District representative on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors,CA
• Kim Roberts ― Chief Executive Officer, Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System, CA

Health Reform: Open Discussion with NAPH Members
The press, policymakers, and many pundits suggest that the stars are aligned to achieve national health reform in 2009. Congress and the Obama Administration can pass comprehensive health reform only if reform policies are reasonable and politically achievable. Presenters discussed the various health reform proposals, what accountable care organizations are, how would a new connector work, and the hotly debated public insurance plan option and how to pay for reform. Presenters also discussed what health reform means for safety net hospitals. (Please select individual presenters for related presentations.)

• Barbara Eyman ― Partner, Ropes & Gray LLP, DC
• Claudine Swartz ― Assistant Vice President for Policy, NAPH, DC

Friday, June 26, 2009
9:00am―12:00 N
Plenary Session

Building Blocks for Change: High Tech… and High Touch

High Tech… Using Technology to Drive Innovation
What is the potential for information technology to improve health? Can investments in technology help safety net hospitals and health systems improve their efficiency and quality? Can health information technology change how physicians provide care and the way individuals manage their own health? Will the use of interoperable systems lead to cost reductions and quality improvement? The speaker described what types of smart spending on technology will have impact, support clear outcomes and drive change for patients and providers.

• Peter Neupert ― Corporate Vice President, Health Solutions Group, Microsoft, WA

High Touch…Improving the patient experience: Lessons learned from businesses
Hospitals are focusing on how to enhance the patient experience. Seattle business leaders discussed how they measure, monitor and improve the customer experience, how these lessons can be applied to health care and how to energize your employees and build a patient service culture.

• Robert Spector ― Author “The Nordstrom Way”, WA