Get involved with IHA district meetings
IHA encourages member hospitals and health systems to attend and participate in IHA’s 2023 district meetings. These in-person meetings provide a unique opportunity to network with hospital peers and make connections. With a common agenda created by IHA for each district, the meetings are important to learn about IHA’s member priorities and programs.

A few changes are in store for IHA district meetings this year:

• Common meeting agendas are set by the IHA senior leadership team.
• District meetings will not be held on Fridays.
• Meeting RSVPs and agendas will be sent to member CEOs and administrative staff. Members can attend the district they're in or attend a different district meeting. It's important for members to attend the district meetings.
• Members are encouraged to invite their leadership teams and encourage at least one hospital representative to attend if the CEO cannot attend.
• A member of the IHA senior leadership team and an IHA staff district liaison will attend each meeting in 2023.

Hospital CEOs chair each district meeting. This year’s chairs and IHA liaisons are:

• District A – Erin Muck, CEO, Crawford County Memorial Hospital, Denison, and Perry Meyer.
• District B – Danette Kramer, CEO, Regional Medical Center, Manchester, and Jennifer Nutt.
• District C – Garen Carpenter, CEO, Van Buren County Hospital, Keosauqua, and Sara Hayes.
• District D – Chuck Nordyke, CEO, Clarinda Regional Health Center, and Corey Martin.
• District E – Teri Wahlig, M.D., CEO, ChildServe, Johnson, and Chris Mitchell, Perry Meyer and Robb Gardner.

February district meetings are 100% virtual with an 60-75 minute agendas. The meeting RSVPs, Zoom information and virtual agenda will be emailed in the next 10 days. Meetings are scheduled for:

• District C – 10-11:15 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2.
• District B – 10-11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8.
• District D – 10-11:15 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9.
• District E – 8-9:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15.
• District A – 10-11:15 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16.

Apply for registered apprenticeship program grant
Applications for this year’s Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Grant Program are being accepting on IowaGrants.gov. A total of $15 million, up from $3 million last year, is available.

The Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Grant Program was supported by IHA and introduced last year to assist students pursuing nursing careers. Students receive on-the-job training and in-class education while earning a paycheck. Gov. Kim Reynolds expanded the program to include more opportunities for health care apprenticeships in high-demand fields including:

• Behavioral health and substance abuse specialists.
• Direct support professionals.
• Emergency medical technicians.
• Registered nurses.

To receive funding, employers must provide an industry-recognized credential that can be stackable and used to advance a career in health care. Funding priority and preference is given to partnerships involving private or public accredited Iowa high schools.

A grants webinar to highlight the application process and answer questions about the program is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Grant applications are due Thursday, March 9.

Telehealth billing tips available for new providers
Billing for telehealth is an important part of implementing a telehealth program. The Health Resources and Services Administration created a tipsheet to help health care providers and administration understand the billing process for service delivered using telehealth.

The tipsheet provides information about:

• Billing for federal Medicare, state Medicaid and private pay programs.
• Coding and billing examples.

Treating chronic conditions using telehealth.

Funding available for opioid prevention and treatment
Nonprofit hospitals and emergency departments, including free-standing emergency departments and rural emergency hospitals, can apply for two grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to prevent and treat opioid-use disorders. Addressing Iowa's growing opioid use and overdose numbers is a 2023 priority for Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Up to $500,000 per year for up to three years is available to development and implement alternatives to opioids for pain management in hospitals and emergency department settings. The agency expects to award up to 14 grants under the program. Applications are due Monday, March 6.

Health care facilities also can apply for up to $750,000 per year for five years to administer medicine-assisted treatment for opioid-use disorders. SAMSHA expects to award 24 grants. Applications for the medicine-assisted treatment program are due Tuesday, March 7.