Iowa news
Supreme Court declines 10 states’ challenge to CMS’ vaccine mandate
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined a case brought by 10 states, including Iowa, challenging the Biden administration’s rule that requires employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they work in health care facilities that receive federal funding. In November 2021, HHS announced that health care facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding must ensure that staff are vaccinated against COVID–19, save for medical or religious exemptions. (Healthcare Dive)
MercyOne shuts down e-health records after ‘IT security incident’ affects online systems
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center has shut down some of its information technology systems, including its electronic health records, after its parent organization faced an unspecified cybersecurity incident.The Des Moines hospital is among a number of undisclosed facilities affected by an “IT security incident” at CommonSpirit Health, one of MercyOne’s parent companies. MercyOne has taken certain systems offline “as a precautionary step” after the incident, which is affecting other facilities in the region. (Des Moines Register)
5 health systems’ biggest patient safety win this year
From creating safety culture tools to collaborating with other systems, hospitals and health systems are consistently working to improve patient safety. UnityPoint Health is accelerating our management system, including advancements in team huddles, to improve two-way communication between team members and leaders and be more proactive in preventing patient safety issues across its enterprise. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
National news
Trinity Health reports $1.4B annual loss
Higher labor costs put pressure on Trinity Health’s margins in fiscal year 2022, according to financial documents released Sept. 30. Trinity Health posted revenue of $19.93 billion in the 12 months ended June 30, down from $20.16 billion a year earlier. The health system said net patient service revenue was up 1.8% year over year, primarily because of increased outpatient volume and payment rates. Excluding provider relief funding, Trinity’s revenue was up 1.8% in the most recent fiscal year. Trinity Health’s operating expenses for fiscal year 2022 increased 4% year over year to $20.1 billion. The increase was driven by an 8.2% year over year increase in labor costs. (Becker’s Hospital CFO Report)
UPMC pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50%
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% within the next eight years. The commitment is one component of UPMC’s response to an initiative led by the White House and HHS. The health system is committed to lowering emissions and building more climate-resilient infrastructure. Furthermore, UPMC aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Efforts are underway to use geothermal technology and construct green buildings, and all UPMC campuses have eliminated plastic foam packaging from cafeterias. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
90% of U.S. adults say the United States is experiencing a mental health crisis
Most people in the United States think the country is experiencing a mental health crisis, according to a new survey from CNN in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation. Asked to rate the severity of six specific mental health concerns, Americans put the opioid epidemic near the top, with more than two-thirds of people identifying it as a crisis rather than merely a problem. More than half identified mental health issues among children and teenagers as a crisis, as well as severe mental illness in adults. (CNN)