News Releases for May 2008
May 27, 2008
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Hoeven, Delegation Announces CMS Approval Of St. Joseph's Hospital Pilot Project
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven and the state's congressional delegation today announced they have been notified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that St. Joseph's Hospital in Dickinson has been approved for the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration, a pilot project under which CMS will provide enhanced Medicare payment of about $1.3 million to the facility over the next two years.
"The demonstration project is a helpful step toward resolving challenges at St. Joseph's," Hoeven said. "It gives us time to work with both St. Joseph's and Richardton Memorial to find a way forward for both facilities. That effort continues."
The demonstration project selection was made by an evaluation panel of 3 CMS experts on rural health care. The panelists reviewed the applications based on goals and purpose of the projects, financial viability, and how the hospital collaborates with other providers. Hospitals new to the demonstration will begin the demonstration at the beginning of their cost report years starting on or after July 1, 2008. The demonstration will end September 30, 2010.
Panelists rated applications on the three issues in the applications: 1) goals and projects to improve health care for the service area; 2) how the applicant proposed to improve its financial viability; and 3) how the applicant proposed to collaborate with other providers in the service area.
Stated goals of the hospital included:
- Staffing and recruitment;
- Wellness programs and patient education activities;
- Technological enhancement, including electronic medical records
- Capital improvement;
- Patient housing;
- Maintaining existing services that are financially viable
- Stemming outmigration
In addition, the Governor and delegation are facilitating efforts to have Catholic Health Initiatives, the owner of St. Joseph's Hospital, and the Richardton Memorial Hospital to come to a mutually agreeable solution to their future roles in their respective communities.
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