The Missouri Hospital Association released its 2026 Triennial Population Health Assessment Report, highlighting Missouri hospitals’ progress in advancing population health initiatives and identifying opportunities for continued improvement.

The assessment reflects strong statewide participation, with 81 hospitals and health systems representing 120 hospitals completing the survey, an 88.9% completion rate among MHA-member hospitals. Participation has increased by 39 hospitals since the inaugural assessment in 2017.

Findings demonstrate significant progress in community engagement, financial investment and data infrastructure. From 2017 to 2026, hospitals reported a 200% increase in average finance scores and a 40% increase in data/technology scores. However, workforce capacity remains a challenge, with scores declining 6% among hospitals participating in both the 2023 and 2026 assessments.

The report identifies opportunities to strengthen workforce capacity, improve data sharing and care coordination, and expand readiness for value-based care. These findings will help inform MHA's strategic priorities, advocacy efforts and resources to support hospitals in improving community health outcomes.

In addition to the statewide report, participating hospitals will receive individualized reports offering insights to guide organizational planning and population health improvement efforts.

In addition to the Visionary Leadership Award, MHA will honor recipients of the Trustee of the Year Award, Aim for Excellence Award and Distinguished Service Award. Join your peers to celebrate these milestones with the winners at the awards dinner.

State Reps. John Voss, R-Cape Girardeau; David Dolan, R-Sikeston; Steve Jordan, R-Advance; and Lucas Green, candidate for the state representative in Missouri’s 146th House District, all recently visited Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

During the visit, hospital leaders discussed the challenges of building a robust workforce, including efforts to recruit physicians to the region. They also described the growing issue of patients boarding in the hospital after their acute needs are met because appropriate post-acute placements aren’t available.

In addition, Saint Francis Medical Center administrators emphasized the importance of the 340B Drug Pricing Program in helping patients access medication and receive care, such as cancer treatment, closer to home. Another discussion topic centered on the Federal Reimbursement Allowance, a provider tax that hospitals pay to help fund the state’s share of Medicaid payments to hospitals. This tax is the third largest source of state revenue.

This visit was part of the Missouri Hospital Association’s ongoing work to connect legislators with hospital leaders and help policymakers better understand how legislation affects patient care and hospital operations. MHA-member hospitals interested in hosting a legislator visit can contact MHA's governmental relations team for help with scheduling, talking points and logistics.

The Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineering, a professional membership group of the Missouri Hospital Association, celebrates these dedicated professionals and their contributions to creating safe healing environments across the state. MOSHE supports health care facility leaders through education, professional development and networking opportunities.

During Facilities and Engineering Week, MOSHE encourages hospitals to take time to recognize their facility teams and thanks them for supporting Missouri hospitals, caregivers and patients. 

About MOSHE 

MOSHE is a Missouri Hospital Association Professional Membership Group with a mission to serve as a resource for the professional development of members so that they are the best in the health care facilities management field and qualified to address the unique needs of health care organizations. MOSHE provides members with at least 24 hours of education each year, along with extensive networking opportunities, resources and updates relevant to the facility management profession. Missouri hospital staff with responsibilities related to facility management are encouraged to join. 

Harrison County Community Hospital Names Nikki Hendren As Interim CEO

Nikki Hendren has been named interim CEO of Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo., effective Oct. 3. Hendren replaced Tina Gillespie.

Bothwell Regional Health Center Names Mike Harvey As Interim CEO 

Mike Harvey has been named interim CEO of Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, Mo., effective Oct. 13. Harvey replaced Lori Wightman.

Lakeland Behavioral Health System Names Justin Hoover As Interim CEO 

Justin Hoover has been named interim CEO of Lakeland Behavioral Health System in Springfield, Mo., effective Sept. 15. Hoover replaced Freddie Anderson. 

The addition of the new facilities reflects MHA's ongoing commitment to bringing together organizations that share a common goal of improving the health and well-being of Missouri communities.

MHA members represent a diverse range of hospitals and health systems across the state, working collectively to strengthen health care delivery and addressing the evolving needs of patients and communities. Reaching 138 member hospitals underscores the value of collaboration and the strength of Missouri's hospital community.

MHA is pleased to welcome St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth and Three Trails Behavioral Hospital to its membership and looks forward to partnering with its leaders and caregivers in support of advancing health care across Missouri.

Authored by members of the Neonatal Encephalopathy Steering Committee, the workbook provides an overview of neonatal encephalopathy and its clinical presentation, outlines evidence-based screening and treatment recommendations, and offers practical guidance, algorithms and other tools to help birthing hospitals, transport teams, and neonatal intensive care units identify and treat affected newborns.

Obstetric units, labor and delivery staff, NICUs (especially cooling centers), NICU transport teams, and emergency medical services are invited to join an informational call from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, about the MO PQC's upcoming infant quality initiative focused on the screening and timely treatment of neonatal encephalopathy.  

As leaders reimagine the health care system, one emerging investment strategy has promise to add stability in both costs and the supply chain — health care utilities. These nonprofit businesses are designed to stabilize access to common but essential health care inputs, while keeping their costs competitive.

Health care utilities, like Civica Rx, are already adding value in the generic prescription drug sector, and the model has applications more widely in areas where low margins often threaten investment.

The Missouri Hospital Association recently partnered with Mindshare Institute, a health care utility incubator, to position Missouri’s hospitals to benefit from advances in the model. In this edition of PolicyHuddle, MHA President and CEO Jon D. Doolittle explains how the association's investments are designed to shape access and cost for products hospitals use every day.

PolicyHuddle is available online or on your favorite podcast platform.

For the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election, voters hospitalized after 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, may request an emergency absentee ballot. Requests can be made through Election Day by contacting their local election authority.

To qualify, patients must be hospitalized or confined within their election jurisdiction or in an adjacent jurisdiction within the same county. If multiple absentee ballot requests come from the same facility, a bipartisan team will deliver the ballots, witness voting, and return the completed ballots and applications to election officials.

Hospital leaders are encouraged to coordinate with their county clerks to help ensure eligible patients can exercise their right to vote.

Learn more about Missouri elections and remember to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The Missouri Hospital Association is proud to announce the graduating class of the 23rd annual Health Care Leadership Series, a comprehensive educational program designed to help hospitals develop effective leaders.

This year, 47 leaders from 28 hospitals and health organizations completed the series, which included eight one-day training sessions held monthly from March through October. Through this program, attendees gain professional development education, practical tools to strengthen their skills, the chance to build a professional network and a template action plan for implementing change at their own organizations.

“The field of health care is constantly evolving, and hospitals need leaders who are prepared to change with it.,” said MHA President and CEO Jon D. Doolittle. “The commitment of these individuals to growing as leaders will make a difference for their hospitals and the communities they serve, and we are honored to support our member organizations that are investing in their leaders’ development.”

Doolittle presented plaques to the 2026 Health Care Leadership Series graduates Oct. 9.

Congratulations to the following graduates!

Rep. Darin Chappell, R-Rogersville, recently toured Mercy Hospital Springfield and CoxHealth in Springfield, Mo., and met with their leaders to discuss improving access to care while controlling costs.

At Mercy, Chappell walked through the emergency department and learned about the difficulty in finding placements for patients needing behavioral health care once their acute care needs are met. At CoxHealth, he visited the hospital virtual care team’s command center, which adds a layer of support for patients in the intensive care or med-surg units and is an opportunity for seasoned registered nurses to mentor new nurses on the floor.

At both hospitals, leaders discussed the Federal Reimbursement Allowance, a provider tax that hospitals pay to help fund the state’s share of Medicaid payments to hospitals. This tax is the third largest source of state revenue.

The visits were part of the Missouri Hospital Association’s ongoing work to connect legislators with hospital leaders and help policymakers better understand how legislation affects patient care and hospital operations.

MHA-member hospitals interested in hosting a legislator visit can contact MHA's governmental relations team for help with scheduling, talking points and logistics.

In addition to the Aim for Excellence Award, MHA will honor recipients of the Trustee of the Year Award, Visionary Leadership Award and Distinguished Service Award. Join your peers to celebrate this year’s honorees at the awards dinner.

Missouri’s health care workforce grows when students are introduced to careers early, connected with strong partners and shown clear pathways into the field. The Missouri Hospital Association is proud to support members through events that make those connections possible.

Recently, MHA, its affiliates and partners supported two Explore Your Future in Health Care events in Kansas City, Mo., and St. Louis. Together, they drew more than 2,400 students and offered hands-on activities, conversations with health care professionals and resources for planning their futures.

On Sept. 23, the Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council and RealWorld Learning hosted more than 1,700 middle and high school students from across the region. More than 100 career exploration stations representing hospitals, health systems, colleges, and community organizations gave students the opportunity to explore careers, ask questions, and learn about how to enter the health care workforce.

On Oct. 8, the St. Louis Metropolitan Hospital Council brought together more than 700 students from area schools for another day of health care career exploration. Students tried hands-on activities and met with education, training and workforce partners, helping them link their interests to specific careers.

Both events emphasized the wide range of health care careers available, from direct patient care to the technical, diagnostic and support roles that keep health care organizations running.

MHA supports hospitals through events like these, its workforce initiatives and resources such as MissouriHealthCareers.com, which help students see a clear path into health care and strengthen Missouri’s workforce.

Additionally, in the latest MO PQC blog, Laura Marks, M.D., Ph.D., and Madeline McCrary, M.D., both co-authors of the aforementioned resource workbook, shared their experience working together with WashU’s obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine teams to build some of the region’s most effective programs for treating hepatitis C during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

In addition to the Trustee of the Year Award, MHA will honor recipients of the Aim for Excellence Award, Visionary Leadership Award and Distinguished Service Award. Join your peers to celebrate these milestones with the honorees at the awards dinner.

Medicare Open Enrollment begins Thursday, Oct. 15, and runs through Monday, Dec. 7. As Missourians weigh their coverage options, MHA offers two customizable toolkits:

• “Be Your Own Health Care Champion” explains key differences between Medicare and Medicare Advantage insurance plans.
• The “Medicare For The Win!” toolkit, created based on member feedback, highlights the advantages of traditional Medicare.

Hospitals can add their logo and contact information and even list their contracted managed care plans for 2027. Before finalizing any materials or events, review MHA's Medicare marketing compliance guidance and involve your organization’s legal/compliance counsel.

In addition, MHA offers resources for health care providers and the public about respiratory virus infections such as influenza, COVID-19 and RSV, including prevention tips like good hygiene practices and vaccination.

Contact Summer Wilson, MHA's director of communications and engagement, if you need help modifying files or want other formats.

More than 40 rural hospital leaders from across Missouri participated in the Missouri Hospital Association’s rural advocacy trip Sept. 29-30 in Washington, D.C. Hospital leaders met with staff from U.S. Reps. Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Sam Graves, Bob Onder and Jason Smith, as well as U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, to discuss the immediate priorities that need to be addressed during the 119th Congress and issues that will require attention when the 120th Congress begins in January 2027. 

Discussion topics included health care extenders set to expire at the end of 2026, protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program, Medicare Advantage prompt-pay requirements and broader reforms, site-neutral payment policies, the health care workforce, hospital transparency including tax-exempt status reporting and pricing transparency, the Rural Health Transformation Program, and the impact of H.R. 1 on rural hospitals. 

MHA President and CEO Jon D. Doolittle along with MHA staff Jane Drummond, Nate Blackford, Brett Moorehouse, Rob Monsees, Andy Wheeler, Mary Beth Luna Wolf and Peggy Taylor attended.  

The following Missouri hospitals and health systems sent representatives on this trip.  

• BJC Health System
• Bothwell Regional Health Center
• Cass Regional Medical Center
• Cedar County Memorial Hospital
• Citizens Memorial Hospital
• Community Hospital – Fairfax
• CoxHealth
• Freeman Health System
• Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare
• Hannibal Regional Hospital
• Harrison County Community Hospital
• Hermann Area District Hospital
• Lafayette Regional Health Center
• Mercy Hospital Lebanon
• Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
• Mosaic Health System
• MU Health Care
• Phelps Health
• Saint Luke's Health - BJC Western Region
• Sullivan County Memorial Hospital
• Texas County Memorial Hospital
• Washington County Memorial Hospital 

The Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing Model is designed to test whether a new rebate formula for certain drugs in the Medicare Part B Drug Inflation Rebate Program will reduce costs for original Medicare beneficiaries while preserving quality of care. The GLOBE Model will use an alternative method for calculating Medicare Part B drug inflation rebate amounts that will reduce out-of-pocket cost to patients. The GLOBE Model will begin Jan. 1, 2027, and end March 31, 2032. 

• Inpatient and Long-Term Care Hospital PPS
• Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
• Skilled Nursing Facility PPS
• Inpatient Psychiatric Facility PPS
• Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility PPS 

The Missouri Hospital Association released issue briefs for each of the correction notices.  

Health care leaders from across Missouri convened Sept. 23 in Columbia, Mo., for “Accountable Leaders for Worker and Environmental Safety,” a multidisciplinary program focused on advancing workplace violence prevention, workforce well-being and organizational safety. Participants represented operations, nursing, security, emergency management, human resources, risk management, quality and executive leadership.

The convening generated strong engagement and networking, with one participant noting that the quality of the presentations, discussions and peer-to-peer learning opportunities could have easily supported a two-day program.

Throughout the day, presenters emphasized that workplace violence prevention is not the responsibility of a single department, but a shared organizational commitment requiring leadership engagement, cross-functional collaboration and accountability.

Keynote speaker Lynn M. Van Male explored comprehensive approaches to workplace violence prevention and behavioral threat assessment, helping set the foundation for discussions that followed. Additional sessions highlighted integrated prevention and response programs, caregiver support and recovery initiatives, trauma-informed care principles, workforce safety innovations, and strategies for building sustainable multidisciplinary workplace violence prevention programs.

Representatives from BJC Health System, SSM Health, Mosaic Life Care, and University Health shared practical lessons learned, implementation strategies, and innovations related to leadership support, training, peer support, technology, security, advocacy, and organizational culture.

A recurring theme throughout the convening was the need to move beyond reacting to incidents and instead building systems that support prevention, preparedness, reporting, recovery and continuous improvement while maintaining a focus on workforce well-being.

Participants were encouraged to identify one action they would take within their own organizations and to continue engaging in statewide collaboration efforts focused on health care workplace violence prevention.

Violence should never be accepted as part of the job. Building safer health care environments is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play.

Hospitals and critical access hospital distinct part units are required to submit the form, which now is accessible directly through iQIES.

To help facilities adjust to the new platform, CMS shared a brief instructional video on how to complete and submit the electronic form.

Additional information about this change can be found in this CMS memo.