Quality Advisor

WHA Leads Healthcare Innovation Through Superior Health Quality Alliance's Expanded CMS Contracts

As the CMS 12th Scope of Work wrapped up, Superior Health Quality Alliance was awarded two contracts for the 13th Scope of Work (SOW) by CMS so that they can continue this important work. This expansion allows Superior Health to support Medicare providers across 14 states through a five-year contract running from May 28, 2025, through May 27, 2030. WHA's involvement ensures that Wisconsin hospitals can engage in these improvements through collaborative efforts.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) is one of the eight founding members of the Superior Health Quality Alliance, a coalition dedicated to improving health care quality across multiple states. The alliance brings together organizations with extensive experience in Medicare quality improvement initiatives, ensuring a collaborative approach to enhancing patient care.

The eight member organizations of Superior Health Quality Alliance are:

• Wisconsin Hospital Association
• Illinois Health and Hospital Association
• MetaStar, Inc.
• Michigan Health & Hospital Association
• Midwest Kidney Network
• Minnesota Hospital Association
• iMPROve Health
• Stratis Health

Superior Health Quality Alliance operates as a Quality Innovation Network–Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO), focusing on patient safety, post-hospital care coordination and clinical quality improvements.

For more details, visit the Superior Health Quality Alliance website.

WHA Comments on Proposed Changes Across Multiple CMS Quality Reporting, Value-based Payment Programs

Last week WHA commented on the significant changes proposed across multiple CMS quality reporting and value-based payment programs (Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting, Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program, Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program and Transforming Episode Accountability Model). Understanding these proposals is critical for hospitals to maintain compliance, optimize reimbursement and prepare for future shifts in quality measurement and data reporting expectations.

You can read WHA’s full comments on these changes and on proposed FY 2026 Medicare Program Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems here.

Wisconsin Rural Health Conference 2025 Recap

Quality staff attend Rural Health Conference More than 300 WHA members gathered in Wisconsin Dells for the annual Wisconsin Rural Health Conference June 4-6. The conference started with the annual golf outing followed by a welcome reception. There, WHA members had the opportunity to network and visit a record number of exhibitors. WHA Quality exhibited a table and shared with conference attendees the quality improvement projects they are working on.

Day one keynote presentations included health care futurist and economist Nate Kaufman who talked about current realities and probable future climate of the health care industry. President and CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association Eric Borgerding and Executive Director of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative Tim Size presented their annual message on the current state of health care in Wisconsin.

Day two included speakers Brian Uridge and Dr. Katherine Meese. Uridge’s presentation, “Achieving a Culture of Zero Violence,” explored strategies to reduce workplace violence and strengthen safety and security in care settings. Dr. Meese explored “The Human Margin: Building Foundations of Trust.” She shared how rehumanizing health care work can help leaders support and retain their teams.

In Recognition of Hospitals Against Violence (#HAVhope) Awareness

Friday, June 6 was #HAVhope Awareness Day. WHA recognizes the work Wisconsin hospitals do in highlighting the importance of a safe workplace for health care workers. We stand with the American Hospital Association (AHA) Hospitals Against Violence in protecting health care employees from workplace violence. A WHA-crafted, bipartisan bill was signed into law in 2022, adding threats of violence to the higher penalty already in place for acts of violence against health care workers. See Educational Events & Resources section below for a webinar series offering on this subject matter.