Five Questions With: Michael Souza

MICHAEL SOUZA, newly named president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, sees both positives and negatives in terms of the effects of the Affordable Care Act on Rhode Island's Hospitals. / COURTESY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION OF RHODE ISLAND
MICHAEL SOUZA, newly named president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, sees both positives and negatives in terms of the effects of the Affordable Care Act on Rhode Island's Hospitals. / COURTESY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION OF RHODE ISLAND

Michael Souza is the newly appointed president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island. Souza came to HARI in 2009 from Signature Healthcare in Brockton, Mass., where he served as corporate controller. He also served as director of financial planning at Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket.
Souza was awarded a Master of Science management degree by Bridgewater State College. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in humanities and social sciences from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

PBN: HARI’s is an important voice in health care in the state. What do you see as the highest priority at HARI at the beginning of your tenure as president there?

SOUZA: Everyone in health care agrees that affordability is of the utmost concern. The Affordable Care Act seeks to remedy this issue through delivery system reform. I believe this holds the key to the future of health care. We must collaborate to find innovative solutions that provide patients with high-quality, efficient care at a lower cost.

Hospitals are already active participants in this process, and have implemented many new policies and programs that are demonstrating success. As president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, I look forward to working with the state, insurers and other health care providers to accomplish this goal.

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PBN: What has gotten more difficult for Rhode Island’s hospitals in the year since the Affordable Care Act became law?

SOUZA: Hospitals in Rhode Island have dedicated $700 million in Medicare reductions over 10 years to assist in paying for the Affordable Care Act. These reductions come on top of long-term financial pressures. Hospitals have endured continued Medicaid payment freezes, and the operating margins of hospitals in our state are far below regional and national averages.

These dire financial conditions have made it difficult for hospitals to dedicate the resources necessary to adopt new delivery models. Hospitals want to have the financial strength that is needed to evolve.

PBN: What, if anything, has gotten better or easier for hospitals during the same period?

SOUZA: The Affordable Care Act has sparked significant conversations. Providers and payers are collaborating on important work. Hospitals are partnering with long-term, primary and specialty care providers to ensure care coordination. This engagement across our system to improve the way we deliver care to patients is remarkable and overdue.

Most importantly, we have improved the health of our state by lowering the uninsured rate and increasing access [to health care].

PBN: What looks to be the biggest change that will take place for hospitals during the next 12 to 18 months?

SOUZA: At first glance, the Affordable Care Act has many success stories in our state. However, there are still many unknowns. How will we ultimately pay for Medicaid expansion? What is the long-term funding source for HealthSource RI? Will hospital uncompensated care continue to fall? These are all top concerns for our hospitals.

PBN: How well supported are the state’s hospitals when it comes to risks from ebola? Is state and federal coordination regarding response to any potential ebola here proceeding in a way that HARI and the hospitals are comfortable with?

SOUZA: Our state has a long-standing commitment to hospital emergency preparedness. The Department of Health leads a coordinated planning enterprise among all health care providers in our state. HARI is proud to be a leader in this effort. The importance of planning and coordination has been demonstrated many times over the past few years from H1N1 to Hurricane Irene and the Blizzard of 2013.

Hospital leaders and practitioners are fully engaged in preparedness activities being led by the R.I. Department of Health in coordination with the [federal] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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