OHA Advocacy Network

Advocacy Report • Friday, April 21, 2006

State Rules and Regulations Update

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Birth Defects Reporting Program Rolls Out to Hospitals

Through a new system being implemented by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), hospitals in the Columbus and Akron areas will soon report information on children from birth through five years of age diagnosed with birth defects. The Ohio Revised Code authorized ODH to develop and implement a statewide birth defects information system with mandated reporting by hospitals, physicians and freestanding birthing centers. The new system, Ohio Connections for Children with Special Needs, will collect information on children identified with birth defects and assist families in obtaining services for their children.

Hospitals in Franklin, Hocking, Ross and Summit Counties will participate in the first phase of implementation, beginning this spring. Hospital administrators in these counties should soon receive—or already have received—information from ODH describing the system and outlining reporting requirements. ODH staff will work with each facility to enable it to electronically report accurate and timely data using the hospital’s existing systems, but hospitals will receive no funding to support the additional reporting requirements. Learn more about the program and preliminary steps for implementation of the reporting system at www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/resources/birth_reporting.pdf. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

Added Newborn Test Ups Hospital Costs

The Ohio Department of Health will soon officially adopt the addition of cystic fibrosis to the newborn test panel, increasing the cost of the test panel used by hospitals from $45.16 to $55.16. OHA’s Small and Rural Hospital Committee submitted a letter to the department last fall supporting newborn screening but voicing concern about the unfunded mandate. With the proposed $10 increase, the newborn test panel fees have increased by more than 60 percent in the past two years. In addition to paying for newborn test kits, birth hospitals also are required to perform newborn hearing screening and soon will be asked to report birth defect information without adequate reimbursement. Hospitals recognize the public health benefit of early diagnosis and medical intervention, and OHA will continue working to secure outside funding for the newborn programs.

The revised rules are currently available at www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/ and will also be posted to ODH’s Web site at www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/odhrules.aspx. After adopting the rules, ODH will set an implementation date that will likely be within the next month. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

OHIO STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY

FAQs Explain Hospital Electronic Drug Record Keeping

The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy recently released rules to help ease hospitals’ transition to electronic record keeping of drug administration, dispensing and prescribing. The rules give hospitals more flexibility in developing electronic systems for health record keeping such as using computerized systems for medication records, prescribing drugs through electronic systems and recording a pharmacist’s dispending functions. The guidelines also include language about positive identification for those who prescribe, dispense and administer drugs and recording those actions in an electronic system rather than in paper medical records.

The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, with the assistance of OHA and the Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists, developed frequently asked questions, available at http://pharmacy.ohio.gov/FAQ_Electronic_systems_030106.htm, to answer questions for pharmacists, hospital administrators, hospital information technology personnel, computer software vendors and others regarding hospital electronic drug record keeping systems and ways to achieve the required “positive identification.” (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)

STATE OF OHIO MEDICAL BOARD

Additional Funds for Medical Board

At its April 10 meeting, the Controlling Board approved the request of the State of Ohio Medical Board to spend an additional $260,828 to hire five new staff members to investigate complaints that are growing in number and complexity. Extra money needed would come from a license fee fund that currently has a balance of about $5 million. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)

Medical Board to Develop Rules Regulating Prescriptive Authority for PAs

On May 17, 2006, legislation will take effect expanding the scope of practice for physician assistants (PA).

Included in this legislation is a provision allowing PAs prescriptive authority, similar to that of advance practice nurses. Prior to this authority being granted, the State of Ohio Medical Board is required to adopt rules to regulate the provisional prescriptive authority applications. This involves a two-part process that could take up to one year from the effective date of the legislation. First, the medical board’s Physician Assistant Policy Committee has up to six months from the effective date to make initial recommendations to the board regarding physician-delegated prescriptive authority. The board, after receiving the initial recommendations, then has up to six months to adopt rules for physician-delegated prescriptive authority and issuance of certificates to prescribe. A PA cannot apply to prescribe, nor prescribe, until the medical board has completed the rule-making process. For further information about PAs view an OHA member bulletin at www.ohanet.org/Bulletins/2006/06-003.htm and visit the medical board’s Web site at http://med.ohio.gov/index.htm. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)

OTHER AGENCY NEWS

Board Consolidation Effort Halted

After much debate, the consolidation effort of 20 state boards and commissions included in House Bill 66, the state biennium budget, has come to an end. The consolidation was to occur over the biennium in an attempt to save on administrative costs. Concerns were raised by legislators, boards and commissions that the consolidation would not actually save the state money. Because of these concerns and much opposition, the consolidation effort was eliminated during the budget corrections process last month. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)

OHA Advocacy “In the Know”

This is a new section to the OHA Advocacy Report, in which we will provide you with information to help make you an effective advocate for your hospital.

OHA has compiled information about draft rules and proposed regulations.

To access this directory, click here.

Not a Member of the Advocacy Network?

Being a member of the OHA Advocacy Network provides you access to information on government activity and assists the hospital industry in sending unified messages to elected officials. If you are not a current member, you can easily join on-line. Join today to start reaping the benefits of being a member of the OHA Advocacy Network.

The OHA Advocacy Network is a service of the Ohio Hospital Association, 155 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215-3620, 614-221-7614, 614-221-4771 (fax)

Visit us on the Web at: www.ohanet.org

Direct questions on OHA’s advocacy agenda to:

Bridget Gargan, Vice President, State Policy & Advocacy (bridgetg@ohanet.org)

Jeff Klingler, Director, State Policy & Advocacy (jeffk@ohanet.org)

Jean Scholz, RN, Director, Health Policy (jeans@ohanet.org)

Rick Sites, General Counsel (ricks@ohanet.org)

Stacey Conrad, Specialist, State Policy & Advocacy (staceyc@ohanet.org)

Jonathan Archey, Manager, Federal Relations (jonathana@ohanet.org)

Laura Landis, Executive Assistant, State Policy & Advocacy (laural@ohanet.org)