OHA Advocacy Network

Advocacy Report • Monday, February 26, 2007

After a slow start to the 127^th General Assembly, legislative activity dramatically picked up this week members of the Ohio House and Senate introducing nearly 150 pieces of legislation in just two days.

Now that bills have been introduced, committees will begin to meet this week with sponsor testimony scheduled to be given.

OHA Launches Advocacy Efforts for Impending State Budget

While the state budget bill has yet to be introduced, OHA has already begun efforts to bring to the forefront the critical state budget issues impacting the hospital community. OHA staff met with Ohio Office of Budget and Management Director, Pari Sabety, on a number of budget-related issues and discussed the effects the previous state budget had on hospitals. Hospitals' concerns were also outlined in a follow-up letter to the director. Additionally, the February HealthBeat, a monthly OHA publication that is shared with legislators, focuses on OHA’s budget concerns and the effect the state budget will have on the hospital community. OHA is coordinating grassroots efforts with member hospitals throughout the budget process. This grassroots interaction with legislators is critical to the hospital communities success in securing hospital funding.

Governor Strickland is expected to introduce his budget proposal in mid March -- roughly six weeks later than previous budgets due to change in administrations. The legislature will have to expedite its deliberations on the proposal so that it is in effect by July 1.

OHA Set to Take Action on Corporate Practice of Medicine, Limited-Service Hospitals

The OHA Board of Trustees set the stage for the OHA to take action on two major issues facing the hospital community. At its February meeting, after considering recommendations from the OHA Committee on Advocacy & Policy, the Board established association policy on the issues of the ban on the corporate practice of medicine and limited-service hospitals.

The Board has directed OHA staff to purse legislation enacting a total repeal of the corporate practice of medicine in Ohio, thus allowing all Ohio hospitals to directly employ physicians. Ohio is one of the few states remaining banning the corporate practice of medicine, thus prohibiting hospitals from directly employ physicians. In 1999, state lawmakers enacted legislation allowing hospitals in counties with fewer than 125,000 and government hospitals to directly employ. OHA will now pursue a total repeal, allowing all hospitals to directly employ physicians.

The Board also approved a motion laying out OHA’s advocacy strategy for limited-service hospitals. Included in that strategy was:

Develop a legislative/regulatory proposal for a hospital definition, including a requirement for a 24/7 emergency room, and for community benefit standards, such as minimal amounts of care be provided to uninsured and underinsured patients;
Work with AHA and others to eliminate the whole hospital exemption in the Stark statutes at the federal level;
Seek ways to enhance physician incomes;
Pursue total transparency on all providers, including the public release of pricing data, quality indicators, clinical outcomes data, ownership, and community benefit provided;
Explore with the membership their support or opposition to various “public utility models” including a comprehensive health planning/certificate of need process, provider facility licensure and a rate setting process.

OHA Advocacy Materials Now Available

Kicking off the 127^th General Assembly, OHA has advocacy materials that will help members advocate health care issues to their legislators.

The 2007-2008 OHA Advocacy Agenda, which presents highlights of the major state-level policy and advocacy issues OHA will address throughout the next two years as directed by the OHA Board of Trustees, is now available on-line at http://www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/resources/stateadvocacyagenda.pdf

A copy of this brochure will be mailed to hospital and health system CEOs. If you would like to order copies of this brochure, please contact Laura Landis at laural@ohanet.org or 614.221.7614.

The Advocacy Toolbox section of the OHA Web site has been updated with information on the 127^th General Assembly, 110^th United States Congress and the new administration. The Toolbox also contains information on legislation and advocacy tools. Check it out at http://www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/network/advocacy_toolbox.asp

Key Committee Assignments

Both House and Senate committees for the 127th General Assembly have been announced. Most hospital-related bills are considered in the legislature’s Health, Finance, and Insurance Committees. Information on key committee chairman and a listing of members follow.

House Committees

► New! Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee, Chairman Rep. Jim Raussen (R-Cincinnati) House Speaker Husted alluded to the creation of this committee in his remarks to the OHA Board in January, noting that increasing health care access will be a priority, though the work may extend beyond the next two years. Rep. Raussen is an insurance analyst with Great American Insurance and was chief sponsor of last session’s transparency bill, which will provide the public with additional hospital quality and pricing information.

Members of Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee include: Republicans – Matt Huffman (Vice Chair), Bob Gibbs, Ross McGregor, Jon Peterson, Jimmy Stewart, Lynn Wachtmann, Larry Wolpert; Democrats – Chris Redfern (Ranking Member), Jennifer Brady, Armond Budish, Kenneth Carano, Timothy DeGeeter, Jay Goyal, Clayton Luckie,

► Finance & Appropriations Chairman – Rep. Matthew Dolan (R-Novelty)
Rep. Dolan formerly served as a chief assistant prosecutor for Geauga County and former assistant attorney general for the State of Ohio. He currently serves as a board member of the American Red Cross Advisory Board for Geauga County and served as a past president. He also serves as a board member of the Kent State University - Geauga Campus.

Members of Finance & Appropriations Committee include: Republicans – Jon Peterson (Vice Chair), Kevin Bacon, Bill Coley, Tony Core, Kevin DeWine, Clyde Evans, Larry Flowers, Cliff Hite, Jay Hottinger, Shannon Jones, Ross McGregor, Thomas Patton, John Schlichter, Jimmy Stewart, Mark Wagoner, Shawn Webster; Democrats – Michael Skindell (Ranking Member), Linda Bolon, Barbara Boyd, Edna Brown, Armond Budish, Kathleen Chandler, Steve Driehaus, Jennifer Garrison, Robert Hagan, Chris Redfern, Dan Stewart, Fred Strahorn, Peter Ujvagi, Tyrone Yates

► Human Services (Finance Subcommittee) Chairman – Rep. Jimmy Stewart (R-Athens)
Rep. Jimmy Stewart represents an Appalachian district, where 19-30% of the population is enrolled in Medicaid and 12-15% of the population is uninsured.

Members of Human Services Subcommittee include: Republicans – Ross McGregor (Vice Chair), Mark Wagoner; Democrats – Edna Brown (Ranking Member), Barbara Boyd

► Health Chairman – Rep. John White (R-Kettering)
Rep. White returns as chair of the House Health Committee after supporting passage of the three-county specialty hospital moratorium in the lame duck session. Rep. White is a former city council member and former vice-mayor of Kettering.

Members of Health Committee include: Republicans – Lynn Wachtmann (Vice Chair), Larry Flowers, Bruce Goodwin, Jay Hottinger, Matt Huffman, Shannon Jones, Scott Oelslager, Jim Raussen, Carol-Ann Schindel, Joseph Uecker, Shawn Webster; Democrats – Brian Williams (Ranking Member), Barbara Boyd, Edna Brown, Michael DeBose, Lorraine Fende, Robert Hagan, Tom Letson, Robert Otterman, Chris Redfern, Fred Strahorn, Kenny Yuko

► Insurance Chairman – Rep. Bill Batchelder (R-Medina)
Rep. Batchelder served in the Ohio House of Representatives for over 30 years, after which he was elected to the Common Pleas Court of Medina County where he served briefly, prior to his appointment to the Ninth District Court of Appeals by Gov. Bob Taft. Rep. Batchelder was elected to the appellate bench in November 2000. Upon his return to the house, Batchelder was the sole freshman to be named a committee chair. Batchelder holds strong conservative credentials and has a strong working knowledge of the banking and insurance industry.

Members of Insurance Committee include: Republicans – Jay Hottinger (Vice Chair), John Adams, Bill Coley, David Daniels, Bob Gibbs, Josh Mandel, Ross McGregor, Jim Raussen, Lynn Wachtmann, Chris Widener, James Zehringer; Democrats – Joe Koziura (Ranking Member), Matthew Barrett, Todd Book, Ted Celeste, Michael DeBose, Steve Driehaus, Stephen Dyer, Lorraine Fende, Sandra Harwood, Tom Letson, Clayton Luckie

Senate Committees

► Finance & Financial Institutions Chairman – Sen. John Carey (R-Wellston)

Returning to chair Finance & Financial Institutions Committee, Sen. John Carey represents an Appalachian district, where 7-35% of the population is enrolled in Medicaid and 8-14% of the population is uninsured.

Members of Finance & Financial Institutions Committee include: Republicans – Steve Stivers( Vice Chair), Ron Amstutz, Steve Austria, Gary Cates, Patricia Clancy, Randy Gardner, Tom Niehaus, Joy Padgett; Democrats – Dale Miller (Ranking Member), Eric Kearney, Ray Miller, Tom Roberts

► Health, Human Services & Aging Chairman – Sen. Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls)

Sen. Kevin Coughlin returns as chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee. Coughlin recently indicated that he expects to see a number of measures dealing with access and affordability issues before the committee, not only because it is a House priority given the creation of a committee to deal with those issues specifically but because this is an area all 50 states are looking at.

Members of Health, Human Services & Aging Committee include: Republicans – Randy Gardner (Vice Chair), Steve Buehrer, Patricia Clancy, David Goodman, Larry Mumper, Joy Padgett, Kirk Schuring; Democrats – Shirley Smith (Ranking Member), Capri Cafaro, Dale Miller, Sue Morano

► Insurance, Commerce & Labor Chairman – Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Columbus)

Sen. Stivers returns as chair of the Insurance, Commerce & Labor after carrying the 24/7 emergency room legislation in the lame duck session.

Members of Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee include: Republicans – Keith Faber (Vice Chair), Steve Austria, Gary Cates, Patricia Clancy, Tim Schaffer, Robert Schuler; Democrats – Eric Kearney (Ranking Member), John Boccieri, Dale Miller

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)