OHA Advocacy Network

Advocacy Report • Monday, March 26, 2007

Action for this week…

Tuesday

HB 119 – Biennial Budget: House Finance Human Services Subcommittee, Room 313 at 7 p.m.

Wednesday

HB 119 – Biennial Budget: House Finance & Appropriations, Room 313 at 10 a.m.

Thursday

HB 119 – Biennial Budget: House Finance Human Services Subcommittee, Room 313 at 9:30 a.m

State Budget Introduced, Hearings Underway

Legislation carrying the proposed biennial budget, House Bill 119, sponsored by House Finance & Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Matthew Dolan (R-Novelty), was introduced last week. The House Finance and Appropriations Committee and the Human Services Subcommittee held their first hearings on HB 119 last week. The subcommittee’s hearing schedule, outlining when it will be hearing testimony from various state agencies, organizations and the public, is available at http://www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/resources/humanservicesschedule.pdf. Public testimony is slated for Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13 (if needed). OHA will be working with hospitals to coordinated testimony for those days.

Last week, OHA issued a press release and talking points outlining the proposed budget’s “healthy investment” in patients, jobs, communities, and hospitals and other health care providers. These materials and other resources are available to members in OHA’s newly-created budget resource center to help them advocate on behalf of their hospitals on this issue. New resources will continue to be added as the budget process progresses. Visit http://www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/statebudget.htm to find helpful information on this important issue impacting Ohio’s hospitals. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

OHA Supports Requirement that Hospitals Have EDs

Senate Bill 120 was introduced last week requiring hospitals to operate 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week emergency departments and maintain Medicaid and Medicare provider agreements. The OHA-supported legislation, sponsored by Sen. David Goodman (R-Columbus), has been referred to the Senate Health, Human Services & Aging Committee.

Hospitals are concerned with the influx of limited-service specialty hospitals since a federal moratorium, enacted in late 2003, expired in August 2006. The moratorium temporarily held off the growing threat, but more of these limited-service specialty hospitals are now being opened and planned across the state. The first hearing on SB 120 is not expected until the middle of April after the legislative spring break. OHA will be working with hospitals to coordinate testimony. (Reed Fraley, reedf@ohanet.org; Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

Last Week in House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee

House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee continues to hear testimony on the state of health care in Ohio and across the country. Chris Collins, legislative director, SEIU Ohio State Council, spoke to the SEIU’s involvement in health care reform. Geri Recht with Towers Perrin presented information on emerging national trends in health care benefits. Kala Ladenheim with the National Conference of State Legislatures spoke on states’ approaches to health care reform. OHA will be coordinating efforts to present hospital testimony, which is slated for the May 3 hearing. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

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)