OHA Advocacy Network

Advocacy Report • Monday, May 14, 2007

Budget Moves to Senate, OHA Launches Letter-Writing Campaign
Now that the Ohio House of Representatives unanimously passed the 2008-2009 state budget, the Senate is in budget discussions and is expected to wrap up action by June 12. OHA staff and member hospitals are currently meeting with members of Senate Finance & Financial Institutions Committee advocating for the restoration of family coverage as well as funding for rural obstetrics, critical access hospitals and trauma centers. OHA also is coordinating an effort by the state's public hospitals to maximize the benefit of the Upper Payment Limit Program. OHA has developed a chart on hospital issues included in the House version of state budget, in comparison to the bill as introduced by the governor.

Today, OHA launched a targeted letter-writing campaign to the Senate. Advocacy Network members in districts represented by members of the Senate Finance Committee received an Advocacy Alert which included sample letters and talking points that can be used to contact committee members. An alert targeting the full Ohio Senate will be sent nearing the vote in Finance Committee.

OHA will host a high-level media briefing on the state budget for the Statehouse Press Corps May 22 at 10 a.m. in Columbus. In line with OHA’s budget advocacy agenda, hospital representatives will highlight the importance of protecting hospitals’ most vulnerable services including urban trauma centers, rural obstetrics and critical access hospitals. OHA will also provide an overview of the budget’s implications for hospitals. The Statehouse Press Corps includes reporters from major daily and weekly newspapers, Statehouse news services and major radio and television stations.

OHA will also coordinate Medicaid-related testimony which is scheduled for May 31 in Senate Finance & Financial Institutions Committee.

After the Senate approves its version of the budget, a House and Senate conference committee will then reconcile differences between the two versions and pass it along to the Governor for final approval by June 30. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee to Hear Hospital Testimony

The newly created House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee, chaired by Jim Raussen (R-Cincinnati), will hear hospital testimony Thursday, May 17 starting at 10:00 a.m. Gus Kious, MD, Chief Administrative Officer of Huron Hospital; Thomas Urban, President & CEO of Mercy Health Partners-Southwest Ohio, and Bryan Bucklew, President and CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, are slated to testify.

The Committee is working to analyze Ohio’s existing health care system that impacts Ohioans from birth through their entrance into long term care, through a series of subgroups that include Medicaid, Medicare, the uninsured population and Ohio’s hospital system. The committee will continue to hear testimony on general health care topics before developing any legislation. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

New Language Clarifies Requirements for Personnel Working with Security Systems

Language addressing hospitals’ concerns was added last week to House Bill 41, which would license security system companies and individuals who sell and install security systems. The original bill, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Uecker (R-Loveland), would have required any individual who sells, repairs, monitors, inspects or maintains a security system to be licensed by the Ohio Department of Commerce. The bill was problematic because it would have required any hospital personnel who are or could potentially be involved with monitoring, inspecting or maintaining any type of security system, including closed-circuit television or key pad access systems, to be licensed by and pay annual licensing fees to the State of Ohio. At the request of OHA, language was added clarifying that the licensure requirement only applies to individuals who work with security systems with the intent of making a profit. (Jeff Klingler, jeffk@ohanet.org)

OHA Submits Nominees for the Governor’s Workforce Policy Board

OHA last week submitted four candidates for the Governor’s Workforce Policy Board. OHA’s nominations were processed with the OHA Workforce Committee and include:

· Kevin Webb

Chief Executive Officer

Flower Hospital, Toledo

· John Starcher,

Senior Vice President

Catholic Healthcare Partners, Cincinnati

· Dawn M. Gubanc MSN, RN, CNAA, BC, CHE,

Chief Nursing Officer for Strategy and Development

Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland

· Larry Lewellen,

Vice President, Human Resources

The Ohio State University, Columbus

The Governor’s Workforce Policy Board assists the Governor in building the nation’s premier workforce development system, ensuring Ohio employers’ and workers’ economic competitiveness. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)

Smoking Ban Rules Adopted

The Ohio Department of Health has officially adopted the rules for enforcement of the Ohio Clean Indoor Air act, which was passed by voters last November. Effective May 3, violators will be issued a warning for the first violation, and fines ranging from $100 to $2,500 for subsequent violations. For a summary of the law as it pertains to Ohio hospitals and health systems, view OHA Bulletin 06- 012. The final rules, OAC 3701-52-01 to -09, can be found at www.odh.ohio.gov. (Stacey Conrad, staceyc@ohanet.org)

Register Now for the Super-sized 2007 OHA Annual Meeting

Registration is now open for OHA’s Annual Meeting June 18-20 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. With an added third day of programming for 2007, this year’s Annual Meeting promises to offer expanded opportunities for continuing education credits, networking and recognition.

Key events for the Annual Meeting include:

· Gov. Ted Strickland will speak at a Health Policy Forum and Advocacy Luncheon Monday, June 18.

· 86 nominees for Health Care Worker of the Year and recipients of OHA’s leadership awards will be honored at the OHA Recognition Dinner the evening of June 18.

· Alvin Jackson, M.D., director of health, will provide remarks and present the first David Hendershot Rural Health Promotion Award at a Leadership Lunch Wednesday, June 20.

· Sixteen programming tracks will offer professional development on everything from physician recruitment to finance to risk management.

· More than 70 Corporate Partners will preview state-of-the-art technology, operational solutions and cost-cutting measures for hospitals.

OHA sent programming and registration materials to hospitals in late April. Complete Annual Meeting information and online registration is available at http://www.ohanet.org/annualmeeting/.

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)