OHA Advocacy Network

Advocacy Report • Friday, May 16, 2008

Action for next week…

Tuesday

HB 456 – Health Care Reform: Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee, Room 17 at 9:30 a.m. (All testimony)

SB 169 – False Claims: Senate Judiciary – Civil Justice Committee, North Hearing Room at 11 a.m. (Sponsor testimony)

Wednesday

HB 346 – Nurse Staffing: Senate Health, Human Services & Aging Committee, South Hearing Room at 2:30 p.m. (All testimony, Possible vote)

SB 115 – Child Insurance: Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee, North Hearing Room at 3:30 p.m. (All testimony, Possible amendments/substitute & vote)

HB 493 – Pathology Services: House Health Committee, Room 17 at 4 p.m. (All testimony, Possible vote)

SB 175 – Grieving Parents Act: House Health Committee, Room 17 at 4 p.m. (All testimony, Possible vote)

SB 229 – Radiologist Assistants: House Health Committee, Room 17 at 4 p.m. (All testimony)

Senate Panel Prepares for Vote on Nurse Staffing Legislation; Nurse Execs Discuss Proposed Changes with Senator Sue Morano, RN

The Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee may vote next Wednesday on House Bill 346, an OHA-supported nurse staffing proposal. The scheduled vote comes after a hearing two weeks ago, during which no witnesses surfaced to voice opposition to the legislation.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hughes (R-Columbus), would require hospitals to create a nursing care committee to include nurses representing all types of nursing services offered by the hospital. The committee will develop recommendations for a nurse staffing plan that is consistent with current governmental or private accreditation standards. Hospitals would be required to significantly consider the recommendations when establishing staffing plans, and they must provide the nursing staff with a copy of the staffing plan, free of charge, and offer it to others who request it for a nominal fee.

State Senator Sue Morano, a practicing registered nurse from Lorain, is a member of the Senate Health Committee, and has contemplated some changes to the legislation, including boosting the make-up of the nursing care committee so that direct care nurses are ensured a fair voice and increasing the accountability of hospitals in posting staffing plans as well as evaluations of meeting the plans’ staffing requirements. Morano discussed her ideas this morning with the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Organization of Nurse Executives, an OHA-affiliated society representing nurse leaders throughout the state. She indicated her appreciation for the constructive feedback offered by the OONE, while OONE Board members indicated their appreciation for the senator’s willingness to reach out and consider their viewpoints. (Jeff Klingler, jeffk@ohanet.org).

Substitute Version of Health Care Reform Bill Introduced

Rep. Jim Raussen (R-Springdale) released a substitute version of his health care reform bill this week. OHA is currently analyzing the new provisions of Sub House Bill 456 that impact the state’s hospitals. Below are new provisions of interest:

Creation of the Ohio health insurance risk pool.
Establishment of a healthy Ohioans advisory committee on issues related to the prevention and treatment of obesity through physical activity.
Creation of the Ohio child wellness advisory council.
Require hospitals to participate in a regional health information organization by 2011 in order to receive state funds, other than Medicaid and HCAP.
Require hospitals have a valid contract with the majority of Medicaid managed care companies doing business in a region. The prohibition on HCAP participation remains unless this provision is met. Also, disproportionate share hospitals are eligible for more funds if they contract with a majority of plans.
Charity care and non contracting provisions remain in the legislation.

Medicaid managed care contracting testimony slated for Thursday in House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee was postponed due to the release of the sub bill. OHA is coordinating hospital testimony on the Medicaid managed care contracting provision for Tuesday, May 20 at 9:30 a.m. at which time the committee will hear all testimony. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

Senate Passes Maternity Licensure Legislation

The Ohio Senate Tuesday unanimously approved legislation that will streamline Ohio’s maternity licensure statute. House Bill 331, sponsored by Sen. Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo), needs concurrence from the House before moving to Gov. Strickland for final approval. The bill will impact the 121 active hospital maternity units and three functional maternity homes in Ohio. OHA will issue a member bulletin once it is signed into law. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

OHA Member Bulletin Now Available on Energy Bill

On May 1, 2008, Gov. Ted Strickland signed Amended Substitute Senate Bill 221, sponsored by Robert Schuler (R-Cincinnati), into law. The bill takes effect July 31.

The Ohio Hospital Association supported the comprehensive energy legislation as a member of the Ohio Coalition for Affordable Power because it will help Ohio electric consumers including hospitals avoid dramatic increases in electric rates beginning next year as well as improve reliability and reduce the frequency of power outages. Overall, electric rates under the bill are expected to increase moderately during coming years—although the possibility of more significant rate increases for some utilities cannot be ruled out.

A detailed analysis of the bill’s provisions is available at http://www.ohanet.org/Bulletins/2008/08-004.htm. For more information, visit OHA’s energy Web page. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org; Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

Public Hospital Amendment to be Offered on County Contracting Bill

Legislation permitting counties to use competitive sealed proposals for the purchase of goods and services after providing public notice of the business opportunity to interested vendors may soon benefit Ohio’s public hospitals. Public hospitals have asked to be included in a provision of SB 268, sponsored by Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), requiring vendor responses to an RFP remain confidential until after the award of a final contract. The amendment to include the public hospitals will likely be offered next week at which time the bill is expected to be voted out of committee. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

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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, Manager, State Policy & Advocacy (staceyc@ohanet.org)

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

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