Monday, October 29, 2001
CMS Seeking Comments on Proposed Fire Safety Rule  
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) set forth a new proposed rule regarding the Fire Safety Requirements on October 26. CMS is seeking comments on a proposed rule that would adopt the 2000 edition of the Life Safety Code, published by the National Fire Protection Association, for use in hospitals and other health care facilities. The proposed rule replaces a rule proposed on the same subject in 1990. That rule would have required providers to meet either the 1981 or 1985 edition of the code, which did not encourage use of sprinklers. The 2000 edition does encourage use of sprinklers and allows for less costly construction. The comment period is open until December 26. More information is available at www.gpo.ucop.edu under Today. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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Dot Cincinnati: St. Elizabeth Medical Center
Cincinnati Business Courier
Monday, October 29, 2001
In the 18 months since Christa Moore reworked the Web site for St. Elizabeth Medical Center, monthly visits increased from 1,000 to 35,000.

Top-rung care for children
Akron Beacon Journal
Saturday, October 27, 2001
Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron long has been caring for everything from childhood bumps and bruises to life-threatening injuries.

Mt. Carmel commits $90M to grab east market share
Columbus Business First
Monday, October 29, 2001
Ron Whiteside says the numbers are in Mount Carmel East Hospital's favor as it moves forward with its $90 million expansion program.  

Tuesday, October 30, 2001
BWC to Cover Some Anthrax-Related Care Costs
The Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation (BWC) today released a policy statement on the coverage of emergency care to test for alleged bioterrorism in the workplace.

In accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, BWC normally does not cover claims for exposure to a disease, only claims for workers who have contracted a disease from the workplace are covered. However, given the current climate of concern with potential workplace exposure to anthrax, BWC is taking measures to alleviate the financial burden on providers from real or potential bioterrorism exposure. 

In accordance with Ohio law, BWC will disallow claims for exposure, but will reimburse providers for the associated emergency medical treatment related to the incident for state fund claims only. Emergency medical diagnostic services necessary to investigate the claim will be paid by BWC as an occupational disease medical review. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy, initiated in accordance with protocol established by the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will also be reimbursed by BWC. Reimbursement for prophylactic antibiotic therapy initiated before substance testing will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and BWC may limit reimbursement in these cases.

Hospitals should report bioterrorism incidents to their assigned managed care organization or online at www.ohiobwc.com as they would any other workplace incident for state funds claims. Bills related to treatment should be sent to the managed care organization. To assist BWC with identifying these claims, hospitals should indicate “ALLEGED EXPOSURE TO ANTHRAX IN THE WORKPLACE” in either the Description of Accident or Diagnosis section of the first report of injury. For more information, refer to an e-mail sent by OHA today to the patient financial services departments in member hospitals, or contact BWC at 1-800-OHIOBWC or 1-800-644-6292. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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Red Cross puts limits on blood donors, destroys some blood
Canton Repository
Tuesday, October 30, 2001
The Northern Ohio blood services region of the American Red Cross has taken steps to limit the amount of donors since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Money, staffing woes plague health agency
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Tuesday, October 30, 2001
Whether it's Jane Campbell or Raymond Pierce, Cleveland's new mayor will inherit a city health department with too little money, too few staff members and a poor reputation.  

Wednesday, October 31, 2001
Nigerian Scam Resurfaces in Ohio Hospitals
At least two Ohio hospitals were recently targeted, but not fooled, in an international scam called the Advance Fee Fraud, also known as 4-1-9 fraud.

In the scam, which has been around for several years, a letter or fax is sent to a business or individual from an alleged official from Nigerian claiming to be a senior civil servant with a large sum of money, usually between $10 million and $60 million, from a Nigerian petroleum company or government ministry. An offer is made to transfer between 10 and 30 percent commission on the “over invoiced contract” funds into the business or individual’s personal bank account. The letter further asks for blank company letterhead, banking account information and telephone and fax numbers. Eventually, the targeted business or individual is asked for advance fees for various taxes, attorney fees, transaction fees or bribes.

CDC Plans Second Anthrax Broadcast
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with co-sponsorship from the National Medical Association (NMA) and the Public Health Training Network, plans to air on Thursday the second in a series of live satellite broadcasts on "Anthrax, What Every Clinician Should Know." The broadcast will be from 1:30-3 p.m. ET and will be re-broadcast on Nov. 5 at 5-6:30 p.m. ET. The program, originating from the Howard University College of Medicine, will feature Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., and a panel of experts from the NMA, CDC and local public health organizations, who will provide an overview of clinical, laboratory and public health preparedness for potential anthrax incidence. For technical information on viewing the broadcast, go to www.cdc.gov/phtn. The program will also be broadcast at the Ohio Department of Health. To register to attend, contact Scarlett Gray at 614/466-4025 or sgray@gw.odh.state.oh.us. To obtain a free video copy of the broadcast, call the Public Health Foundation at 1-877-252-1200 or go to bookstore.phf.org/prod174.htm.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com.

Hospital says nurse stole powerful drug to feed addiction
Columbus Dispatch
Wednesday, October 31, 2001
Sliding a needle into a vial, Riverside Methodist Hospitals nurse Doris I. Moreland extracted a powerful painkilling narcotic and injected it into her drug-addicted body, hospital officials say.

Is there interest in former RVHS?
Ironton Tribune
Wednesday, October 31, 2001
County officials overseeing the now-defunct River Valley Health System renewed work this week on a "feasibility study" of the troubled hospital's future.

Thursday, November 1, 2001
Governor, Legislature Looking to Fill Budget Deficit  
The Ohio House this week passed a bill containing spending cuts and tax increases to offset a projected $1.5 billion deficit in the state's two-year budget, but at this point the legislation does not include any reductions in funding for the Medicaid program.

House Bill 405 proposes $660 million in spending reductions, $519 million from the rainy fund and tobacco dollars and $344 million in tax loophole closings. The Senate Finance Committee began hearings on the bill Thursday; the full Senate is expected to pass the bill in mid-November.

Earlier this month, Gov. Bob Taft offered his proposal on how to resolve the budget dilemma. The governor proposed $610 million in budget cuts and $465 million in tax loophole closings, but no reductions to Medicaid. The OHA Board of Trustees sent a letter to the governor following his budget proposal thanking him for exempting Medicaid expenditures from the reductions. (Bill Ryan, billr@ohanet.org)

ER Assault Legislation Goes to Governor  
Legislation increasing the penalty for assaults on emergency department personnel is on its way to the governor. Senate Bill 40, sponsored by Sen. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana), extends the offenses of disrupting public services and misconduct at an emergency to activities of emergency facility personnel and increases the penalty for disorderly conduct if committed in an emergency facility. OHA supported the bill and obtained an amendment clarifying which individuals are covered under the legislation, such as security officers, who often are not employed by the hospital, and other individuals, who may be summoned to a hospital emergency department and are working at the direction of a physician or nurse. The bill goes into effect 90 days following signature by the governor. (Jeff Klingler, jeffk@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com.

U.S. tries to head off stampede for flu shots
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Thursday, November 1, 2001
The government yesterday sought to head off an epidemic of anthrax anxiety, discouraging people from getting flu shots simply as insurance against bioterrorism.

Cincinnati has fastest-growing health insurance costs
Cincinnati Business Courier
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Cincinnati posted the highest health care insurance rate increases nationwide in 2001 at 15.6 percent, according to a study from Hewitt Associates, a global management consulting firm.

Twin City Hospital teams to offer training
New Philadelphia Times-Reporter
Thursday, November 1, 2001
DENNISON — Twin City Hospital is now a clinical education site for the radiography program conducted through Muskingum Area Technical College at Zanesville.  

Friday, November 2, 2001
New Council Boosts Focus on Hospital Workplace Safety
The inaugural meeting of the OHA Safety Leadership Council was held this week and demonstrated the strong support in the hospital community for sharpening the focus on hospital workplace safety.

The council is comprised of representatives of hospitals that have had exceptional workplace safety records for the last two years. Chaired by William Kelley, president and CEO, Samaritan Regional Health System, council membership also includes Blanchard Valley Health Association, Bucyrus Community Hospital, Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Dunlap Memorial Hospital of Orrville, Fostoria Community Hospital, Madison County Hospital, Samaritan Hospital of Ashland and The University Hospital of Cincinnati. In addition, the council has strong support and participation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

The goal of the council is to reduce workplace injuries in order to help meet one of OHA’s strategic objectives, which is that Ohio hospitals attract and retain talented and dedicated employees and medical staff. While keeping employees safe at work is a top priority of the council, it also views the issue of safety even more broadly, as essential to providing quality patient care.

The council plans to meet again early next year to further refine its work plan. So far, the council is developing a full day of programming at the 2002 OHA Annual Meeting and a recognition program for hospitals with best practices in workplace safety. Also in the works are state and regional educational programs for hospitals. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

Organ Donor Bill Heads to Governor
The House of Representatives this week passed a bill to ease the process by which individuals become organ donors. Senate Bill 158, introduced by Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon), would do away with the requirement for adults over the age of 18 to have two people witness and sign the form for becoming an organ donor when they renew or obtain their driver’s licenses at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

Registering to become a donor at any other time will still require witnesses. The legislation is needed to coincide with Senate Bill 188, which was passed last year. That legislation set up a statewide organ donor registry, and it provided that the wishes of a donor are legally binding even over the objections of a relative. OHA is not opposed to SB 158, and is working to ensure that the BMV form can be shared with hospitals so they know when an individual has made a legal declaration to be a donor. The bill will take effect immediately upon the governor's signature.  (Jeff Klingler, jeffk@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com.

Anthrax scare adds twist to flu season
Cincinnati Post
Friday, November 2, 2001
The flu season is still weeks away, but already Greater Cincinnati health care providers are walking a new medical tightrope: diagnosing patients whose flu-like symptoms could indicate a virus or, more ominously, anthrax.

Lawyer blames hospital in death
Sandusky Register
Friday, November 2, 2001
The attorney defending a Sandusky man accused of murdering his girlfriend blasted the hospital at which she gave birth, claiming in court documents it "botched" her care.

Neurosurgeon files suit against Mercy Medical
Canton Repository
Friday, November 2, 2001
CANTON — A neurosurgeon says false reports of his retirement at Mercy Medical Center have hurt his reputation and practice.