Monday, December 10, 2001
Nigerian Scam Targets Hospital Via E-Mail
An international scam called the Advance Fee Fraud, also known as 4-1-9 fraud, usually disseminated by letter or fax, was recently sent via e-mail to at least one Ohio hospital.

In the scam, which has been around for several years, a letter, fax or, most recently, e-mail is sent to a business or individual from an alleged official from Nigeria 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.

The Ohio hospital targeted did not fall prey to the scam but notified OHA. At least two other Ohio hospitals received similar letters or faxes in the recent months. Organizations that have lost funds in this scam should contact the United States Secret Service at 202/406-5850. Organizations that have received a letter or fax but have not lost funds should fax the letter to the Secret Service at 202/406-5031. For more information, visit www.treas.gov/usss/index.htm?alert419.htm&1.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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

OSU Health System trims loss to $10M
Columbus Business First
Monday, December 10, 2001
Despite a $32 million turnaround in operating income from the previous year, Ohio State University Health System still suffered a $10 million operating loss for its fiscal 2001, ended June 30.

Health network seeks decent care for all in Summit
Akron Beacon Journal
Monday, December 10, 2001
Nancy Newsom can't wait to turn 65.
The 64-year-old Akron widow has a host of health problems, including a battle with breast cancer last year that ran up more than $40,000 in medical bills she doesn't know how she'll pay. Her job at a local bar doesn't provide health insurance, and she doesn't earn enough to afford it.

Disease detection falling through cracks
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Monday, December 10, 2001
While the federal government spends millions of dollars stockpiling vaccines and antibiotics, the country's public-health system remains ill-equipped to recognize the earliest symptoms of a biological attack.  

Tuesday, December 11, 2001
Appalachian Children’s Health Improving
Children living in Ohio’s 29 Appalachian counties have experienced significant improvements in health, child care and education over the last 10 years, according to a report released by the Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-Ohio), Ohio’s Appalachian Children. Improvements include Head Start enrollment in Appalachia being up 69 percent since 1990 and Appalachia’s teen birth rate declining 7.5 percent from 1990 to 1997, according to the report. Areas that still need improvement include the nearly 40,000 Appalachian children lacking health insurance in 1998 and the 7.6 percent of Appalachian babies born at low birthweight in 1999.

The report, funded by a grant from The Longaberger Foundation, provides information about the many challenges facing children, parents, educators, caregivers and health care workers in Appalachian Ohio, primarily in southeast Ohio. The 29 counties in that region include: Adams, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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

Surge expected in costs for care
Dayton Daily News
Tuesday, December 11, 2001
Health care costs will rise by 12 percent to 17 percent next year, according to reports from two national consultants and a local one.

MCO gets foundation grant to aid in training students
Toledo Blade
Tuesday, December 11, 2001
The Medical College of Ohio has received a $103,853 grant to improve the diagnostic skills of medical students and medical residents.

OPINION
Takes steps to lower infant-mortality rate
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Tuesday, December 11, 2001
How many infant deaths in the city of Cleveland are too many? And what will Cuyahoga County's new commissioner do about it? After years of a falling infant-mortality rate, infant deaths rose from 10.8 per thousand live births in 1998 to 14.1 in 1999. In contrast, the national infant mortality rates were 7.2 and 7.1 respectively in those years. Inexcusably, Cleveland's rate is double that of the nation as a whole.  

Wednesday, December 12, 2001
St. Paul Insurance Pulls Out of Medical Malpractice Market  
Joining other flailing medical malpractice insurers around the country, the St. Paul Companies, a worldwide insurance provider, today announced that it is pulling out of the medical malpractice insurance market in part because of a 2001 underwriting loss of $940 million. St. Paul cites recent market trends in medical malpractice, such as rising jury awards, underwriting growth and underpricing during the 1990s, as reasons for the decision to leave the market. St. Paul will continue the process of exiting the medical malpractice business on a global basis through non-renewal upon policy expiration.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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

More ERs divert patients
Cincinnati Enquirer
Wednesday, December 12, 2001
With the winter flu season fast approaching, Tristate health officials say they are monitoring whether hospitals can handle a fresh surge of sick people.

Bill would bolster Medicaid funds
Elyria Chronicle-Telegram
Wednesday, December 12, 2001
LORAIN — U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown is co-sponsoring a bill he says could pump an additional $216 million into the state’s Medicaid coffers.

Public support sought for health care access
Akron Beacon Journal
Wednesday, December 12, 2001
Akron Health Department Director Dr. C. William Keck envisions a day when all residents get the same medical care, whether they're rich or poor.

Thursday, December 13, 2001
Don’t Miss Your Chance for Input
The deadlines to submit comments on several proposed rules are soon approaching. Due this month are:

• Comments on Senate Bill 50 quality rules, which are up for their five-year review, should be e-mailed to Rosalie Weakland at OHA, rosaliew@ohanet.org, by Dec. 14. OHA will submit all comments on the proposed revisions to the Ohio Administrative Code rules to the Ohio Department of Health by Dec. 31.
• Comments on the 7^th Statement of Work for the next Quality Improvement Organization contract cycle are due to the Office of Clinical Standard and Quality at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by Dec. 19. Comments should be submitted directly to CMS by e-mail at 7sowcom@cms.hhs.gov. The draft is available at www.hcfa.gov/quality/5b.htm.
• Comments on the new voluntary certification program for disease management can be directly submitted to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations online at www.jcaho.org/standard/disease_fr_mpfrm.html by Dec. 21.
• Comments on the Life Safety Code are due directly to CMS by Dec. 26. CMS is proposing to adopt the 2000 edition of the Life Safety Code with a few exceptions. The proposed rules are available at frwebgate6.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=264565436207+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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

Hospital expansion gains conditional OK in Fostoria
Toledo Blade
Thursday, December 13, 2001
FOSTORIA - The city planning commission has given conditional approval for Fostoria Community Hospital to build a 30,000-square-foot addition.

Trade secret charges won't be dismissed
Akron Beacon Journal
Thursday, December 13, 2001
A federal judge has refused to dismiss charges against two Japanese scientists accused of stealing research material from the Cleveland Clinic.

Friday, December 14, 2001
Budget Compromise Legislation Uses Tobacco Dollars, Leaves Medicaid Intact  
Gov. Bob Taft has signed with no line-item vetoes the compromise legislation hammered out by a conference committee and agreed to last week by the House and Senate to address the $1.5 billion state budget deficit.

Health Care Sector Openings Are Bright Spot In Struggling Job Market  
While the nation’s unemployment rate has reached its highest level since 1995, hospitals across the country continue to be a bright spot in the gloomy labor market. Ohio has seen the effect of the struggling economy with recent closures and layoffs around the state. From steel to prisons to construction and financial services, layoffs abound in many sectors statewide. Job prospects in Ohio hospitals continue to be positive however, with a constant rise in job openings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care professional, technical, and support jobs will continue to grow at a rate of about 30 percent this decade. The health care market is booming and it is expected that millions of new jobs will open in the next decade. See more at www.ohanet.org/healthbeat/datawatch1201.htm.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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

Cincinnati's smoking rate surprisingly low, study says
Cincinnati Enquirer
Friday, December 14, 2001
Contrary to long-held belief among public health experts, the smoking rate in Greater Cincinnati is lower than the national average and one of the lowest in the Midwest, according to a federal report being issued today.

Health professionals learn how to combat smallpox
Canton Repository
Friday, December 14, 2001
JACKSON TWP. — If smallpox is ever used as a biological weapon, diagnosing it early will be the key to limiting the damage it can do.