Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Nursing Shortage Bills Move Closer to Passing
Congress is moving closer to finalizing legislation to help alleviate the nationwide nursing shortage. A number of bills have been pending in both chambers, but in late December both the House and Senate passed separate versions of the Nurse Reinvestment Act. While the bills differ, it is likely compromise legislation will be worked out early this year.

The House version would expand the Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program, which traditionally applies to medically under-served areas, to include nurses in facilities determined to have a nursing shortage. It also authorizes public service announcements educating the public about the profession and dispelling notions that it is a female-only career, and provides for a General Accounting Office study to determine if there is a nurse faculty shortage and how to address it.

The Senate version of the legislation is more extensive, allocating funding for recruiting high school students into the field of nursing, supporting nursing students who agree to work in shortage areas, mid-career training for nurses, and creating a commission to recommend further action to address the shortage. (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org)

Bioterrorism Preparedness Bill Goes to Conference
A congressional conference committee is preparing to work out differences between House and Senate versions of federal legislation designed to provide the public health system with funding to ramp up bioterrorism preparedness.

Sponsored by Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Bill Frist (R-TN), the Public Health Threats and Emergencies Act allocates approximately $3 billion in funding to improve the nation’s ability to prevent, prepare for, and respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. The majority of the funds will go to state and local government entities, with $375 million allocated by the Senate version for hospitals that join with other local public entities to improve bioterrorist attack plans and health care capacity of hospitals. While the legislation will not fully fund all improvements needed, it is a step in the right direction. (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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

After hours, crowded ERs often the only help available
Akron Beacon Journal
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
On a holiday or weekend, going to the doctor means a trip to a hospital's emergency room -- the only place the doctors are always in.

Hospital group: Planning services
Columbus Dispatch
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Columbus Community Hospital, closed in the spring, might see some services resurrected in the new year.

Hospitals short on medicine
Dayton Daily News
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Hospital shortages of prescription drugs have become so commonplace that local physicians and pharmacists no longer consider them merely short-term problems.  

Thursday, January 3, 2002
Previously Awarded Tobacco Grants Not Affected by Budget Cuts
Tobacco grants previously awarded to hospitals though OHA’s Foundation for Healthy Communities and funds slated for the upcoming spring cycle are not impacted by budget cuts to address the $1.5 billion state budget deficit. Future tobacco funds from the Ohio Public Health Priorities Trust Fund may be affected, but OHA is optimistic the impact on future funding for hospitals will be minimal. The availability of additional funds and the criteria will likely be determined this summer.

Legislation addressing the deficit requires the next two payments slotted for 2002 and 2003 to the Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation, about $220 million, to be re-routed to help fill the budget gap and be paid back in 2013 and 2014. An additional $20 million will be redirected from other tobacco trust funds to be determined, although it is likely the Ohio Public Health Priorities Trust Fund, from which the Foundation received its 2001-2002 allocations, will be impacted along with the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Trust Fund.

The Foundation has already distributed $1,167,289 in tobacco grants to hospitals in the fall of 2001. The Foundation is now requesting proposals for programs in pulmonary rehabilitation only using approximately $250,000 in remaining funds from its 2001-2002 allocations. Application materials will this month be mailed to hospitals and will soon be available online at www.ohanet.org under “Healthy Communities.” Separate application materials will also be mailed this month for the general grant cycle. (Lynne Ayres, lynnea@ohanet.org)

ODI Warns Consumers of Insurance Scam
Ohio Director of Insurance Lee Covington last week issued a cease and desist order against Employers Mutual L.L.C. The Nevada-based company is not licensed to do business in Ohio, but recent evidence discovered by the Department of Insurance Fraud Unit suggests as many as several hundred Ohioans may falsely believe they are insured by the company in a scam in which the company seeks to collect a large premium as rapidly as possible, pays initial claims and then delays payment, leaving consumers or employers responsible for large medical bills.

Ohio hospitals and consumers should call the Ohio Department of Insurance Fraud hotline at 1-800-686-1527 if they have had dealings with Employers Mutual. More information is also available at www.ohioinsurance.gov. The full press release is available at www.ohioinsurance.gov/Newsroom/Releases/2001Releases/12-28-01.htm. (Mary Gallagher, maryg@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

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

Clinic plans to drop midwife program
Wooster Daily Record
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Matt and Angel Thompson had their first child in October with the help of a nursing midwife because they wanted the personal touch during that first pregnancy.

Conneaut hospital first in region to be given 'Critical Access' status
Ashtabula Star-Beacon
Thursday, January 3, 2002
CONNEAUT - A tighter relationship with the federal government has solidified the future of Conneaut's decades-old hospital, officials said.