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Monday, May 13, 2002
OHA, Ohio Hospitals Fight for Medicaid Reimbursement
In light of a growing state budget deficit, OHA and representatives from four Ohio hospitals testified today at a public forum of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) on the state fiscal year 2004-2005 budget. Requesting adequate Medicaid reimbursements, OHA testified that in state fiscal year 2000, hospitals spent $950 million in inpatient care and $387 million in outpatient care, only to be paid $0.98 and just over $0.75 per dollar spent on care, respectively. OHA argued that these losses undermine the financial viability of all hospitals. The association asked ODJFS to provide hospitals adequate reimbursement for Medicaid services, especially outpatient services. Outpatient Medicaid losses equaled 87 percent of the total Medicaid losses in 2000.

OHA also noted that the threat of pending cuts to disproportionate share hospitals scheduled under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) makes it more imperative that ODJFS finds alternate and restorative funding for Medicaid payments to hospitals. OHA testified that the department must ensure the Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP) funding to hospitals is not impacted by BBA cuts. Ohio hospitals lost $695 million in state fiscal year 2001 serving the Medicaid, indigent and uninsured populations and are expected to net $330 million this year through HCAP to make up for the shortage, but only $285.5 the next year.

Finally, OHA proposed Medicaid cost-based reimbursement for critical access hospitals (CAHs), which currently receive only Medicare cost reimbursement. With nine existing CAHs and eight more seeking designation, the issue is critical to the survival of small, rural, safety net hospitals.

Testifying were Dale E. Thornton, president and chief executive officer of Mercy Hospital Willard; Mark E. Marchetti, chief executive officer of Greenfield Area Medical Center in Greenfield; and representatives from Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati and University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland; as well as OHA staff Berna Bell and Ryan Biles. (Berna Bell, bernab@ohanet.org; Ryan Biles, ryanb@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com at http://www.statehealthclips.com/2002/OHA/20020513_package56.htm.

(Editor’s note: StateHealthClips.com has gone to a subscription service. Please note that the link to access clips will change daily. If you visit www.statehealthclips.com, you will be required to enter a subscriber password. No password is required for the link published in HEALTH e-NEWS Plus.)

Trauma center certification still not within reach of some hospitals
Columbus Daily Reporter
Monday, May 13, 2002
In less than six months, the state's trauma system will become a reality, though attempts to improve the care provided victims of severe trauma could be thwarted if hospitals close to certification are not granted an extension beyond the Nov. 3 deadline, according to the Ohio Hospital Association.

South Side health-care facility reborn
Columbus Dispatch
Sunday, May 12, 2002
After being closed for nearly a year, Columbus Community Hospital will reopen this week as an urgent-care facility.

Hospital ready to open complex
Findlay Courier
Monday, May 13, 2002
Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center will be unveiling its new $21 million complex, including an emergency department and heart care center, in coming weeks.

Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Department of Public Safety Contacting Hospitals
The Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) is conducting a Hospital Injury Care Survey as part of the special trauma study requirements of trauma system legislation, House Bill 138, which was signed into law in July of 2000. The purpose of this survey is to collect injury care information from Ohio hospitals that are not trauma centers verified by the American College of Surgeons.

In the next week, these hospitals will be contacted by Great Lakes Marketing on behalf of ODPS to determine who should be contacted to complete the survey, which includes questions about emergency department staffing, facilities related to injury care, EMS, and 2001 hospital injury related statistics. Hospitals are also welcome to contact Great Lakes Marketing directly at 419.481.1045. The data collected will be used to create a hospital database and develop regional maps of the trauma system as it exists today. The results of this study will be available for regional and local EMS planning. Verified trauma centers will also be surveyed in the near future. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

E.R. Could Drum Up Concern Over Smallpox
This week’s episode of the popular television drama E.R. includes a storyline about smallpox that may heighten public awareness about the disease, especially in light of a perceived, though very low, threat that terrorists could use smallpox as warfare. Hospitals may wish to be prepared for questions from the public and the media about smallpox and bioterrorism preparedness. The episode airs Thursday, May 16 on NBC at 10 p.m. EST and the smallpox storyline runs during a two-part episode with the conclusion next fall. More information about smallpox and bioterrorism planning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are available at www.cdc.gov/nip/smallpox/default.htm or www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/Smallpox/Smallpox.asp. (Carol Jacobson, carolj@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com at http://www.statehealthclips.com/2002/OHA/20020514_bubble45.htm.

Walk will raise funds for hospital
Cincinnati Enquirer
Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center will hold its annual “Walk the Walk” fund-raiser at 10 a.m. Sunday at Devou Park in Covington.

USWA pushes for retirees' health care
Martins Ferry Times Leader
Tuesday, May 14, 2002
AN AMENDMENT waiting to be reintroduced in the U.S. Senate would give temporary relief to thousands of retired steelworkers who lost their health care benefits because of illegal foreign steel dumping.

Wednesday, May 15, 2002
ODI Sues Officers and Directors of American Chambers
Ohio Superintendent of Insurance Lee Covington, in his capacity as liquidator, filed a complaint May 7 against the individual officers, directors and actuaries of American Chambers Life Insurance Company.

The suit against American Chambers’ officers and directors contends the officers signed materially misleading financial statements, which were filed with the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI). In addition, the complaint asserts the officers and directors knew or should have known about the company’s deteriorating financial condition and improper use of inter-company accounts, but failed to disclose the conditions to ODI and negligently or intentionally failed to ensure the filing of accurate financial statements. Covington also claims American Chambers’ actuaries signed actuarial opinions that incorrectly advised that the company’s reserves and related actuarial values were fairly stated and calculated in accordance with sound actuarial standards.

The Franklin County Common Pleas Court ordered American Chambers into liquidation May 8, 2000, claiming further business would be financially hazardous to its policyholders, creditors and the public. Its reported capital and surplus went from $13.4 million in 1998 to negative $18.5 million in 1999. American Chambers offered group health insurance and life insurance in Ohio and many other states. An ODI press release is available at http://www.ohioinsurance.gov/Newsroom/scripts/Release.asp?ReleaseID=281. (Mary Gallagher, maryg@ohanet.org)

Are you Pollution Prevention Savvy?
OHA is hosting a series of telephone briefings to assist hospitals with EPA regulatory compliance, waste stream management and volume reduction, mercury elimination and pollution prevention. The next briefing on effectively reducing red bag waste is Tuesday, May 21 from 11:30-12:30 p.m. To register, contact Susan Zabo at 614.221.7614 or susanz@ohanet.org.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS
For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com at
http://www.statehealthclips.com/2002/OHA/20020515_sharp35.htm

A new medical school for Cleveland
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Wednesday, May 15, 2002
Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic will launch a unique medical college to train physician- researchers skilled at bridging the gap between medical discoveries and treatments.

Jury awards paraplegic $8.2 million
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Wednesday, May 15, 2002
Three years ago, Rick Kaszar's life changed forever when he bent over to place a box of catalogs into the trunk of his car.

Thursday, May 16, 2002
ODH Proposes Increased X-ray Fees
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is proposing a fee increase for inspection of hospital X-ray equipment. As recommended in a draft from ODH’s Radiation Generating Equipment Committee, the rule change would increase fees to inspect radiation generation equipment for hospitals, in addition to industrial, veterinary and educational facilities. Fees would increase by $100 to $800 for hospitals with one to 10 X-ray tubes, by $200 to $1,500 for hospitals with 11 to 25 tubes, and by $300 to $2,200 for hospitals with more than 25 tubes. Legislation enacted in the mid 1990s requires ODH to recover the cost of regulation and inspection of X-ray devices through fees.

ODH is accepting comments on the proposed rules through June 1. Send comments to: bradiation@gw.odh.state.oh.us or Roger Suppes, Bureau of Radiation Protection, Ohio Department of Health, 34 East Chestnut St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. The ODH committee is holding an open meeting June 1 to discuss the fee increase and two hospital representatives are needed to serve on the committee. If you are interested in serving on the committee or attending the June 1 meeting, please contact Rick Sites at OHA at 614.221.7614 or ricks@ohanet.org. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

Ohio to Insure Breast, Cervical Cancer
An Ohio plan to cover uninsured women with breast or cervical cancer under the Medicaid program was last week approved by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. Ohio is the 40^thstate to take advantage of the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, which allows states to expand Medicaid coverage to women screened through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection. To qualify for the program, women must be under age 65, not eligible for Medicaid and without other insurance. Ohio will receive up to 85 percent matching funds from the federal government. More information about the program is available at www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/.

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com at http://www.statehealthclips.com/2002/OHA/20020516_division46.htm.

Auditor may police Kenton hospital's expenses
Columbus Dispatch
Thursday, May 16, 2002
KENTON, Ohio -- Before spending any of the $10 million generated by a tax levy, Hardin Memorial Hospital might submit bills to justify the expenditures.

Too many neonatal doctors, study says
Columbus Dispatch
Thursday, May 16, 2002
A new study of infant death rates adds to mounting evidence that the United States has a wasteful oversupply of physicians and hospital units specializing in the care of sick newborns.

Hospital drill hits a nerve
Lorain Morning Journal
Thursday, May 16, 2002
LORAIN -- When 20 tons of emergency vehicles rolled from the Lorain Fire Department yesterday -- headed for an ''explosion with six or seven casualties'' at Community Health Partners West -- someone in the department should have known it was only a drill, said Asst. fire Chief Tim Dore.

Friday, May 17, 2002
Hospitals Lead the Way
Seven Ohio hospitals are among the nearly 30 recipients of the Ohio Award for Excellence (OAE) 2002 awards. Created in 1998 and endorsed by Gov. Bob Taft, the awards recognize organizations that practice measurable continuous quality improvement and utilize outstanding processes to achieve customer-focused performance excellence. The OAE is patterned after the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award and has multiple tiers for varying levels of commitment to the quality process.

Receiving the Governor’s Award for Excellence is Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth. Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights was awarded Achievement of Excellence. Three hospitals, Euclid Hospital, Grant/Riverside Methodist Hospitals in Columbus and South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights, received an award for Commitment to Excellence. Aultman Hospital in Canton and Pomerene Hospital in Millersburg were awarded the Pledge Toward Excellence award. (Mary Yost, maryy@ohanet.org)

Make Some Noise for the Silent Auction
Join us for a silent auction, hosted by NHL Columbus Blue Jackets mascot, Stinger, planned in conjunction with OHA’s Annual Meeting June 3 and 4 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. All auction items have been donated by exhibiting organizations and include a hockey stick signed by the Blue Jackets, autographed sports memorabilia, DVD player, tickets to sporting events, and much, much more! The auction will be open during exhibit hours Monday, June 3 from 12-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.

All proceeds will benefit “Hats for Heroes,” a charity sponsored by the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team and Columbus Children’s Hospital for children fighting cancer or another life-threatening illness. Go to www.ohanet.org/education/2002annualmtg.htm for information about the annual meeting. (Terry Meade, terrym@ohanet.org)

DAILY NEWS CLIPS

For your daily health care news digest, go to the Hannah News Service's StateHealthClips.com at http://www.statehealthclips.com/2002/OHA/20020517_bell21.htm.

Hospital fire called suspicious
Cincinnati Enquirer
Friday, May 17, 2002
XENIA, Ohio - A fire that forced the evacuation of Greene Memorial Hospital in this southwest Ohio city has been labeled suspicious, an investigator said on Thursday.

Next UH chief to get smaller job
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Friday, May 17, 2002
For the first time in its history, the sprawling University Hospital Health System and its primary clinical affiliate will have different leaders.

Mercy Children’s Hospital establishes a pediatric ER
Toledo Blade
Friday, May 17, 2002
Officials of Mercy Children’s Hospital yesterday opened a $250,000 emergency room dedicated to caring for children and said the new facility should decrease waiting times and improve patient care.