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Monday, July 1, 2002
Bill Would Allot $13.9 Billion to Hospitals
After hours of partisan debate, the U.S. House of Representatives last week passed legislation 221-208 that would allot $13.9 billion to hospitals over 10 years. Ohio hospitals could receive an estimated $700 million over ten years under the legislation.

The Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002, H.R. 4954, sponsored by Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), would also spend $320 billion over ten years on a prescription drug plan for seniors, which was the point of contention down party lines during the House floor debate. Democrats oppose the legislation because they fear it does not provide enough to help seniors with the drug benefit. Though Republicans and Democrats disagree about the prescription drug plan, both parties support the provider provisions that benefit hospitals and several other providers. H.R. 4954 now goes to the Senate, where another version of the bill is being developed. The Senate version will likely call for spending $1 trillion over 10 years for providers and a drug benefit. (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org)

Hospital Avoids Nurse Strike
Averting a strike, the University Hospital in Cincinnati and the Registered Nurses Association (RNA), an Ohio Nurses Association affiliate which represents 884 nurses, reached a tentative contract agreement late Friday night. The three-year contract addresses several issues important to the nurses including mandatory overtime, wages and conditions of employment. To create a workplace that is attractive to nurses, the contract also establishes a committee structure for collaboration between nurses and hospital administrators to address issues related to staffing.

RNA filed a 10-day strike notice June 18, threatening to strike at midnight June 30 when the nurses’ current contract was set to expire. That contract has been extended until July 5 and the strike notice has been withdrawn. Nurses will vote on ratification Tuesday.

Part of the Health Alliance, the University Hospital had prepared for a possible strike by diverting some of its patients. If nurses had gone on strike, the hospital would have closed several beds, stopped delivering babies and discontinued other services. The hospital had been prepared to work with other hospitals in the Health Alliance and other area hospitals to avoid interrupting patient care in the event of a strike. (Mary Gallagher maryg@ohanet.org)

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(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.)

Tuesday, July 2, 2002
Requests for Tobacco Money Plentiful
The foundation created to distribute national tobacco settlement funds to prevent and reduce tobacco use in Ohio has received 156 letters of intent from coalitions and entities across the state planning to submit proposals for nearly $7 million in funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Letters to the Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation are seeking a total of $43 million in funding. Of the 156 projects, 44 will apply for capacity-building grants and the remainder will seek implementation grants. Proposals are due July 31. Several Ohio hospitals have partnered with the coalitions seeking funding. More information is available at http://www.standohio.org. (Lynne Ayres, lynnea@ohanet.org)

Cincinnati Health Collaborative Receives National Award
The Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati yesterday received the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Carolyn Boone Lewis Living the Vision Award. This award recognizes the organization’s contributions to building and maintaining a healthy community.

The collaborative, composed of leaders from the hospital, physician, payor, employer, government, public health and consumer sectors, participates in a variety of community initiatives. Its areas of focus are based on hospital data and consumer surveys and have included detection and treatment of depression, prevention of low-birth-weight babies and improvement of treatment for diabetic patients. The collaborative also conducts an annual flu shot campaign, offering free and low-cost flu shots at nearly 100 area locations and providing vaccine information and reminders. For more, visit http://www.aha.org/info/releasedisplay.asp?passreleaseid=399.

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(Editor’s note: The news clips are being password-protected on the OHA Web site. OHA members will be notified separately of the password. HEALTH e-NEWS Plus subscribers can still access news clips through the daily e-mail without a password.)

Wednesday, July 3, 2002
OHA Hits the Road
As stories about hospital reimbursement, soaring medical malpractice costs and new specialty hospitals hit the news, OHA is hitting the streets over the next few weeks for a series of regional meetings around the state to discuss with hospitals the Hospital Care Assurance Program, medical malpractice issues and health planning post-certificate of need.

In the news most frequently has been the medical malpractice issue, specifically soaring liability premiums and protesting physicians. The medical malpractice issue is likely to heat up as this year’s race for seats on the Ohio Supreme Court intensifies since the court has twice before struck down tort reform legislation. Friends of Ohio Hospitals, the political action committee for Ohio hospitals, is expected to make an endorsement later this month for Supreme Court candidates who are likely to support tort reform.

For a complete list of regional meeting dates or to register to attend, contact Debbie Wolfe at OHA at 614.221.7614 or debbiew@ohanet.org.

Foundation Seeking Grant Proposals
OHA’s Foundation for Healthy Communities is currently seeking grant proposals for its general fall cycle. In line with OHA’s Strategic Direction, the Foundation is seeking proposals for projects that promote the practice of healthy lifestyles, with special emphasis on those that reduce the incidence of low-birth-weight babies, increase the number of Ohioans who exercise and reduce the incidence of substance abuse. Projects addressing other issues are welcome, but proposals in the focus area will receive special consideration.

Grant application materials have been sent to hospitals. Applications must be postmarked by Aug. 16. Grants will be awarded in October. More information and the application form are available at http://www.ohanet.org/HealthyCommunities/. The Foundation will soon be soliciting proposals for tobacco grants as well. Stay tuned for more information. (Lynne Ayres, lynnea@ohanet.org)

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Friday, July 5, 2002
Hospital Community Loses a Friend
OHA extends its condolences on the loss of Thomas J. Trudell, chief executive officer and president of Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, who died Wednesday, July 3. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. John Cathedral in downtown Cleveland. Tom was a former OHA Board member, chaired OHA’s Ohio Quality Cardiac Care Foundation and served on the OHA EMS/Trauma Committee. “Tom lived his life with a great intensity. He will be missed,” said Jim Castle, OHA president and CEO. Trudell is also remembered for his work with OHA’s data services, said Vice President David Engler.

Hospital Reps Receive Appointments
Hospital representatives have recently been appointed to two state health entities and one national health care organization.

John D. Clough, M.D., Director of Health Affairs at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, was appointed to the Ohio Public Health Council for a term through June 30, 2009. Clough is also a member of the OHA Board of Trustees.
Home care executive Frances Bäby, vice president at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, has been appointed to fill a special new non-voting seat on the Board of Commissioners of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Her two-year appointment begins this month and is part of a larger effort to build and strengthen relationships between home care organizations and the JCAHO board.
Elizabeth I. Gregg, a staff pharmacist at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, has received an appointment for the State Board of Pharmacy for a term through June 30, 2006. The board oversees the licensure of pharmacists.

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(Editor’s note: StateHealthClips.com is not available today. Please use the direct links below. StateHealthClips.com will resume publication Monday, July 8.)

Thomas Trudell, led Marymount Hospital
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Friday, July 5, 2002
Thomas J. Trudell, chief executive officer and president of Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, died Wednesday of a stroke. He was 61. Trudell, one of the longest-serving hospital administrators in Northeast Ohio, became Marymount's chief executive in 1981 and led the community hospital's 1995 merger with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/cuyahoga/1025861414211900.xml

OhioHealth holds off on pulling privileges
Columbus Dispatch
Thursday, July 4, 2002
OhioHealth is threatening to sever ties in October with doctors who invest in competing hospitals.
www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/news/news02/jul02/1346958.html

OPINION: The Medicare war
Akron Beacon Journal
Friday, July 5, 2002
On two points about Medicare, there is no disagreement in Congress. First, the federal health-care program should provide some level of prescription drug coverage for the elderly and the disabled. Second, an expansion of the entitlement program will be expensive. Agreement on these matters, however, offers little assurance that relief is around the corner.
www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/editorial/3599500.htm