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Monday, February
10,
2003
Week Designated to
Honor Hospitals
National Hospital and Healthcare
Week, set for the week of May 11-17, will honor the major contributions
hospitals, their employees and volunteers make to their communities
across the U.S. Hospitals are encouraged to promote and participate in
the national celebration, highlighting the theme: “Bringing the Power
of Care to the Community.” In addition to publicly recognizing the
importance of hospitals nationwide, the week presents an opportunity for
hospitals to show appreciation for their associates and volunteer staff
members through special events or awards.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Texas Hospital Association have teamed to provide event planning and preparation materials to hospitals. AHA will send the informational packets to member hospitals by mid-February. For more information, such as an event planning guide and a catalog of promotional products, visit www.imprintmall.com/hospitals/ or contact THA-Bells Select at 800.822.1923.
DAILY NEWS CLIPS
(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.)
February 11, 2003
Medicaid Cuts Hurt Ohio’s Kids
Access to health care could be restricted for Ohio’s more than 2.9 million children as a result of continued state budget cuts, warned the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and Columbus Children’s Hospital at a news conference today.
Children’s hospitals across the state today launched a statewide, grassroots effort to protect children and children’s hospitals from further cuts in Medicaid. Hospital trustees, physicians, nurses and other medical professionals joined parents, grandparents and volunteers to ask Gov. Bob Taft and the Ohio General Assembly to make children’s health a priority.
“Additional cuts proposed in Governor Taft’s budget will mean that Ohio’s children - whether covered by Medicaid or not - will face restricted access to high-quality health care,” said Andrew Carter, president of the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association.
Hospitals throughout Ohio stand to lose nearly $140 million with the passage of the governor's proposed budget. OHA is working to preserve funding for Ohio’s safety net hospitals through its Medicaid Task Force, which represents Ohio’s largest Medicaid providers, including children’s hospitals. For more information on the impact of Medicaid cuts to hospitals, visit www.ohanet.org/medicaid/ or www.ohiochildrenshospitals.org/mac/.
More Hospitals Receive Critical Access
Designation
Two additional Ohio hospitals have received Critical Access Hospital (CAH)
designation through the federal program that entitles select small,
rural hospitals to Medicare cost-based reimbursement. Hardin Memorial
Hospital in Kenton became the 16th CAH in
Ohio effective Dec. 1, 2002. The 17th CAH designation went to Bucyrus
Community Hospital effective Jan. 1. A complete list of Ohio CAHs is
available at www.ohanet.org/about_oha/cah.asp. (David
Hendershot,
davidh@ohanet.org)
DAILY NEWS CLIPS
(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, February
12 , 2003CDF Offers Resource on Children’s Issues
The Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF) has released its 2003 Briefing Guidelines on important issues that impact Ohio’s children and families. Aimed primarily at educating state policymakers who make the budget decisions affecting these issues, the guidelines are also a source of information for other organizations and the general public.
The report contains background information, data and a series of five recommendations on education, child health and childcare. The five briefing guides include: Reforming Education to Help All Children Achieve; Self-Declaration of Income Benefits Everyone; Keeping Ohio Families Working and Children Learning; Child Care Helps Shape Our Children’s Future; and Insuring Ohio Children Ensuring Ohio’s Future.
CDF is a national organization that works to educate the nation about the needs of children. It also promotes investments in children through its focus on programs and policies affecting large numbers of children. To access a complete copy of the guidelines and other Ohio state and county data, visit www.cdfohio.org. (Berna Bell, bernab@ohanet.org)
DAILY NEWS CLIPS
(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.)
Thursday,
February 13, 2003
House Passes Budget Correction Bill
The budget correction bill progresses to the Senate after being voted
through a House committee and the House floor this week. Late Tuesday
night the House Finance and Appropriations Committee voted out House
Bill 40, introduced by Rep. Charles Calvert (R-Medina), after making
several significant additions and deletions. Yesterday, the House passed
HB 40 by a vote of 68-31.
Among other changes, the House eliminated cigarette and alcohol tax increases and cuts to the Local Government Fund and education. House members disagreed with Taft administration on the need for tax increases at this time, opting to reassess revenue projections in April. The bill retains an accelerated collection of the sales tax and a transfer of up to $115.8 million in unclaimed funds. The House also transferred funds from the Budget Stabilization Fund to Medicaid to make up for the estimated 2003 shortfall with the provision that the Office of Budget and Management first seeks other possible money within the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The bill is now under consideration by the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee. Senators will review the proposal and are exploring the possibility of a temporary sales tax. OHA will continue to monitor developments for the possible impact on hospitals. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Patient Protection Campaign Launched
The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) this week launched a statewide
radio campaign to educate Ohioans about their rights under Gov. Bob Taft’s
Patient Protection Act, which allows consumers to appeal health
insurance coverage denials to independent review organizations. The ad
campaign is part of a four-week public awareness effort. In the 32
months since the program began, 1,234 reviews have been conducted,
recovering over $3.5 million in previously denied insurance benefits for
health care consumers.
Hospitals are encouraged to promote to patients their rights under the law, which was passed in the year 2000. Consumers seeking more information can call ODI’s consumer hotline toll-free at 800.686.1526 or visit www.ohioinsurance.gov. For more, visit www.ohioinsurance.gov/Newsroom/scripts/NewsRelease.asp. (Mary Gallagher, maryg@ohanet.org)
Step Into the Future
Ohio health care providers are invited to attend a FutureThink Summit
featuring well-known futurist Dr. Leland Kaiser. During this all-day
event, participants will hear Kaiser’s ideas about, and be invited to
comment on, “a” model for a new delivery of clinical care in Ohio’s
hospitals to alleviate workforce woes. Participants will also be asked
to work within groups to develop a local FutureThink plan. The summit is
March 4 at the Villa Milano Conference Center in Columbus. The cost is
$25 and the registration deadline is Feb. 28. Visit www.futurethink.org/future.htm
for more information and to register. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)
DAILY NEWS CLIPS
(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.)
Friday,
February 14, 2003
IRS Announces Offshore
Voluntary Compliance Initiative
The Internal Revenue Service has asked OHA and other business groups to
spread the word about its Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative.
Until April 15, 2003, taxpayers who have avoided paying taxes through
the improper use of offshore activities may disclose their activities to
the IRS and pay outstanding liabilities, interest and accuracy
penalties, but limit their exposure to fraud charges and penalties. The
IRS is investigating specifically the use of credit, debit and charge
cards issued by banks in Antigua, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and
other tax haven countries to avoid paying U.S. income tax. The IRS has
posted extensive information about the initiative and its ongoing
investigation in IR-2003-5 and on its Web site: www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=105689,00.html.
Providers Asked to Fight
Danger
In light of the nation’s continued focus on
patient safety and medical errors, thirteen Ohio organizations have
collaborated to form Ohioans FiRXst, an
Ohio initiative to improve patient safety. The initiative’s first
project is to eliminate the use of the five most dangerous medical
abbreviations by 2005, which include misread decimal points and symbols.
Hospital participation in the project is crucial, especially since it
will help hospitals meet Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organization patient safety standards.
OHA and the Ohio Department of Health will roll out Ohioans FiRXst during National Patient Safety Week, March 9-15. Following the launch, OHA will send member hospitals a toolkit to facilitate formation of a plan to eliminate the dangerous five abbreviations and education of hospital staff. OHA will provide pre- and post- evaluations to help hospitals track progress.
A new Web site, www.ohioansfirst.org, will be launched in conjunction with the rollout. Check the Web site in March for program information, the toolkit and other resources. More information about National Patient Safety Week and how hospitals can participate is available online at www.npsf.org/html/psaw/. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Armed Guards Used Across
Ohio
About 10 percent of Ohio hospitals employ
armed security guards, according to an unofficial survey conducted by
OHA.
Following a recent shooting incident in an Ohio hospital emergency room, OHA surveyed member hospitals to learn if they currently utilize an armed security force, and what type of training is required. Of the hospitals that responded, about a dozen said they currently have an armed security force with full training. Several hospitals indicated their facility had recently dropped their armed security force, while others anticipate adding one in the upcoming year. Most of the other respondents said their security staff carries police-level mace.
OHA surveyed over one hundred hospitals that are represented in the Ohio Society of Health Care Facilities Management, which includes engineering, environmental service, and safety and security directors. The hospitals surveyed include those of all sizes, types and locations. (David Nichols, davidn@ohanet.org)
DAILY NEWS CLIPS
(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.)