As Ohio’s hospitals continue efforts to prevent, recognize or treat possible cases of monkeypox, they can access up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/index.htm. Until further notice, Ohio hospitals should refer to CDC guidelines regarding use of the smallpox vaccine in preventing and treating possible cases of monkeypox. Hospitals can find additional information from the following resources:

• Ohio Department of Health
  www.odh.state.oh.us/
• Ohio Department of Agriculture
  www.state.oh.us/agr/anim-monkeypox-index.html

(Carol Jacobson, carolj@ohanet.org)

The task force includes 35 members: 18 appointed representatives, two House majority members, two House minority members, two Senate majority members, two senate minority members, the director of health (or his designee) and eight members of the Ohio Pain Advisory Task Force. Members will serve until March 24, 2005. (Stacey Walton, staceyw@ohanet.org)

Under current law, a hospital losing a case could be made to pay 10 percent interest on the damages dating from the time of the incident -- this interest in some cases amounting to more than the damage award. Current law also calculates prejudgment interest on future damage amounts such as projected future medical expenses. SB98 places the interest at the federal short-term rate, currently 1.25 percent, plus 3 percent. Additionally, the bill provides the prejudgment interest only accrues from the date the lawsuit is filed or written notice is given, and the bill prohibits prejudgment interest on future damages. OHA supports SB98 and will provide members with updates on its movement. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

To request additional information on the awards or application materials call OSAE at 614.846.0998.

Thursday, June 19, 2003
Legislators Restore Medicaid Eligibility, Coverage
After several lengthy and late nights, the conference committee today passed House Bill 95, the budget for fiscal years 2004-2005, and the Ohio House and Senate are expected to vote on the bill tonight. Among other things, the bill restores dental, vision, podiatry services and family coverage. In part due to the advocacy efforts of OHA, Ohio’s hospitals and the Family Coverage Coalition, health care services for more than 50,000 low-income working Ohioans will not be reduced or eliminated. By not reducing eligibility, Ohio will also be eligible for the more than $770 million in federal funding recently allocated to state Medicaid programs. OHA also supported the reinstatement of optional services because of the strain that eliminating them would put on Ohio's emergency departments.

Friends of Ohio Hospitals 2003 Campaign Underway
OHA’s political action committee, Friends of Ohio Hospitals, is in full swing after kicking off its 2003 fundraising campaign in February. More than 460 hospital employees, board members and others have contributed over $42,000, reaching 40 percent of the $105,000 fundraising goal established earlier this year by the PAC Steering Committee.

Friends of Ohio Hospitals allows hospital employees, Board members and other supporters to pool dollars and make political contributions to elected officials who have responsible health care platforms. This year, the OHA PAC has made over $38,000 in contributions to state lawmakers and the American Hospital Association for federal advocacy efforts. Hospital CEOs are asked to contact OHA today if they have not yet started their 2003 hospital campaign. (Stacey Walton, staceyw@ohanet.org)

Hospital Receives Critical Access Designation
An additional Ohio hospital has been designated as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) through the federal program that entitles select small, rural hospitals to Medicare cost-based reimbursement. The designation of Selby General Hospital as a CAH brings the total in Ohio to 20. A complete list of Ohio CAHs is available at www.ohanet.org/about_oha/cah.asp. (David Hendershot, davidh@ohanet.org)

Friday, June 20, 2003
Hospital Comments Needed
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is soliciting hospital input during the development of a universal protocol for preventing wrong site, wrong procedure and wrong person surgery.

OHA Hits the Mark
OHA’s 88th Annual Meeting wrapped up June 10 after two days of networking and informational sessions for more than 1400 attendees. OHA would like to thank all participants as well as the 94 exhibiting companies, 29 corporate partners and OHA associates for their contributions to the success of this year’s meeting.

The 93 educational sessions focused on the most critical and challenging issues facing health care organizations and employees in Ohio, ranging from access to care and disaster preparedness to patient safety and workforce development. The sessions also offered continuing education credits for Ohio physicians, nurses, pharmacists, attorneys, accountants, nursing home administrators, social workers, health information managers and, for the first time this year, health information management practitioners, professional coders, medical staff services, physical therapy and occupational therapy associates.

Attendees also had the opportunity to gather workforce advice from keynoter Dr. Jim Harris, award-winning author of books on recruiting and retaining quality associates, and to learn about life-work balance from keynoter Mary LoVerde, president of Life Balance, Inc. Many health care workers also attended the Recognition Dinner held Monday evening to recognize the contributions of key individuals and hospitals to their communities. Stay tuned throughout the next year for information on OHA’s 2004 Annual Meeting. (Joe Ruggles, joer@ohanet.org)