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Monday, August 4, 2003
Schedule Set for BWC ‘Workers’ Comp U,’ OHA Medicare Billing Seminar
The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has announced the dates and locations for the popular annual Workers’ Comp University (WCU 2003).

Sept. 9 - Veterans’ Memorial Civic and Convention Center, Lima

Sept. 12 - Youngstown State University

Sept. 17 - Dayton Convention Center

Sept. 19 - Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center, Cambridge

Sept. 24 - John S. Knight Center, Akron

Sept. 26 - Shawnee State University, Portsmouth

Sept. 30 - Cleveland Convention Center

Oct. 7 - SeaGate Convention Centre, Toledo

Oct. 9 - Sharonville Convention Center

Oct. 14 - Columbus Convention Center

Additional information on WCU 2003 and online registration is available at www.ohiobwc.com/bwccommon/brochureware/wcu/default.asp.

Mark your calendars, too, for the annual Medicare billing seminar co-sponsored by AdminaStar Federal and OHA. The programs will be held Nov. 10 at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg; Nov. 14 at the Embassy Suites in Cincinnati; Nov. 17 at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls; and Nov. 21 at the Airport Radisson, Columbus. Additional information and registration materials will be mailed later this month and posted to the OHA Web page at www.ohanet.org. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)

OPSI Surveying Hospital Technology
Due to an increase in the number of inquiries the Ohio Patient Safety Institute (OPSI) is receiving concerning computerization, OPSI is conducting a survey to assess the type and level of technology Ohio organizations are implementing in their facilities. This information will assist OPSI, a statewide effort to improve patient safety in Ohio, in developing resources aligned with the current needs of health care organizations. The survey will be available online until Aug. 30 and is accessible at www.ohiopatientsafety.org/survey/. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)

Tuesday, August 5, 2003
New Slate of Med Mal Bills Introduced
A string of new bills intended to stabilize Ohio’s wobbly medical malpractice insurance market were introduced last week by Sen. Eric Fingerhut (D-Cleveland).

Senate Bill 111 would re-create and fund the operation of the Joint Underwriting Association.

Senate Bill 112 would establish a five-year term for medical malpractice insurance policies and limit premium increases during that period.

Senate Bill 113 would create the Medical Malpractice Insurance Review Commission, to be funded through assessments on insurance companies and health insuring corporations.

Senate Bill 114 would form a non-profit corporation controlled by and made up of physicians designed to assist physicians in obtaining medical malpractice insurance.

Although legislation sponsored by the minority party - in this case the Democrats - seldom becomes law, this slate of bills is likely to spur a healthy debate among lawmakers. OHA is still evaluating the legislation for impact on Ohio’s hospitals and the state’s medical malpractice market in general. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org; Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)

Wednesday, August 6, 2003
CMS Releases Inpatient Rates
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last week released final rules on the federal fiscal year 2004 payment rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities and Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system (IHPPS). Both rules were published in the Federal Register Aug. 1 and take effect Oct. 1. They are available at www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a030801c.html.

CMS will increase the inpatient rehab payment rate by 3.2 percent, and has made some relatively minor changes to policies and definitions. However, the most controversial issue-whether and how CMS would alter the “75 percent rule”-is not addressed. CMS states it will release a separate proposed rule with comment period due to the intense public interest in its decision.

As required by law, CMS will increase the IHPPS standardized amounts by 3.4 percent-the full market basket-and the final rule lists separate standardized amounts for large urban and other areas. There is a proposal to revert to one standardized amount for all hospitals in the omnibus Medicare bill pending before Congress, but it is not at all certain whether the bill will move before Oct. 1.

As before, CMS is making quite a few changes to the IHPPS diagnosis related groupings (DRGs) and the final rule includes changes to the Long-Term Care Hospital DRGs, which also go in to effect Oct. 1.

More information is available in OHA Bulletins 03-014 and 03-015, available to OHA members online at www.ohanet.org/bulletins/. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)

Seminar Focused on Excellence Approaching
As part of its 2003 annual conference, the Ohio Award for Excellence (OAE) is holding a special pre-conference for health care professionals Sept. 10. Practical Strategies for Addressing Critical Issues in Healthcare will help hospitals implement the criteria used by OAE to evaluate other service industries. Featured speakers are CEO Randy Arnett and Medical Director Kendall Stewart, M.D., from Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth; and COO Cathy Leary, Carole Hackett and Nancy Corl from Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. For more, visit www.ohanet.org/oae.pdf.

As part of the two-day conference, Grant Medical Center, Columbus, Aultman Hospital, Canton, and HomeReach of OhioHealth, Columbus will be presented with a 2003 Ohio Award for Excellence.

A highlight of the meeting is keynote speaker Sister Mary Jean Ryan of SSM Health Care, St. Louis, Missouri. SSM Health Care was the first health care organization to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which was awarded to SSM in 2002.

The full conference runs from Sept. 10-12 at the Radisson Airport Hotel & Conference Center in Columbus. Visit www.oae.org to register online. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)

Thursday, August 7, 2003
SCHIP Funds Return to States
The U.S. Senate this week passed legislation that will allow states to retain a portion of their unused State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funds. House Resolution 2854, co-sponsored by Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain), allows states to keep 1.2 billion in unspent funds from fiscal years (FY) 1998-1999 and half of unspent 2.7 billion from FY 2000-2001, with the other half going to states that used all of their funding. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is currently analyzing the impact of this legislation on Ohio’s SCHIP funding.

SCHIP is a program created in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 for the children of families that do not have private insurance but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. The number of children enrolled in SCHIP nationwide has grown from 1 million in 1998 to 5.3 million in 2002, providing needed coverage to America’s children. The American Hospital Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation kicked off their annual Medicaid and SCHIP enrollment campaign July 31, working to improve coverage for the 41 million uninsured Americans-8 million of them children. The campaign highlights successful efforts such as Toledo-Lucas County CareNet, a collaboration of local hospitals, the cities of Toledo and Oregon, the local health department and others to provide critical health care coverage for area low-income residents. (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org; Berna Bell, bernab@ohanet.org)

CMS Releases 2004 Outpatient Proposed Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week released its proposed rule outlining changes to the Medicare outpatient prospective payment system (PPS) for calendar year 2004. The final rule, to be published around Nov. 1, would take effect Jan. 1, 2004.

The proposed rule, to be published in the Aug. 12 Federal Register, provides for an outpatient PPS rate increase of 3.8, the estimated full market basket rate of inflation of 3.5 percent mandated by law, plus 0.3 percent for changes to the new technology pool. It also extends the "dampening rule" put in place in 2003, meaning that certain ambulatory payment classifications that would decrease by more than 15 percent in 2004 would be shielded from significant losses.

The target for total outlier payments would remain at 2 percent of total outpatient spending, but two separate outlier thresholds would be created-one for hospitals and one for community mental health centers. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)

Posters Help Patients Prevent Medical Errors
In an effort to help patients prevent medical errors, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Hospital Association and the American Medical Association are teaming to distribute 5 Steps to Safer Health Care posters and fact sheets. Hospitals nationwide should receive the free informational materials this week. The posters advise patients to: voice doubts or concerns, keep and bring a list of all current medications to doctors and pharmacists, get the results of any tests and procedures, talk to a doctor about hospitals that fit their needs and ensure a clear understanding of needed surgeries. The poster and other related information is available at www.ahrq.gov/consumer/5steps.htm.

Friday, August 8, 2003
Trauma Coordinators' Workshop Scheduled
Trauma coordinators still have time to register for basic and advanced courses through the American Trauma Society (ATS). The scheduled dates are: basic, Aug. 21 and 22, and advanced, Aug. 23. Sessions will be held at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Columbus. Please call ATS, 1.800.556.7890, or e-mail, atstrauma@aol.com, to register. For more information visit www.amtrauma.org.

OHA Center for Education
Don’t miss the following educational opportunities offered by the OHA Center for Education. More information is available at www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp or by calling 614.221.7614.

Grappling with Grants: a workshop for health care grant seekers, Aug. 14 - Wyndham Dublin Hotel, Dublin. Speakers will emphasize proposal planning and the evaluation/outcomes section, strategic packaging of the proposal, and where to search for funding sources.
New Dimension for Hospital Medical Staff: Medical Staff
Engagement in the New JCAHO Accreditation Process, Peer Review and Credentialing Practices, Aug. 21 - Wyndham Dublin Hotel, Dublin.