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Monday, August 25, 2003
Tobacco Foundation Targets Secondhand Smoke
The Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation (TUPCF) is taking a stand against not only smoking, but secondhand smoke as well. TUPCF is currently seeking proposals for projects pursuing community-wide ordinances that will reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in public buildings and worksites by creating new clean indoor air policies or enhancing existing policies.

TUPCF plans to implement the 12-month pilot projects at the municipality or county level in multiple Ohio communities, with the best strategies to be replicated throughout the state.

Applicants must submit a letter of intent to TUPCF by the close of business Wednesday, Aug. 27 and their proposal by 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15. For more information, visit www.standohio.org or call TUPCF at 614.644.1114. (Lynne Ayres, lynnea@ohanet.org)

OPSI Survey Deadline Approaches
The Aug. 30 deadline to respond to the Ohio Patient Safety Institute (OPSI) survey, assessing the type and level of technology Ohio organizations are implementing in their facilities, is rapidly approaching. OPSI will use the survey results to develop resources to meet the current needs of health care organizations. The survey is available online at www.ohiopatientsafety.org/survey/. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)

Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Medical Board Approves New Rules
The State Medical Board of Ohio issued an order to adopt new Rules of the Ohio Administrative Code related to office-based surgery at its August meeting. The Rules include a definition of terms, general provisions, standards for surgery using moderate sedation/analgesia, liposuction in the office setting and accreditation of office setting. The rules were reviewed by OHA's Quality Committee during the Medical Board's development. Though the Rules do not directly apply to hospitals, definitions in these rules may not appear in other laws or rules and would therefore be beneficial for reference.

The Board approved Rules 4731-25-01, 4731-25-02, 4731-25-03, 4731-25-05 and 4731-25-07 and directed that the effective date of their adoption be Jan. 1, 2004. The text of each new Rule is available online at www5.state.oh.us/med/rules/recentrules.htm. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)

Mark Your Calendars
Sept. 16 is “Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day,” an opportunity to encourage family members and friends to visit their physicians or at least schedule an appointment. Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Minority Health, this campaign seeks to promote regular and preventive health care. This effort is the focus of “Closing the Health Gap,” a nationwide public awareness campaign to decrease the health disparities among minorities.

For more information or to see what is planned in your community, call the Office of Minority Health at 1.800.444.6472. More information, as well as promotional information and a list of state and community partners, are available at www.healthgap.omhrc.gov/consumer.htm.

Wednesday, August 27, 2003
HCAP Schedule Released
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has released the final assessment and payment schedule for the Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP), which has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The final schedule differs from the original projected schedule released in June. Final assessment notices are being sent to hospitals today. The schedule is:

First assessment (half the total amount) due Sept. 10

First payment (half the total amount) paid to hospitals Sept. 24

Second assessment (remaining amount) due Oct. 1

Second payment (remaining amount) paid to hospitals Oct. 15

The schedule and more information about HCAP are online at www.ohanet.org/hcap/. Watch for OHA Bulletin 03-017 being sent this week for more information. (Ryan Biles, ryanb@ohanet.org)

ODJFS Agrees to Pull Re-Bill Rule
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is holding back a proposed rule that would have banned hospitals from re-billing selected outpatient services when an inpatient admission has been denied for medical necessity. Following OHA testimony opposing the rule earlier this month, ODJFS is considering OHA’s concerns and states it will refile the rule with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review later this fall if necessary.

According to ODJFS, the proposed changes were intended to eliminate the cost of processing hard copy re-bills. In its testimony, OHA recommended the department seek an electronic media claims (EMC) processing alternative and offered assistance in establishing a methodology that is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Standard Data and Code Set, due to be implemented this October. ODJFS reports it is holding back the proposed rule while it looks into whether the EMC compromise will work. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)

Thursday, August 28, 2003
OHA Takes Med Mal Discussion on the Road
To help OHA and Ohio hospitals get back into the medical malpractice insurance game, OHA will conduct several regional meetings this fall focused on the creation of a new hospital-owned medical malpractice insurance company, recently approved by the OHA Board of Trustees.

OHA will review and discuss formation and capitalization of the company, the corporate structure, ownership and business plan, along with other related issues. Meetings will be held:

Sept.15, 3 - 4 p.m., Dayton

Sept.18, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Columbus

Sept. 25, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Cincinnati

Sept. 26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Perrysburg

Sept. 30, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Cleveland

Sept. 30, 2 - 4 p.m., Akron

To register, contact Rhonda Major-Mack at rhondam@ohanet.org or fax the registration form, available online at www.ohanet.org/regional.pdf, to 614.358.2762 by Sept. 8. More information about the medical malpractice crisis in Ohio and new hospital-owned company is available at www.ohanet.org/med-mal/. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

Trauma Reports Ready for Review
As required by state law, the State Board of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has assembled reports on topics related to EMS and trauma that are available for hospital review.

Am. Sub. House Bill 138, trauma legislation passed in the year 2000, requires the EMS board to study and report on seven distinct topics including:

Roles non-trauma hospitals play in the statewide system.

Status and needs of EMS and pediatric trauma care.

Status and needs of EMS and adult trauma care.

Causes and impact of trauma on minority populations.

Timely autopsies and data reporting on appropriate trauma victims.

Feasibility of recording and reporting information to the state trauma registry using portable electronic devices.

Training of health care providers, particularly in rural areas, for trauma, basic and pre-hospital life support.

Hospitals may request a copy of the preliminary reports from either Bridget Gargan at OHA, bridgetg@ohanet.org, or State Trauma Coordinator Michael Glenn at mglenn@dps.state.oh.us. Comments and feedback on the reports must be received by Sept. 2.

Friday, August 29, 2003
ODH Responds to OHA Concerns with Proposed Hemophilia Program
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has agreed to address several OHA concerns with the creation of a hemophilia insurance premium assistance program, which would be administered by ODH.

During a Public Health Council meeting this week, OHA first noted its support of the program’s value to persons with bleeding disorders, their families, hospitals, state government and Ohio citizens. Given the cost of treatment, which can run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, the assistance program would allow affected persons to maintain private insurance coverage and avoid costly inpatient admissions. It would also avoid burdening the Medicaid program with the expense and allow hospitals to use charity care dollars for other needy populations.

However, OHA urged further deliberation about the program with hospital representatives and ODH’s Hemophilia Advisory Subcommittee to create an effective and workable program. OHA expressed concern with the proposal to reimburse patients only after they have paid insurance premiums, an option not affordable to most of this population. OHA also recommended increasing the income eligibility cap higher than 185 percent of poverty, along with other suggestions on income requirements and eligibility.

In response to OHA concerns, ODH told the Public Health Council it would meet with hospital representatives in the coming weeks and discuss possible revisions. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

OHA Offers Free Mercury Thermometer Exchange
Celebrate Pollution Prevention Week with OHA and exchange your mercury thermometer for a free, new digital one, while supplies last.

Beginning Sept. 16, OHA will exchange your thermometers in the National City Plaza Mezzanine, located at 155 E. Broad St. in downtown Columbus, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. through Sept. 18. Hospital employees and the general public are encouraged to participate by bringing mercury thermometers enclosed in two plastic Ziploc bags.

By removing mercury thermometers from your home, you can eliminate a primary source of exposure-broken thermometers. Mercury has proven hazardous to family health and the environment and can cause damage to the nervous system, liver and kidneys in young children. (Susan Zabo, susanz@ohanet.org)

Prevention Combats West Nile
With 441 probable and confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Ohio in 2002 and the appearance of additional cases this summer, health care workers and others are reminded that through caution the disease often can be prevented. The Ohio Department of Health recommends the following:

Avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn whenever possible

Wear socks, shoes, long pants and light-sleeved shirts in light colors when mosquitoes are active.

Use mosquito repellent according to label instructions.

Close windows and doors and maintain secure screens.

Eliminate mosquito breeding sites by removing discarded tires and water-holding containers from the property, cleaning gutters, maintaining pools, pool covers, bird baths and any other items that may collect water.

Help remind neighbors of the dangers of standing water.

For more information on West Nile virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q&a.htm.