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Monday,
October 13, 2003
Gov. Bob Taft last week announced that qualified non-profit organizations, including hospitals, in 12 additional northern counties may apply for federal financial assistance to aid with costs incurred during the August blackout. Ashland, Ashtabula, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Knox, Lake, Lorain, Lucas, Portage, Summit and Trumbull Counties are now eligible.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency has scheduled Public Assistance Briefings to offer eligibility and application information and materials. The schedule for the briefings is as follows and locations are yet to be announced. Contact Carol Jacobson at 614.221.7614 or carolj@ohanet.org for more information.
Thursday October 23
Ashtabula, Huron, Lake Counties 9 a.m.
Trumbull, Geauga Counties 1 p.m.
Ashland, Knox Counties 2 p.m.
Portage, Summit Counties 5 p.m.
Friday, October 24
Lucas, Erie Counties 9 a.m.
Lorain County 1 p.m.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
One of several OHA-supported tort reform bills working its way through the Ohio General Assembly will likely head to the House for a floor vote this week. The House Commercial and Civil Law Committee last week passed an amended version House Bill 212, sponsored by Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati). It would change the rate of interest on certain contracts and judgments and the computation period for which prejudgment interest is due in certain civil actions, among other things. A companion bill, Senate Bill 98, is pending in the Senate. HB 212 is expected to be the vehicle to pass the legislation.
Committee amendments would: 1) require the county auditor to provide notice of the rate to the county’s clerk of courts, 2) clarify that the rate remains in effect until the judgment or decree is satisfied and 3) specify that judgments that are dormant can be revived only within ten years after they become dormant rather than the current 21 years. Interest would not accrue on a dormant judgment, although the interest rate in effect when the judgment was entered is applied if it’s revived within the 10-year period. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
JCAHO Seeking Applicants for Codman Award
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO) is accepting applications for the eighth annual Ernest A. Codman
Award, which recognizes excellence in the use of process and outcomes
measures to improve health care quality and safety. JCAHO-accredited
organizations may apply by obtaining an application online at
www.jcaho.org/.
Applications are due April 5, 2004. Applicants may submit any
performance measurement and improvement initiative that reflects a
significant performance improvement. The award will be presented during
a December 2004 JCAHO conference in Chicago. (Rosalie Weakland,
rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Wednesday,
October 15, 2003
CMS Implements PPS Extension
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) is working to implement the six-month extension of the increased
Medicare inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) base payment rate
for non-urban hospitals passed by U.S. Congress Sept. 30. Due to
computer system requirements and reprogramming, the extension could not
take effect on Oct. 1 as planned but between Nov. 1 and March 31,
eligible hospitals may see slightly higher pre-rated increases to
compensate for the one-month delay.
The current six-month extension protect payments for rural and “other
urban” hospitals and allows time for hospital advocates to work with
legislators to include a permanent solution to this problem, as well as
other issues important to hospitals, in the Medicare prescription drug
bill. (Charles Cataline,
charlesc@ohanet.org; Jonathan Archey,
jonathana@ohanet.org)
Hospitals Invited to Fight Hunger
The Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA), a statewide organization committed
to breaking the cycle of childhood hunger, is seeking community partners
to expand the School Breakfasts Program to feed an additional 36,000
children so they will be better prepared to excel in the classroom.
The initiative is designed to match up community organizations like schools, churches and hospitals that could assist in serving at-risk children. If your hospital is interested in adopting a school or learning more about the program, please contact Bridget Gargan at bridgetg@ohanet.org.
Thursday,
October 16, 2003
Legislation to establish a health insurance risk pool in Ohio was introduced this week. Senate Bill 136, sponsored by Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon), would create a safety net for persons unable to obtain insurance because of their medical conditions.
The Ohio Association of Health Underwriters, a supporter of the legislation, estimates between 8,000 and 11,000 individuals would participate in the pool. Eligible enrollees would pay premiums and the pool would be financed through assessments on insurers. OHA is currently monitoring the bill and will keep members apprised of its impact on providers. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Emphasis on Healthy Ohio Should Continue
According to The UnitedHealth Foundation’s 2002 study on the healthiest
U.S. citizens, America's Health: United Health Foundation State
Health Rankings 2002, Ohioans need to continue their efforts to
maintain healthy lifestyles. Maintaining its 2001 ranking of 27 among
the U.S. states, Ohio showed several areas of strength, including high
adequacy of prenatal care and a low number of infectious disease cases,
but seeks improvement in other areas. The biggest challenges include a
large smoking population, high incidence of cancer, and high risk for
heart disease.
Though Ohio ranked above neighbors Kentucky, 39, Michigan, 29, and West Virginia, 41, it faces a continuing journey toward improving the health of its citizens and communities. For more information on Ohio’s data and that of other states, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/shr2002/.
Friday,
October 17, 2003
ODPS Offers Trauma Resources
The Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS), Division of Emergency
Medical Services has released information to aid hospitals with Ohio
Trauma Registry (OTR) compliance. An instructional document, including
information on data collection and specifics on accessing the system,
data entry and security, is now available at Bricker & Eckler LLP's Web
site at
www.bricker.com/legalservices/practice/hcare/trauma/. This site also
includes a listing of Ohio trauma centers, a map of EMS/trauma
resources, a model trauma transfer agreement, trauma protocol
information, regulations, trauma boards and committees and more. Ohio
trauma centers are encouraged to view this information, and to maintain
accurate information in the trauma registry.
Additional resources, such as the OTR Data Dictionary 2003 and the OTR Database, are also available on the ODPS Web site. Visit www.ohiopublicsafety.org and click “Emergency Medical Services” and “Trauma” to access these tools. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Hospitals Lead the Way
Ohio hospitals remain at the forefront in reaching out to their
communities. Through special collaborations and advocacy efforts, and
the use of creativity and technology, they continue to serve as leaders.
Akron General Medical Center was named Akron’s Most Preferred Hospital for Overall Quality and Image by the National Research Corporation (NRC). NRC awards consumer choice award to hospitals in more than 100 markets throughout the U.S. Mercy Memorial Hospital is making strides in its community as well, collaborating with the Champaign Family YMCA to expand and enhance rehabilitative services in Champaign County. They broke ground for a 3,000 square foot addition to the YMCA this month, and a portion of the addition will house the hospital’s outpatient physical medicine services, including physical and occupational therapy. The hospital will purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the facility.
Also breaking new ground, Columbus Children’s Hospital’s Web site was named Best Health Care Web Site by the Web Marketing association, receiving high scores in every category: design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity and navigation. The site provides information for patients, families, potential employees, volunteers, physicians’ offices and the new media.
The Ohio Society of Association Executives also honored The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association with an Achievement Award for its Medicaid advocacy campaign. (Mary Yost, maryy@ohanet.org)