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Monday,
January 12, 2004
Hospitals are invited to register for a pollution prevention and waste assessment training program offered by OHA’s Environmental Leadership Council Feb. 18-20 at Robinson Memorial Hospital, Ravenna. The intensive hands-on workshop will help hospitals design and implement plans for pollution prevention within the facility, typically leading to a reduction in hospital waste stream expense and improved regulatory compliance. Registration is limited on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the fee for the workshop is $100. More information and a registration form are available online at www.ohanet.org/p2/events/. (Susan Zabo, susanz@ohanet.org)
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Hospitals are still able to determine whether to allow weapons in their facilities under the concealed carry weapons legislation recently signed by Gov. Bob Taft. The legislation does not become effective until April, and within the next week OHA will issue a bulletin providing additional information for member hospitals on the opt out provision.
Because many groups were seeking exemptions from the bill, legislators opted to include language in the bill allowing any private entity to exempt itself. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jim Aslanides (R-Coshocton), said, “absolutely nothing in the bill preempts property rights of citizens or private entities.” The limited list of exemptions outlined in statute includes public buildings, which was a request by the State Highway Patrol. Other statutory exemptions include day care centers and establishments serving alcohol. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Voter Information at Your Fingertips
A new feature on OHA’s CapWiz Web site enables you to get all the
information you need on the upcoming primary elections on March 2. Visit
http://capwiz.com/ohanet/officials/state/?state=OHA and click on the
“Elections & Candidates” tab to gain access to presidential candidate
information, races in your district, and polling locations. Visitors to
the site can even register to vote online. And don’t forget the other
great features of the CapWiz site, including information on local,
state, and federal lawmakers and the ability to easily write, fax or
e-mail your state and federal legislators. (Stacey Walton,
staceyw@ohanet.org)
Wednesday,
January 14, 2004
CMS Cost Reporting Strain Eased
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) has clarified its earlier directive requiring hospitals to report
information on uncompensated care they provide for Medicare cost
reporting periods ending on or after April 30, 2003. Ohio hospitals may
be ahead of the game compared to other states because Ohio’s Hospital
Care Assurance Program already defines uncompensated care similarly to
the new CMS definition. The CMS clarification is available on the
American Hospital Association Web site at
www.hospitalconnect.com/aha/members_only/content/031029costreportresponse.pdf.
(Charles Cataline,
charlesc@ohanet.org)
Thursday,
January 15, 2004
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is seeking review of a proposed new 2005 standard and element of performance that addresses infection control. JCAHO requests organizations and individuals in the ambulatory health care, behavioral health care, home care, hospital, long-term care, assisted living, and laboratory programs participating in this field evaluation to complete their field evaluations using JCAHO’s Web site at www.jcaho.org/accredited+organizations/hospitals/standards/field+reviews/ic_field_review.htm. The field evaluation is also available by contacting Joyce B. Marshall in the Division of Research at 630.792.5934 or at jmarshall@jcaho.org. The deadline for completing the survey is Feb. 13. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Friday, January 16, 2004
Increased Reimbursement Lets Hospitals Tackle Prevention, Education
Going into 2004, hospitals will benefit from the largest changes to the Medicare program since its 1965 inception. This legislation will means hundreds of millions of dollars to Ohio hospitals over the next 10 years, helping to fill the reimbursement gap hospitals face in providing quality care and services to their communities and allowing them to delegate funds to other crucial programs and equipment for all Ohioans.
Though hospitals still do not receive 100 percent reimbursement for Medicare or Medicaid services provided, the recently passed legislation brings it closer to the mark.
When hospitals receive more adequate reimbursement levels, they are able to institute and maintain programs to help community members recognize the importance of healthy lifestyles and commit to making health-wise choices. These programs improve the quality of life in their communities while reducing the money spent to accommodate and treat patients dealing with obesity, smoking and other preventable risk factors. In 2000, the cost of obesity in the U.S. was estimated at more than $117 billion according to CDC. The direct medical costs associates with smoking total more than $75 billion annually, with 14 percent of all U.S. Medicaid expenditures going to smoking related illnesses. For more information, see OHA’s January Healthbeat at www.ohanet.org/healthbeat/2004/0104.htm.