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Monday, June 28, 2004
Three major themes emerged last week during the Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s investigation into hospital billing and collections and in a separate hearing on the tax-exempt charity status of hospitals and other non-profit organizations in the House Ways and Means Committee.
The separate, but related, investigations highlighted the importance of transparency in hospital pricing and good communication of hospital payment systems, equity in hospital charges for the insured and uninsured, and avoidance of overly aggressive collection practices. Both committees did recognize hospitals’ financial challenges and their role as community assets, but emphasized the need for hospitals to play their part in addressing the problem.
Hearings on the tax-exempt status of non-profit organizations will continue in the Ways and Means Committee. The Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to issue a report to the full committee this year. OHA member hospitals can access more information about the issue, talking points and more in OHA Bulletin 04-011 at www.ohanet.org/bulletins/. OHA will keep members apprised as the issue continues to develop. (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org)
OHA Comments on Stark II, Phase II Regulations
OHA last week sent a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the second phase of CMS’ final
regulations addressing physician referrals to entities with which they
have a financial relationship, which was published in the March 26
Federal Register.
CMS says the interim final regulation is intended to protect beneficiaries and taxpayers from abusive referral patterns, but OHA argues the regulation would cause undue burden on hospitals and interfere with patients’ access to care if modifications are not made. OHA commented on two major issues within the regulation -- the physician recruitment exception and the obstetrical malpractice insurance subsidies exception. Although OHA supports the physician recruitment exception, it requests CMS reconsider its interpretation of income guarantees and include the recruitment of non-physician practitioners in the exception, ensuring patients’ access to care in many communities. In addition, OHA requests CMS revise the exception for obstetric malpractice insurance subsidies in health shortage areas to permit compensation for all physician specialties in all areas.
OHA, in conjunction with Bricker & Eckler, LLP, will hold a related educational program, “The Stark Reality,” July 23 in Dublin. Register for the full-day conference at www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp. For more information about CMS’ final Stark II, Phase II regulations, go to www.cms.hhs.gov. (Mary Gallagher, maryg@ohanet.org)
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Rising medical malpractice insurance rates are detrimental to the state’s physicians, medical students and residents, according to testimony of physicians from three major Ohio medical schools during yesterday’s Ohio Medical Malpractice Commission meeting.
Physicians from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Akron General Medical Center and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine testified that rising liability rates are causing doctors to stop providing certain high-risk services, such as obstetrics, or to pull out of the state altogether.
The crisis has also led medical school faculty and mentoring physicians to reduce time spent with medical students and to limit them to less risky procedures because of increased liability concerns. In turn, Ohio’s medical students are graduating with less experience with riskier procedures. New doctors are avoiding specialties such as primary care or internal medicine, citing liability insurance and student loan repayment as too costly to balance against the lower-paying salary of certain specialties. Additionally, fewer residents and doctors are drawn to rural areas, which tend to pay less than urban areas.
The commission, created out of last year’s Senate Bill 281, is required to submit a report to the Ohio General Assembly by April 10, 2005, about the effect of the legislation and problems and issues surrounding the medical malpractice insurance crisis. The commission’s next meeting in July will focus on charitable immunity issues. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
CEOs on the Move
Cathleen K. Nelson, president and chief
executive officer of St. Charles Mercy Hospital, Oregon, was
elected last week as president of United Health Partners (UHP), a
consortium of 15 hospitals in the Northwest Ohio region.
Nelson is leaving the position she has held since 1996 to spearhead the strategies of UHP, which are focused on enhancing quality care, improving operations, strengthening leadership abilities, and achieving cost efficiencies in the delivery of health care services for its member hospitals. Carol Whittaker, R.N., vice president of patient care for the metro Toledo hospital division of Mercy Health Partners, has been named interim president of St. Charles Mercy Hospital.
James R. Pancoast this month began his role as president and chief executive officer of Good Samaritan Hospital, Dayton. Doug Deck, the former president and chief executive officer of the hospital, will continue as president and chief executive officer of Good Samaritan’s parent organization, Samaritan Health Partners, and as executive vice president of Premier Health Partners. Pancoast joined Good Samaritan two years ago as executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Wednesday,
June 30, 2004
OHIC Downgraded
The OHIC Insurance Company was downgraded by A.M. Best yesterday from B
to C++ because of poor operating performance. OHIC’s parent, New
York-based Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (MLMIC) was
downgraded from B to B-.
In a written statement, OHIC President and CEO Raymond Mazzotta acknowledges OHIC’s financial problems, but notes the company’s aggressive measures to return to profitability, including exiting states outside Ohio and stand-alone nursing homes, raising premium rates and increasing utilization of reinsurance. Mazzotta recently reported to OHA’s Small and Rural Hospital Committee that OHIC’s financial situation is stable and 2004 trends have been favorable for the company. OHIC’s statement is available at www.ohic.com/News/News.aspx. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
OHA Center for Education
Don't miss out on "Optimal Internal Auditing Techniques For APC Revenue
Integrity," offered by the OHA Center for Education. The two-day program
is July 14-15 at the Wyndham Dublin Hotel. Visit
www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp or call 614.221.7614
for more information.
CORRECTION: In yesterday’s CEOs on the Move, Doug Deck’s name was inadvertently misspelled. We apologize for the error. Doug Deck is president and chief executive officer of Samaritan Health Partners and executive vice president of Premier Health Partners.
Thursday,
July 1, 2004
More than 1,100 Ohio hospital leaders gathered in Columbus June 14-15 to network and attend educational sessions at OHA’s 89th Annual Meeting. OHA would like to thank all participants as well as the 121 exhibiting companies, 42 corporate partners and OHA associates for making this year’s event a success.
The 2004 meeting offered 72 educational sessions on topics key to hospitals such as finance, grantwriting and disaster preparedness. Participants earned continuing education credits and attended various luncheons and other activities, and Joan Liwag, Fort Hamilton Hospital, and Isabelle Johns, Fairfield Medical Center, also won $500 in the “Visit the Exhibits Drawing.” Keynote speakers Dr. Paul H. Brenner, M.D., Ph.D., author and the former moderator of the PBS series Healing Through Communication, and Peg Neuhauser, president of PCN Associates, spoke about the personal commitment of hospital employees and how to keep this dedication strong.
Many health care workers also attended the Recognition Dinner held Monday evening to recognize the contributions of key individuals and hospitals to their communities. For more on the award winners, visit www.ohanet.org/media/news_release/2004/awards061504.htm. Stay tuned throughout the next year for information on the 2005 Annual Meeting, which will be held for the first time at the Hilton Columbus, in the Easton area, on June 20-21. For more information on OHA’s ongoing educational opportunities, visit www.ohanet.org/education/.
BWC To Offer Free Fall Seminars
The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will offer a new crop of
seminars on cost-containment strategies and workplace safety initiatives
at its fall Workers’ Compensation University. The free seminars are held
throughout the state and provide employers and the medical community
with ways to protect their employees, return injured workers to work,
and save time and money.
The sessions will be held Sept. 9, Dayton; Sept. 14, Akron; Sept. 16, Cleveland; Sept. 20, Columbus; Sept. 23, Toledo; and Sept. 27-28, Cincinnati. Beginning in August, log on to www.ohiobwc.com to register or call 1-800-466-6292. Those interested in information on exhibiting at a Workers’ Compensation University should also visit www.ohiobwc.com.
CORRECTION: OHA Center for Education
The OHA Center for Education session, "Optimal Internal Auditing
Techniques For APC Revenue Integrity," noted in yesterday’s newsletter
will be held July 14 at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls and July
15 is at the Clarion Hotel in Dublin (formerly the Wyndham Dublin).
Visit
www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp or call
614.221.7614 for more information.
Friday,
July 2, 2004
In addition to their health care services, Ohio’s hospitals and their associates serve as leaders in their communities through the many services and contributions they make beyond providing basic care.
Clinton Memorial Hospital, Wilmington, is among the many Ohio hospitals improving ED services. The hospital’s emergency services will expand to 22 private rooms and will include a new fast track system when the project is completed later this year. A Clinton Memorial Hospital staffer and three of her peers from across the state were honored this spring for an article they co-wrote on “Generational Diversity - The Nexters.” The article, written by Janet Walt, a surgical services education coordinator at the hospital, Sherry Clausing, Grant Medical Center, Columbus, Doris Kurtz, The Jewish Hospital, Cincinnati, and Judith Prendeville, Mount Carmel St. Ann’s, Westerville, was chosen as the national award winner in the education category of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses’ 2003 Journal Writers Contest.
Ohio hospitals are also being recognized for their excellence in specific health care areas. Summa Health System was recognized by the American Association for Respiratory Care as a quality respiratory care provider. And Summa’s Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital was recognized for its Pain Management Center, which was recently awarded accreditation from the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
And Ohio hospitals are not only offering patients high quality health care services, but also the ability to connect with their families. Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, is offering patients private Web sites, dubbed “CarePages,” where families can share news and receive messages when children stay in the hospital. (Mary Sterenberg, marys@ohanet.org)