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Monday,
August 30, 2004
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this month released its final rule for the 2005 Medicare inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS), which included changes to the long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) prospective payment system.
The proposed rule first required LTACHs within a host hospital to satisfy a provision stating only 25 percent of its population could come from the host hospital in order to receive full payments for Medicare services. However, the final rule, available in the Aug. 11 Federal Register, defers immediate action on significant LTACH policy changes but will phase in the 25 percent quota over the next four years. OHA, the American Hospital Association and members of Congress sent comment letters to CMS opposing the 25 percent quota earlier this summer.
An analysis of the final rule, prepared by Lawrence S. Goldberg, Deloitte’s Director of Washington National Affairs for Health Care, was attached to OHA Bulletin 04-015 and mailed to members Aug. 13. OHA will hold its annual review of Medicare and Medicaid policy and payment changes on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Villa Milano in Columbus. Additional information and registration materials will be released later this summer. (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org)
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
The Ohio Patient Safety Institute (OPSI), a statewide effort to improve the safety of patients in Ohio, has been accepted to the Patient Safety Improvement Corps (PSIC) program to receive patient safety education and engage in a year-long patient safety project.
A partnership of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Veterans Administration, the program provides education for the selected participants on:
With the program’s support, OPSI will develop an error identification and analysis process using existing error databases to identify statewide or regional patient safety improvement projects and track success over time. Along with participation in PSIC, OPSI provides patient safety resources and spearheads other activities to positively impact the safety of patients in Ohio. OPSI is a subsidiary of the Ohio Health Council, which was founded by the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, and the Ohio Osteopathic Association. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Wednesday,
September 1, 2004
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has just issued revised wage index tables for the Fiscal Year 2005 Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule published in the Aug. 11 Federal Register, due to what CMS is calling technical errors. According to an initial American Hospital Association analysis, the CMS action will impact close to 500 hospitals, including 20 Ohio hospitals.
The wage index data are crucial for those hospitals considering whether to terminate or reactivate their reclassification requests for FY 2005 and those applying for reclassification for FY 2006. Hospitals also depend upon CMS' data tables to calculate Medicare revenue projections for FY 2005. Reclassification requests for FY 2006 are to due to the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board today, Sept.1. An extension is extremely unlikely. The new tables are available at www.cms.hhs.gov/providers/hipps/ippswage.asp. (Charles Ca
taline, charlesc@ohanet.org)Testimony Heard on Newborn Screening Fee Increase
Representing Ohio’s hospitals, an OHA representative testified at a
public hearing this week against a proposed increase in the cost of
newborn genetic screening kits. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
proposed a nearly 34 percent increase in the cost of newborn genetic
screening kits, raising the costs from $33.75 to $45.16 and Tuesday’s
hearing centered on the $9.16 of the increase that will support ODH’s
regional genetic and sickle cell programs.
Though hospitals support the genetics program, OHA requested that ODH withdraw the fee increase and called upon the governor and legislature in next year’s biennial budget to move funding for the genetic screening program from the present fee-based mechanism to one funded by the general revenue fund. This would allow the genetic testing program, a public health program, to be funded by public.
A hearing on Sept. 2 before the Public Health Council involves the remaining $2.25 increase to pay for an additional genetic disorder lab test done by ODH. OHA previously expressed concern with the funding mechanism because hospitals with labor-delivery services subsidize the program due to inadequate reimbursement from Medicaid and uninsured mothers. To view the pending rules, visit www.odh.state.oh.us/Rules/rulespend.html. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
Thursday,
September 2, 2004
A summary of clerks of common pleas courts' reports of medical malpractice lawsuits pending in 2003 was presented at last week’s Ohio Medical Malpractice Commission meeting.
The summary showed over 2,600 lawsuits were reported, of which 2,490 were medical and the remainder dental, optometric or chiropractic. Cuyahoga County reported 25 percent of the lawsuits (659), followed by Summit County, 13 percent; Stark County, 7 percent; Franklin County, 7 percent; Mahoning County, 7 percent; and Hamilton County, 6 percent. Mahoning County reported the most malpractice lawsuits per capita, with 6.8 lawsuits per 10,000 county residents. The complete summary is available at www.ohanet.org/med-mal/resources/lawsuits.pdf.
According to the Ohio Department of Insurance, 80 percent or more of a medical malpractice insurance premium is attributable to the costs of claims and lawsuit defense. These costs have been rising rapidly, forcing doctors to leave the state or stop performing vital procedures or medicine altogether. To learn more about Ohio’s medical malpractice insurance crisis and its connection to the Ohio Supreme Court, visit www.AskYourDoctorOhio.com and ask your doctor how you can help solve this crisis. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
Deadline for ISMP Hospital Self Assessment Approaching
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) is reminding
hospitals to complete the ISMP Medication Safety Self Assessment by
Sept. 24. OHA endorsed the survey, which will gather information
necessary to help hospitals make medication delivery safer for patients
by measuring hospitals’ progress since the 2000 survey and allowing them
to compare their systems and practices to those of other hospitals
nationwide. ISMP estimates the preliminary aggregate national data will
be released in late 2004.
Directors of pharmacy at hospitals across the country should have received the Self Assessment. If you have not received your booklet with password, please e-mail selfassess@ismp.org with a request. Visit www.ismp.org/Survey/Hospital/Intro.htm for a copy of the Self Assessment, "frequently asked questions," and instructions for completing the survey and submitting your findings to ISMP.
Friday,
September 3, 2004
With the Nov. 2 General Election rapidly approaching, it is time to register to vote.
What’s the registration deadline?
October 4
Where do I register to vote?
Look for voter registration drives at your hospital, or contact
your local county Board of Elections, local office of the Ohio Bureau of
Motor Vehicles or local Post Office for a voter registration form.
How do I vote absentee?
Requests for absentee ballots should also be directed to the
Board of Elections.
Make your vote count on Election Day!
Florida Hospitals Brace for Second Storm
Just weeks after Hurricane Charley, the
Florida Hospital Association (FHA) and its member hospitals are
preparing for a second major storm. Hurricane Frances is moving toward
Florida, and the state’s hospitals may once again need assistance in
recovering from the affects. The Florida Hospital Association (FHA)
established a disaster relief fund to help hospitals following Hurricane
Charley and OHA will provide updates on similar measures after Frances
moves through the area. For more information, visit
www.fha.org.
Hospitals Lead the Way
Ohio’s hospitals continue to offer their
communities more than basic health care by providing new facilities,
dynamic leadership, excellent customer service and strategic promotion
of healthy lifestyles.
The Ohio State University Medical Center this month opened its 100-bed Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital. Also opening a new facility is The Children’s Medical Center, Dayton, with its new pediatric surgery complex.
Hospitals are providing dynamic leadership to their communities. Fred DeGrandis, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic Health System - Western Region, will serve on the Governor’s Workforce Policy Board to assist in building a premier workforce development system in Ohio. Cynthia Moore-Hardy, president and CEO of Lake Hospital System, Northeast Ohio, was also recognized recently for her dynamic leadership. She received the Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives for her experience and significant contribution to excellence in the health care management field.
Ohio hospitals are also being recognized for providing excellent customer service and strategic promotion of healthy lifestyles. St. Luke’s Hospital, Maumee, was recently awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification status for its quality of service and was just the second health care organization in Ohio and first in the greater Toledo area to earn the certification. In addition, Barberton Citizens Hospital was awarded a 2004 Silver Anvil Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America for its Keep Barberton Healthy campaign. Central Ohio Full Service Hospitals and the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association were also awarded Silver Anvil Awards for their excellence in strategic public relations planning and implementation.
The last edition of Hospitals Lead the Way incorrectly listed the Holzer Clinics of Jackson and Gallipolis as two of the recipients of the 2004 NOVA recognition for their work in the River Cities Community Health Coalition. Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis, and Holzer Medical Center-Jackson, were the correct recipients. (Mary Sterenberg, marys@ohanet.org)