|
| Hot Issues |
| Publications |
| Advocacy Center |
| Research & Data |
| Education |
| News Media Center |
| Find a Hospital Job |
| Membership |
| Corporate Partners |
| Home |
Search:
 |
Monday,
September 13, 2004
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will sponsor free Ohio HIPAA Conferences throughout Ohio on Monday, Sept. 27. The sessions will cover Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy, transactions and security compliance. The seminar will be held in Columbus and broadcast to 11 satellite locations in other areas of the state. Due to limited space, early registration is encouraged. More information on the conference, as well as locations and online registration, is online at www.mche.us.com/CMS04Ohio.cfm. OHA participated on the planning committee for this event and supports participation.
For more information on HIPAA privacy and related issues in Ohio, visit www.bricker.com/hipaa/.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Universal Health Care Bills Introduced
A citizen-initiated plan to create a government-run system of universal
health care for all Ohioans was officially kicked off last week by the
Single Payer Action Network of Ohio (SPAN-Ohio), a labor-led
organization. SPAN-Ohio was cleared last month by Attorney General Jim
Petro to begin collecting signatures for an initiated statute to present
to the General Assembly, which has resulted in the introduction of
companion Senate and House bills to create an Ohio Health Care Fund to
receive up to $48 billion a year in increased business and income taxes.
Senate Bill 263 is sponsored by Sen. Robert Hagan (D-Youngstown) and
House Bill 548 is sponsored by Rep. Michael Skindell (D -Lakewood).
The Ohio State Medical Association, which represents physicians, has
indicated its opposition to the plan. In addition, a coalition of
insurance companies is developing a campaign in opposition. Though
supportive of increased access for all Ohioans, OHA has concerns about
the ambiguity of the legislation, which leaves many questions
unanswered. OHA is analyzing the legislation and will keep members
apprised of its development. (Bridget Gargan,
bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Wednesday,
September 15, 2004
As Florida braces for Hurricane Ivan, its hospitals are receiving assistance from right here in Ohio. The Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association (GDAHA) is helping the Florida Hospital Association with an online hospital bed tracking system that will locate available hospital beds for patients who may need to be transferred because of evacuation procedures. GDAHA and OHA previously collaborated together to implement a hospital bed tracking system.
Nearly 2 million people have been told to evacuate the Gulf Coast area from the Florida Panhandle to New Orleans to avoid the possible Category 5 hurricane, which could blow ashore as early as Thursday. To see Hurricane Ivan updates or to donate to the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund, go to www.fha.org. (Carol Jacobson, carolj@ohanet.org)
P2 University Offers Pollution Prevention 101
OHA’s Environmental Leadership Council will hold a three-day P2
University session Sept. 27-29 at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. The
session, part of a series being offered this year in different regions
of the state, will provide hospitals the skills to step up pollution
prevention efforts and information about compliance with Joint
Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and other
environmental regulations. This session will accept only a small group
of participants and offers a hands-on approach to evaluating waste
systems and designing and implementing plans for pollution prevention
activities. For more information or to register for the upcoming
session, visit
www.ohanet.org/p2/. (Susan Zabo,
susanz@ohanet.org)
Thursday,
September 16, 2004
To further arm Ohio voters with information to make informed choices this Nov. 2, a myriad of groups issued the 2004 Supreme Court of Ohio Voter Guide, a nonpartisan statewide voter guide on this year’s Ohio Supreme Court elections. The voter guide includes campaign contact information, legal background and experience, a candidate statement, Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) ratings and candidate photographs. The guide is available at www.lwvohio.org/voterguide/voterguide.html.
OSBA rated incumbent Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer, incumbent Terrence O’Donnell and Judge Judith Ann Lanzinger as “highly recommended.” C. Ellen Connally and Nancy A. Fuerst were rated “adequate” and William M. O’Neill was rated “recommended.” OSBA did not rate Justice Paul Pfeifer, who is running unopposed.
OSBA and the League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund have partnered with the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, Ohio Common Cause Education Fund and Ohio Citizen Action to provide the guide.
To learn how the Ohio Supreme Court impacts a crucial health care issue for all Ohioans-Ohio’s medical liability insurance crisis-visit www.AskYourDoctorOhio.com. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Annual Medicare and Medicaid Program Approaching
OHA will hold its annual review of Medicare and Medicaid policy and
payment changes on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Villa Milano in Columbus.
Larry Oday, a partner with the Washington law firm of Vinson & Elkins,
and Lawrence Goldberg, the director of national affairs for health care
for Deloitte, will provide information on Medicare payment policy. In
addition, there will also be an overview of developments in Ohio
Medicaid policy and the Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP).
The program will be of interest to chief financial and chief operating officers, controllers or directors of reimbursement, and directors of patient financial services. Continuing education credit is available. For more information or to register online, go to www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp and look for Medicare and Medicaid in 2005. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)
Friday,
September 17, 2004
The medical liability insurance crisis in Ohio does not discriminate-it not only threatens the availability of obstetricians for new moms and specialists for the highest risk patients, it jeopardizes care for all Ohioans.
The Ohio Supreme Court has the power to review key legislation passed by Ohio’s lawmakers to improve the state’s medical liability environment. Ohioans elect their Supreme Court and should arm themselves with the education to make choices that protect the availability of crucial health care services in their communities. To view a nonpartisan 2004 Supreme Court of Ohio Voter Guide, listing information on all candidates for the court, visit www.lwvohio.org/voterguide/voterguide.html. More information on how to get informed and get involved is also available online at www.AskYourDoctorOhio.com.
Ohioans who understand the impact of the Ohio Supreme Court on the medical liability crisis have the power of the polls this November to protect health care in Ohio. Those who cannot vote in their home counties on Nov. 2 for a variety of reasons may vote by absentee ballot. This voting alternative can serve as a useful tool for health care workers who may have difficulty visiting the polls due to their shifts, the location of their hospitals or on-call responsibilities. For more information, view the September Healthbeat at www.ohanet.org/healthbeat/2004/0904.htm.