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Monday, April 4, 2005
Hospitals Designing Great Future for Employees
Hospital leaders working to develop premiere workplaces gathered over the weekend for a day-and-a-half strategic planning workshop, Designing the Workplace of the Future. In light of recent union organizing attempts in Ohio, OHA's strategic objective, aimed at helping hospitals continue working to create highly attractive workplaces for the 230,000 hospital employees throughout the state, takes on more prominence.
The seminar was part of a series of workplace and labor issues seminars aimed at helping hospitals become "employers of choice.” Also available to OHA members is OHA’s Labor Law Project, a subscription service that grants participants access to a searchable bargaining agreement database and online employment and labor resources, along with complimentary registration for two participants in the two OHA/Jones Day Labor Law and Contract Programs.
The next labor relations workshop in the OHA/Jones Day Labor Law and Contract Programs series is May 19 in Columbus. Participants in the seminar will receive updates on activities of the California Nurses Association and Service Employees International Union reports on contract settlements, and the latest information on the Family and Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act. Hospitals not subscribed in the Labor Law Project can attend for $125 per person. There is no additional fee for Labor Law Project participants. Contact Debbie Wolfe at 614.221.7614 or debbiew@ohanet.org to register. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)
Hospital-Physician Relationship Survey Extends Deadline
Hospitals now have until April 26 to add their voice to a
national study on physician-hospital relationships, sponsored by
the American Hospital Association’s Society for Healthcare
Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD) in partnership with
Mitretek Healthcare, Inc. The study looks at the many factors
putting pressure on these crucial relationships in today’s
health care environment, strategies employed by hospitals to
strengthen relationships with physicians and the effectiveness
of these strategies. SHSMD thanks those hospital associates who
have already responded, and encourages hospital staff
responsible for the hospital-physician relationship, CEOs and
physician leaders at each hospital to complete the survey online
at
http://idf.mitretek.org/phrs.
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
Giving a glimpse into the official recommendations it must offer in
the coming weeks, the Medical
Malpractice Commission released a draft report at its meeting last
Thursday. The draft included recommendations that Senate Bill 281—best
known for its non-economic damage cap—remain in effect in Ohio and that
no changes be made to the rate review system in Ohio because
rates are currently well regulated. The commission also noted support
for “a coordinated and specific effort in medical error reporting and
patient safety in Ohio.” The Ohio Patient Safety Institute, an
organization founded by OHA, the Ohio State Medical Association and the
Ohio Osteopathic Association and dedicated to improving patient safety
in the State of Ohio, may play a role in this recommendation. Learn more
about OPSI at
www.ohiopatientsafety.org/.
After researching the benefits of a patient compensation fund (PCF), the commission recommended in the draft that a PCF funded by health care providers and offering only a 5 percent possible reduction in premiums would not be beneficial. To improve the market and increase insurance capacity, the commission recommended the Ohio Department of Insurance pursue legislation authorizing captive formation in Ohio. On several other issues, such pretrial screening panels and specialized medical malpractice courts, the commission indicated the need for additional research and potential pilot projects.
For more information on the medical liability crisis in Ohio, visit www.ohanet.org/med-mal/. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
OHA Encourages Hospitals to Double-Check
Security
Two hospitals in southern Ohio were burglarized late last week and
other hospitals statewide are encouraged to test their security
plans and protect themselves by tightening evening and overnight
security. Procedures for granting visitor identification passes
should also be reviewed. Hospitals that experience a break-in, or an
attempted break-in, should contact the appropriate OHA field
representative—David Nichols or David Hendershot—at 614.221.7614.
(David Nichols,
davidn@ohanet.org; David Hendershot,
davidh@ohanet.org)
Wednesday,
April 6, 2005
Congress continues looking at different issues related to tax-exempt organizations, with ongoing hearings on hospitals and other organizations that fall within this category. As part of its continuing investigation into the practices of charitable organizations, the Senate Finance Committee recently heard testimony from the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner and others urging such reforms as mandatory electronic filing and public disclosure of charitable organizations’ tax forms; a review of tax-exempt status every five years; greater oversight by boards of directors; investigation of excessive executive compensation; and changes in how donors can value contributions to tax-exempt organizations. Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch also questioned some hospitals’ billing and collection practices. On the other side, Sens. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voiced their own concerns that such changes could inhibit the ability of charitable organizations to meet their missions and challenged the concept of new laws.
Though the recent hearing did not focus specifically on hospitals, the issue of tax-exempt organizations remains under debate in Washington. For more information on the many ways Ohio’s hospitals demonstrate their charitable mission by giving back to their communities, visit www.ohanet.org/cbtoolkit/. (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org)
Thursday, April 7, 2005
In the continuing deliberations over Ohio’s 2006-07 biennial budget, Rep. Jim Hoops (R-Napoleon) this week presented a Human Services Subcommittee report outlining its goals related to the budget, particularly Medicaid.
With the short-term goal to maintain a balanced budget, the report calls for creation of a managed care best practice working group, in addition to movement of the aged, blind and disabled to the managed care category with certain exceptions for those dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, those under 21, waiver populations and behavioral health. In response to OHA recommendations, all managed care providers will be required to have a surety bond with the Ohio Department of Insurance. The House version requires a $1 million surety bond, while OHA is advocating for the greater of 3 percent of expected medical underwriting expenses the entity will incur in the next 12-month contracting period or $3 million. A surety bond will help safeguard hospitals in the event managed care plans become insolvent, which happened in the late 1990s, leaving hospitals holding the financial bag for $30 million in services that had been delivered but were never paid for.
OHA and the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association continue to seek legislative support to mandate the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ recalibration effort be budget neutral. Key legislators have expressed concern that the hospital-supported proposal leaves a $70 million dollar hole in the budget.
While payments to nursing homes are frozen like all providers, a proposed 3-percent long-term care cut is restored through an increased franchise fee. Hospital-backed restorations include $12 million per year for the Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps and some scaled-back Medicaid dollars for dental and vision services.
OHA is also seeking to delete provisions in the bill which stipulate payment rates for non-contracting hospitals and tie graduate medical education reimbursement to participation in Medicaid managed care and to remove a proposed tax on hospital captives and surplus lines of insurance. OHA appreciates the grassroots efforts of member hospitals in communicating the importance of these budgetary issues to their legislators.
The full House is expected to vote on its version of the state budget next week, when it will be sent to the Senate. The Senate must wrap up its version by late May to allow one month for conference committee deliberations before the July 1 deadline for completion of the budget. State fiscal year 2006 begins July 1. Stay tuned for details about implications for hospitals. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
State Legislators Return, Tackle New Legislation
The state legislature returned from recess this week, diving back into the budget deliberations and introducing and referring to committee a slate of new bills. Similar to federal legislation introduced earlier this year, Senate Bill 105, sponsored by Sen. Kim Zurz (D-Uniontown), would prohibit hospitals from requiring registered nurses and licensed practical nurses from working overtime. This legislation was introduced during the previous General Assembly and has now been reintroduced and referred to the Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee. The OHA Board of Trustees and the Board of the Ohio Organization for Nurses Executives oppose the legislation because of its potential to threaten the safety and well-being of patients. Hospitals rarely use mandatory overtime—it functions as a last resort for critical circumstances. For more information on this issue, visit www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/nurseovertime.htm.
House Bill 152, sponsored by Rep. Louis Blessing (R-Cincinnati),
would offer amendments to Hospital Care Assurance Program
services and Medicaid reimbursement for services rendered in a
hospital emergency department. With the bill this week referred
to the House Health Committee, OHA is currently examining the
legislation and will send it to OHA’s Finance Committee for
comment and review. To track the progress of these bills and
other ongoing legislation that could impact Ohio’s hospitals,
visit
www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/resources/Status126.doc.
(Bridget Gargan,
bridgetg@ohanet.org; Jeff Klingler,
jeffk@ohanet.org)
Friday,
April 8, 2005
Ohio hospitals should be on the lookout for two potential scams popping up in other states.
According to a bulletin of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, late last month three individuals of Middle Eastern descent identified themselves as doctors to hospital security and proceeded to ask questions regarding the facility’s bed capacity, services and hospital directory and requested a tour of the hospital. At no time did the individuals present identification distinguishing themselves as doctors and left after they were told their requests could not be answered.
In the event of suspicious activity, hospitals are asked to request identification from the subject to assist with possible police investigations, obtain vehicle registration numbers, preserve any surveillance video and contact local police immediately.
In a separate apparent identity theft scam, the North Dakota attorney general warned hospitals about a scam artist requesting confidential information about patients such as social security numbers, claiming the patient has appeared in the caller’s emergency room, has an outstanding bill or has died. Hospitals are encouraged not to give out such information.