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Monday, May 16,
2005 The OHA Web site has a fresh face, focused even more on member hospitals and is restructured with a new, easy-to-use navigation format. The new look is at the same, familiar address–-www.ohanet.org-–and now features photos of OHA member hospitals that refresh upon each visit; prominent buttons outlining top issues of the day, week or even minute; and a complete site directory from the home page-–enabling access to nearly everything on the site in just one click. If your hospital’s photo is not yet featured on the OHA home page, please contact Tim Sisson at tims@ohanet.org for specifications on sending a photo. Questions and comments about the site can be referred to Tim Sisson, tims@ohanet.org; Tiffany Himmelreich, tiffanyh@ohanet.org; or Mary Sterenberg, marys@ohanet.org. ODH Offers Free HIV/Hepatitis Prevention Seminars The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will hold free conferences on both hepatitis and HIV prevention this spring and hospital employees and others can now register on a first-come, first-served basis. The Hepatitis Prevention and Control Conference will be held Tuesday, May 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in Worthington. It will include updates on Hepatitis A, B, C and E and information on community resources for hepatitis-positive Ohioans and motivating people to assess their risk behaviors.
The HIV Prevention Conference is slated for June 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Worthington. This seminar is sponsored by ODH and the Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center. The registration deadline for both courses is May 20, and nursing contact hours are available to full-day attendees. For additional information and registration materials, contact Hilary Metelko at 614.752.4315.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 As organizations across Ohio voice concerns with the pending state budget, the Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation (TUPCF) is joining the mix to protest the legislature’s proposal to siphon nearly $100 million from the fund, which is earmarked for tobacco cessation and prevention initiatives. TUPCF will hold a rally May 19 at the Statehouse and will testify before the Senate Finance Committee to argue against the proposal to use the $100 million to fund programs such as E-Check and Medicaid’s Aged, Blind and Disabled Program, saying the missing funds will ultimately cost the lives of thousands of Ohioans from smoking-related deaths. TUPCF cites recommendations of the Commission to Reform Medicaid that suggest alternatives for bolstering the Medicaid budget without taking funds from TUPCF. (Lynne Ayres, lynnea@ohanet.org)
Wednesday,
May 18, 2005 Representatives on behalf of OHA and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) testified today on proposed legislation that would require hospitals to submit patient billing data to ODH, where it would be adjusted and hospital outcomes information posted on a public Web site. Stephen Grossbart, vice president of Catholic Healthcare Partners, spoke to the Ohio House Health and Family Services Committee on hospital concerns with House Bill 197, including the unreliability and expense of the data-collection methods proposed. HB 197, sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen (R-Cincinnati), would cost hospitals more than $9 million per year. Grossbart, testifying on behalf of OHA, explained that the legislation duplicates several national quality initiatives already underway. He noted that, after more than a year of development, OHA last week launched The Consumer’s Guide to Quality Health Care in Ohio, a user-friendly clearinghouse of currently available health care quality and charge information at www.ohanet.org/portal/.
ODH offered testimony on the $3 million price tag in start-up costs and $2 million per year in ongoing costs this legislation would carry, and on the information currently provided to the public on the ODH Web site. This site provides consumers with comparative data for hospitals in each county, based on information hospitals must submit to ODH annually. ODH also voiced concerns with ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the data requested in HB 197.
To read Grossbart’s testimony or to access additional information on HB 197 and a grid outlining what each Ohio hospital can expect to be charged to meet the bill’s requirements, visit www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/public_disclosure.htm. (Jeff Klingler, jeffk@ohanet.org)
Strickland, Pastizzo Share Insights at Annual Meeting In addition to the educational programming and networking opportunities at the 2005 OHA Annual Meeting, participants at this year’s event will hear from Congressman Ted Strickland and plenary speaker Frank Pastizzo.
Strickland, who is serving his 6 th term as the U.S. Representative for the 6 th Ohio Congressional district and who recently announced his intention to run for governor of Ohio, will discuss health care policy at the federal level at the June 20 Membership/Advocacy Luncheon. This event requires pre-registration and payment to attend.
On Tuesday, June 21, Frank Pastizzo will offer his insights to health care workers on how to warm up the workplace. As a former paramedic and emergency room technician, Pastizzo is no stranger to health care work environments—but he also draws from his experience as a teacher and a comic to help workplaces reflect the values of kindness and respect.
To register for the Annual Meeting, learn more about the plenary speakers or check out additional luncheons and events taking place at this year’s meeting, visit www.ohanet.org/annualmeeting/. Also remember to check out the meeting’s new location, the Hilton Columbus at Easton.
Thursday, May 19, 2005 As legislators near crunch time on decisions about the state budget, including potential cuts to the Medicaid program, hospital representatives testified this week to the Senate Finance Committee about proposed changes to Medicaid. Allen Tracy, senior vice president and CFO for UHHS/CSAHS-Cuyahoga, Inc., and Libby Harvey, director of clinical services at Mercy Hospital Clermont, voiced concerns about the proposed recalibration of Medicaid rates and mandated relationships between hospitals and HMOs. They outlined how these changes would increase the number of uninsured in Ohio and put at risk the ability of hospitals to provide necessary services—especially those hospitals serving vulnerable populations. OHA also testified to the Finance Committee as part of a panel discussion supporting enhanced care management for the aged, blind and disabled population. The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati’s Ohio Health Issues Poll results released this month also show the majority of Ohioans support continued funding for Medicaid—even if that means higher alcohol, tobacco and state sales taxes. Over 90 percent of those surveyed felt it was important that Ohio Medicaid cover elderly, children, disabled adults, low-income working parents and low-income pregnant women. Seventy-four percent of Ohioans do not want to reduce the number of people covered by Medicaid and 66 percent do not want to reduce the services provided by Medicaid.
As the budget reaches final stages, OHA continues to advocate for recalibration neutrality, managed care solvency protection and the preservation of benefits for the working poor. For more information, visit www.ohanet.org/medicaid/. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Helping Ohioans Stay on the Move Ohio on the Move, an affiliate of American on the Move, continues to work toward its goal of preventing weight gain and reducing the health risks associated with being overweight. As the Ohio effort reaches its first anniversary, many Ohio hospitals and other organizations have taken the challenge to actively participate in this initiative. The Greater Cincinnati Health Council was also instrumental in founding this effort in Ohio. To learn more about Ohio on the Move and how to become involved, visit www.ohioonthemove.org.
Friday,
May 20, 2005 Applications are now available for the 2006 American Hospital Association Circle of Life Awards: Celebrating Innovation in End-of-Life Care. Any organization or group nationwide that provides palliative or end-of-life care is eligible to apply for the award, which is funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Up to three organizations can win a $10,000 award, and Citations of Honor will be presented to finalists. Nominations can be made online at www.aha.org/aha/awards-events/circle_of_life/index.html or by calling 312.422.2700. Applications are due Aug. 15 and are also available at the above Web site. The award is co-sponsored by the American Medical Association, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
on the Move
Mark H. Shuter has been named president and chief executive officer of Adena Health System, Chillicothe. He replaces Allen Rupiper, who is retiring.
James Phillippi began his new duties as chief executive officer of Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis, April 24. James Chick, president of Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, plans to retire August of this year. A replacement has not yet been named.
Mercy Health Partners has named Jeff Ashin as interim president and chief executive officer at Mercy Hospital Fairfield. Ashin replaces Mark Hood, who has accepted a position in Houston, Texas. Peter Geier has been named chief executive officer and vice president for health services of the Ohio State University Health System, after serving in those interim positions since January 2004. © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
