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Monday, October 10, 2005
Added Newborn Test Ups Hospital Costs

The Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) Newborn Screening Advisory Council last week recommended the addition of cystic fibrosis to the newborn test panel, increasing the cost of the test panel hospitals provide from $45.16 to $55.16. The proposed fee increase must be approved by the Public Health Council and pass Joint Commission of Rule Review scrutiny early next year, but hospitals should include the increase in their budgets for the last nine months of 2006. At OHA’s urging, the council also advised Director J. Nick Baird that it would support ODH pursuing an additional funding source because of the “significant burden that ever-increasing kit prices have placed on birth hospitals.”

OHA will work to keep this issue high on the ODH priority list and to help the department secure outside funding to offset the increasing cost of the newborn tests. With the proposed $10 increase, the newborn test panel fees have increased by more than 60 percent in the past two years. In addition to paying for newborn test kits, birth hospitals also are required to perform newborn hearing screening and soon will be asked to report birth defect information without adequate reimbursement. Unfunded mandates further chip away at hospital finances already facing deep cuts in Medicaid payment and reimbursement for care to injured workers. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

EDITOR’S NOTE: We apologize for unintentionally omitting from Friday’s Hospitals Lead the Way that St. Charles Mercy Hospital also received a J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Award for providing patients with an outstanding service experience.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Added Newborn Test Ups Hospital Costs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced proposed regulations to support the adoption of e-prescribing and electronic health records. One proposal by HHS would create exceptions to the physician self-referral law to allow hospitals and health care organizations to provide hardware, software and related training services to physicians for e-prescribing and electronic health records, particularly for “interoperable” systems.

Another proposal would create safe harbors to exempt the donation of technology for e-prescribing and electronic health records from enforcement action under the federal anti-kickback statute. The American Hospital Association is reviewing the proposals, which are slated to appear in the Oct. 11 Federal Register.

To prepare Ohio for electronic health records, an Ohio Health Information Technology Symposium will be held Oct. 17 in Columbus during which an assessment of the health information technology and exchange environment in Ohio, including regulatory obstacles, will be discussed. For registration information, visit http://healthpolicyohio.org/OHHIT/2005.html. The symposium is sponsored by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, OHA and other Ohio health organizations. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org, Mary Gallagher, maryg@ohanet.org)

Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Case Against Health System Dismissed, Withdrawn

The Hamilton County Common Pleas Court has dismissed a class action lawsuit against Catholic Healthcare Partners (CHP) and its Mercy Health Partners region in Cincinnati, ruling that the complaints about the health system's billing and collection practices for people lacking health insurance were without merit. The ruling follows the voluntary withdrawal of a similar complaint last month in Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

"We are gratified with the court’s decision as we have always strived to do the right thing for every patient seeking care," said Sr. Doris Gottemoeller, senior vice president of mission and values integration at CHP. She added, "We hope this decision will also bring an end to all copycat suits against CHP and others that waste the taxpayers' money by clogging the courts and increasing health care costs for everyone."

These developments reflect similar action on the federal level. In January, the U.S. District Court in Cleveland dismissed the same claims for the same reasons in a federal class action suit. (Mary Gallagher, maryg@ohanet.org)

Call to Action: Fight Federal Medicare, Medicaid Reductions

Congress began deliberating budget reconciliation legislation last week and as part of these discussions the Senate Finance Committee is considering a reduction of 0.4 percent to hospital Medicare outpatient payments in fiscal year 2006, a $420 million cut over five years. Members of the House also indicated a desire to expand their overall reduction by an additional $15 billion, which may make Medicare and Medicaid a target.

Senators and representatives are home this week on Columbus Day recess and will return next week to begin making final 2006 budget decisions. Contact local legislators this week with the messages that:

As 77 million baby boomers near retirement age, Medicare is critical to the country’s future and cuts in Medicare payments to hospitals weakens the program for patients and their caregivers.
Cuts have consequences, and federal reductions to the Medicaid program on top of those imposed by the state will put care for all Ohioans at risk.

Call 1.800.826.9658 to be connected to local senators’ and representatives’ offices or visit http://www.ohanet.org/advocacy/federal/lawlinks/lawmakersandlinks.htm to search an alphabetical list of Ohio hospitals with their corresponding federal legislators. (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org)

Thursday, October 13, 2005
Proposed Pharmacy Rules Integrate Electronic Health Records

A public rules hearing will be held Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. on institutional pharmacy rules approved by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy (OBP) last month. The proposed rules include language for positive identification of individuals who are electronically recording the prescription, dispensing and administration of drugs.

OHA staff and members have been working with OBP over the past year to revise rules that have created barriers for hospitals in developing electronic processes and using computerized systems for health records. OBP and OHA representatives recently reached consensus on positive identification to ease the burden currently faced by hospitals working to apply new electronic health record technology.

OBP’s next step will be to file the new rules with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, the Secretary of State and the Legislative Service Commission. If approved, the rules are expected to go into effect in January. OHA will work with OBP and the Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists to develop education meetings and instructional materials to help hospitals with the practical application and implementation of the new regulations. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)

Ohio Hospitals Gear Up For Flu Season

With flu season fast approaching, a number of influenza-related issues are in the headlines, including avian flu precautions and new vaccination regulations.

OHA’s Research and Educational Foundation, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), are hosting a seminar on Preparing for Pandemic Threats and Emerging Infections Nov. 2 in Dublin. The conference offers an opportunity for participants to learn more about emerging infections, the 2005-06 flu season, pandemic and avian influenza as well as surveillance systems in Ohio. Visit www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp to register.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule requiring nursing homes to participate in CMS programs to ensure that all residents are immunized against the flu and pneumococcal disease, except when a patient cannot receive the shot for medical reasons. In cases of vaccine shortages, state survey agencies have discretion in not citing facilities for being out of compliance with the requirement. CMS also encourages nursing homes to provide flu vaccine to health care workers, but does not require it.

In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended certain priority groups receive the inactivated vaccine until Oct. 24, citing uncertainties regarding the production of flu vaccine: people 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities, people ages two and older with co-morbid conditions, pregnant women, children ages 6 to 23 months, health care workers providing direct patient care, and household contacts and caregivers of infants younger than six months.

CDC also offers educational materials for use in promoting flu vaccination and a checklist to help determine who should get a flu shot before Oct. 24, based on CDC recommendations. The CDC Web site for flu information is www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/patiented.htm. Additional information can be obtained at www.ohanet.org/flu/. (Carol Jacobson, carolj@ohanet.org)

Friday, October 14, 2005
CEOs on the Move
Effective Sept. 1, Kevin Harlan replaced Jim Chick as president and CEO of Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Mary’s. Jeffrey A. Ashin has been named president and CEO of Mercy Hospital Fairfield and Steven Garlock is now serving as president of Grady Memorial Hospital, Delaware. The Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association also recently welcomed a new president and CEO, Bryan J. Bucklew.

Kirby O. Smith was named president and CEO of UHHS/CSAHS-Cuyahoga, Inc., a Cleveland healthcare system consisting of St. John West Shore Hospital, Westlake, and St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland. In addition, Smith will serve as president and CEO of St. John West Shore Hospital. Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, who served as interim president and CEO of the system, will continue her primary role as president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health System. Jeffrey S. Jeney continues to serve as president and CEO of St. Vincent Charity Hospital.

Thomas N. Hansen, MD, former CEO of Columbus Children’s Hospital, resigned his position to assume the role of president and CEO of Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle. Keith Goodwin, the hospital’s chief operating officer, is now serving as interim CEO.