Monday, October 31, 2005
OHA Welcomes HCAP Comments
OHA tomorrow opens a comment period on the 2006 Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP) for all member hospital representatives.  Comments and suggestions for changes to the HCAP distribution model for 2006 will be accepted from tomorrow, Nov. 1, through Nov. 30.  Hospital representatives can submit comments via e-mail to OHA’s Manager of Health Policy Ryan Biles at ryanb@ohanet.org with the subject line “HCAP 2006 Comments.”  Submissions will be kept strictly confidential.  (Ryan Biles, ryanb@ohanet.org)

Slots Remain for Pollution Prevention Program
OHA’s Environmental Leadership Council will offer a two-day Pollution Prevention University (P2U) program Nov. 7-8 at Memorial Hospital of Union County in Marysville to help hospitals looking to reduce waste stream costs, reduce mercury use and prevent pollution. Using a hands-on approach, the seminar will evaluate hospitals’ waste systems and help them design and implement plans for pollution prevention activities. The intensive training program accepts only a small group of participants but spots are still available for the upcoming training. The registration fee is $100.

Upon completion of the program, participants will be able to identify cost-saving opportunities for pollution prevention and waste minimization activities; address the requirements of the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ Environment of Care Standards regarding the safe management of hazardous materials and wastes; prepare pollution prevention plans and programs to increase compliance with state and federal laws; conduct a thorough audit of their facility’s waste stream.

Interested hospitals should contact Susan Zabo at susanz@ohanet.org or 614.221.7614. Registration materials also are available online at www.ohanet.org/p2/. (Susan Zabo, susanz@ohanet.org)
 

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Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Court Considers OHA’s Suit Against BWC

No final determination was made Monday in a Franklin County Common Pleas Court hearing involving OHA’s challenge of the rate cut by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). OHA contends the hospital cuts were an inappropriate response to political problems at BWC and could threaten access to care for injured workers. Judge Charles Schneider announced he will consider first the legal issue of whether BWC was required to adhere to the administrative rule-making process. The state requested time to file an additional brief by the end of the week. If a response is warranted, OHA has until Nov. 9 to reply. The judge said he will decide the issue by Nov. 21.

 

Though hospital representatives were present and prepared to testify, the judge acknowledged there is little factual dispute over OHA’s challenge. For more information on hospitals’ challenge that BWC did not follow required legal processes in cutting $50 million in payments to hospitals for care provided to injured workers, visit www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/bwc_cuts.htm. Through this suit, OHA seeks to ensure BWC will follow the prescribed process and include sufficient input from all affected parties as it starts working on a long-term plan for medical care to injured workers. (Mary Gallagher, maryg@ohanet.org ) 
 

OHA, AHA, ODJFS Oppose Proposed Federal Regulation

On Oct. 25, OHA, along with the American Hospital Association and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, submitted official testimony opposing the adoption of proposed federal regulation CMS-2198-P regarding Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments.  The proposed regulation would impose restrictions on the calculation of hospital-specific limits for the Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP), require costly statewide audits of HCAP, and force hospitals to reconcile DSH payments with hospital-specific limits two years after payments are made.

 

For further information, OHA has posted its comments on the HCAP Web site at www.ohanet.org/hcap/.  Updates on a response from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to the submitted comments also will be posted online upon receipt. (Ryan Biles, ryanb@ohanet.org)
 

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Wednesday, November 2, 2005
State “Free Care” Rule Re-filed, Several Clarifications Added
Required by law every five years, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) this year re-filed the rule hospitals use to determine eligibility for free care under the Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP). The revised rule is expected to go into effect in mid-December with several clarifications to policies and procedures that, for the most part, are already in practice:

• A married couple must be counted as part of the patient’s “family,” regardless of whether they live in the patient’s home. 
• A signed application is required unless there is a documented reason the patient or his legal designee could not sign. 
• The “free care” rule requires each hospital to have an internal policy that includes its procedures for taking applications, determining eligibility and verifying income if the hospital requires verification.
• Hospitals can not extrapolate or estimate the amount of non-hospital charges on Medicare Cost Report Schedule F entries.  Hospitals also are required to maintain the records outlined in Section F for six years from the date it received the HCAP payment resulting from the Schedule F.

OHA’s recommendation that ODJFS expand the amount of time an approved application for outpatient services can be used from 90 to 180 days was denied.

ODJFS also last month posted its annual Final Summary Report on the Medicaid Cost Report Schedule F data submitted in 2005.  The department reviews 20 to 25 hospitals each year, testing the accuracy of the Schedule F data they submit that is later used to distribute HCAP payments.  Hospitals and their outside auditors should review the report at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/bhpp/hcap/documents/2005HCAP.pdf and address any inaccuracies.  (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org, Ryan Biles, ryanb@ohanet.org)  

Medicaid Payment Cuts, Policy Changes Abound
Responding to questions from member hospitals on the details and dates of several upcoming changes in Ohio Medicaid policy and reimbursement, OHA offers information on the following changes with effective dates and estimated costs:

• Inpatient Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) Recalibration
• DRG Mapper
• Freeze on Inpatient and Outpatient Hospital Payments
• Elimination of DRG Day Outliers
• Medicare Inpatient Deductibles for Dually Eligible Recipients
• Medicaid Co-Payments

The information is available to members online in the Oct. 28 ABC Bulletin, online at www.ohanet.org/abcbulletin/. Many of these updates are the result of the 2006-2007 Ohio biennial budget, which is detailed in OHA Bulletin 05-011, available to members online at www.ohanet.org/Bulletins/.  (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org, Berna Bell, bernab@ohanet.org)   

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Thursday, November 3, 2005
Absentee Voting Good Alternative for Health Care Workers
Gov. Bob Taft last week signed legislation allowing any Ohio voter to obtain an absentee ballot after showing identification. For nurses, doctors, hospital administrators and other hospital associates who may struggle to make it to the polls on Election Day, absentee voting now offers an easy alternative. This law takes effect in January 2006, and does not apply to next week’s election.

The new law expands current absentee voter eligibility, allowing any registered voter to cast an absentee ballot within 35 days of an election and mail it in until the polls close. Visit the Secretary of State’s Web site at www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/PublicAffairs/VoterInfoGuide.aspx?Section=16 to download an application requesting an absentee ballot. The ballot must then be completed and returned to the Board of Elections. The Secretary of State’s Web site also includes information on the five statewide issues on the Nov. 8 ballot. Of these issues, OHA’s Board of Trustees voted to endorse Issue 1 and oppose Issue 3. For more information, view a news release at www.ohanet.org/media/news_release/2005/state_issues102805.htm. 

OHA Corporate Partner Recognized
OHA Corporate Partner Lancaster Pollard recently was named the 16^th fastest-growing company in central Ohio by Business First’s Fast 40 competition. A provider of financial solutions tailored to the health care, senior living, affordable housing private education sectors, Lancaster Pollard offers a full range of federal and traditional borrowing options and continues to expand both in central Ohio and nationwide. 

Hospitals’ Heartbeat
A 2005 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

Betty Barnes    
Shift Lead, Nutritional Services
Berger Health System, Circleville   
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A look inside Betty’s nomination –
“Since beginning her career at Berger Health System eight years ago, Betty Barnes has become one of the most respected employees on our team for her commitment to put others above herself.  A “go-to” person in the Nutritional Services Department, she is always among the first to initiate opportunities for improvement.  Betty’s motivation to help others is evident by the countless hours she contributes to the local Community Kitchen, where she organizes meals for over 50 needy community members three times per week.  Despite the many obstacles she has encountered throughout life, Betty embraces each day and is passionate about her role at Berger Health System and within the community.” 

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Friday, November 4, 2005
Newer Cell Phones Interfere Less with Medical Equipment
A new study suggests newer cell phone interfere less with medical equipment than those previously tested. Mayo Clinic researchers used six different phones to conduct 510 tests of 16 different medical devices, reporting interference in seven. No devices were affected at a distance greater than 32 inches and most interference occurred with devices that display electrocardiographic or electroencephalographic waveforms and involve noise interference. Researchers recommended additional periodic study to determine the effects of cell phones on medical equipment as technology continues to evolve. The complete study appears in the October issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, online at www.mayoclinicproceedings.com.

Hospitals’ Heartbeat
A 2005 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

Vicki Jurkiewicz         
Head Caterer
Blanchard Valley Health Association, Findlay    
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A look inside Vicki’s nomination –
“Vicki Jurkiewicz was selected by her co-workers as associate of the month in October 2004.  This is considered the most prestigious award at BVHA because the recognition comes from your peers, those folks whose paths you cross every day, and rewards customer service behaviors that are so integral to success in our industry. Her eligibility for associate of the year and ultimately our nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Healthcare Worker of the Year, resulted in her winning the award based on testimonials from a variety of associates in every facet of work here at BVHA.  Because Vicki ‘s work crosses over departmental boundaries, she truly is part of what we call a support system associate.  Her contagious attitude contributes to the positive outlook of our staff, patients and service excellent culture evolution through her dedication to service, responsibility, being customer focused and empowered to do what it takes to provide a quality product and service.”