|
||
Monday,
April 24, 2006 The Ohio Department of Health will soon officially adopt the addition of cystic fibrosis to the newborn test panel, increasing the cost of the test panel used by hospitals from $45.16 to $55.16. OHA’s Small and Rural Hospital Committee submitted a letter to the department last fall supporting newborn screening but voicing concern about the unfunded mandate. 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. Hospitals recognize the public health benefit of early diagnosis and medical intervention, and OHA will continue working to secure outside funding for the newborn programs.
The revised
rules are currently available at
www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/ and
will also be posted to ODH’s Web site at
www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/odhrules.aspx. After adopting the
rules, ODH will set an implementation date that will likely be
within the next month. (Rick Sites,
ricks@ohanet.org)
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
In April,
Ohio hospitals are encouraged to send media packets to local
newspapers, radio, and television stations. National
Hospital Week posters are available for display in the
hospital’s facilities as well as common areas around the
city. It’s time to consider having invitations printed for
special Hospital Week events and distributing them to guest
lists. To request a planning guide, view promotional
materials, or learn more about becoming involved with
National Hospital Week visit
www.imprintmall.com/hospitalweek/.
Wednesday,
April 26, 2006 CMS also published a final rule last week requiring all health care providers and suppliers to complete a CMS 855 form, the standard Medicare enrollment form, and to update and certify its accuracy every five years. The revalidation process will begin with providers and suppliers currently enrolled in the Medicare program but without a completed CMS 855. Any changes to information provided on the form must be reported to CMS within 90 days, and changes in ownership or control must be reported within 30 days. The final rule takes effect June. 20. View the final rule at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-3722.pdf. In addition, CMS posted the relative value cost weights by consolidated severity adjusted diagnosis-related groups, a new DRG system for Medicare inpatient services proposed for fiscal year 2008. This information is available at www.cms.hhs.gov/AcuteInpatientPPS/FFD/itemdetail.asp?filterType=none&filterByDID=-99&sortByDID=2&sortOrder=ascending&itemID=CMS062025 and an OHA member bulletin with more information is online at www.ohanet.org/Bulletins/2006/06-005.htm. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org) Board Consolidation Effort Halted After much debate, the consolidation effort of 20 state boards and commissions included in House Bill 66, the state biennium budget, has come to an end. The consolidation was to occur over the biennium in an attempt to save on administrative costs. Concerns were raised by legislators, boards and commissions that the consolidation would not actually save the state money. Because of these concerns and much opposition, the consolidation effort was eliminated during the budget corrections process last month. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)
Thursday,
April 27, 2006 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has adopted the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) as the standard computerized medical vocabulary system to be used to electronically code important terms in the Highlights section of prescription drug labeling. SNOMED is intended to allow health care professionals to electronically access treatment information more easily by providing coding for clinical terminology to make it computer readable across systems. This format will be required beginning June 30 for drug products approved within the past five years. The coding will help eliminate confusion by providing one code for different terms with the same meanings. View the full news release at www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01361.html. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Friday, April 28, 2006 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week announced that more than 30 million Medicare beneficiaries are receiving prescription drug coverage, including 1.3 million Ohioans. The May 15 deadline to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan is approaching, but people still looking to sign up can call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov for more information and help on choosing the best option. The Ohio Department of Insurance will also extend the hours of operation for the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program in May, allowing beneficiaries to call 1.800.686.1578 for help from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. The hotline will also be open Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CMS and its 10,000 grassroots partners are conducting enrollment events across the country until May 15. View a list of upcoming Ohio events at www.ohanet.org/healthenews/archives/2006/medicare_events.pdf. Visit www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060420.html to view the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ complete news release and specific enrollment data. © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
