|
||
January 22, 2007
C. diff Reporting Requirements Change As of Jan. 1, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) no longer requires hospitals to report of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) cases on a monthly basis. Though hospitals no longer have a monthly reporting requirement, they still must report C. diff. to the local board of health “an outbreak, unusual incidence or epidemic” of C. diff by the end of the following working day per Ohio Administrative Code 3701-03-05. ODH currently is analyzing the complete 2006 data and will issue a report. The report also is expected to include guidance for hospitals and nursing homes in determining what constitutes an outbreak, unusual incidence or epidemic that requires reporting. More information on C. diff, including frequently asked questions, is available online at www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/cdiff.htm. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2006 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Yvonne Smith, LPN Skilled Care Unit Trinity Medical Center East Steubenville
A look inside Yvonne’s nomination –
Yvonne Smith
provides a level of leadership to which many health care workers
would aspire. A true gauge of leadership is the respect and
love she receives from her co-workers. When presented with a
decision regarding patient care, her co-workers often joke that
plastic bracelets should me made with the inscription “W.W.Y.D.”,
or “What Would Yvonne DO?” She leads by example and is often
the person new employees seek with questions and concerns.
Trinity Health System’s Core Values of Service, Reverence and
Stewardship are truly personified by Yvonne. She always keeps
the patient’s needs foremost in her mind. She has often stated
that her biggest fear in life would be to tire of her present
job, because she would not be happy without the patient contact
and interaction. New BWC Inpatient Payments Effective Jan. 1 On Jan. 1, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) started its new inpatient hospital payment plan, which reimburses hospitals at 115 percent of what Medicare pays for the same admission. BWC will cover Medicare “add-ons” like capital, disproportionate share and both direct and indirect medical education and outliers, but will use its own formula based on Medicaid cost. Some hospitals, including rehabilitation, veteran’s affairs, children’s, psychiatric, cancer and critical access hospitals, are not included in the new BWC payment plan, but instead will be reimbursed an amount equal to their hospital-specific 2004 Medicaid cost plus 12 percentage points, with a ceiling set at 70 percent of BWC-covered charges. OHA this week issued a member Bulletin on the new payment system, available online at www.ohanet.org/Bulletins/2007/07-002.htm. The new inpatient methodology replaces the payment system started Oct. 1, 2005, which was based on 2003 Medicaid cost plus 12 percentage points. OHA sued BWC, challenging its right to establish the 2005/2006 plan without public rulemaking and that suit is still under appeal. Stay tuned for a separate bulletin outlining possible options for new outpatient hospital and physician payment plans. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2006 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Margaret Kryaninko, RN 7th Floor Telemetry Trinity Medical Center West Steubenville
A look inside Margaret’s nomination – Margaret Kryaninko, RN has worked at one of the Trinity Health System facilities for nearly twenty years. She is a graduate of the Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing which is now the Trinity School of Nursing. Margaret’s compassion for her patients was the most commonly described trait following her nomination and subsequent selection as Employee of the Month in April, 2005. Her organized and calm demeanor has been stated numerous times by her co-workers. Margaret is truly a remarkable nurse and patient advocate.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Health care topped the list of priorities in last night’s State of the Union address, but President Bush’s health insurance proposals could mean funding cuts to hospitals. Bush proposed a tax deduction for health insurance in which families pay no income or payroll taxes on $15,000 of their income and individuals pay no taxes on $7,500 of their income. He also proposed creation of “Affordable Choices” grants for state programs to cover the uninsured. The grant funding would come out of reimbursement to hospitals, who are the safety net providers of the nation’s 47 million and Ohio’s 1.3 million uninsured. Although OHA supports the president’s commitment to decreasing the number of uninsured, doing so on the backs of hospitals jeopardizes their ability to care for all patients. Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate also have reservations with the president’s health care proposals. OHA will closely follow development of these proposals and keep member hospitals apprised. In a sweeping statement, Bush also called for expanded Health Savings Accounts, reduced costs and medical errors with better information technology, price transparency and protection for doctors from “junk lawsuits.” (Jonathan Archey, jonathana@ohanet.org)
Thursday,
January 25, 2007 Family Size - Income Guideline
1 –
$10,210 If the family unit has more than eight members, add $3,480 for each additional person. A copy of the Federal Register notice is available at www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a070124c.html, under the section for HHS. View a related OHA member bulletin at www.ohanet.org/Bulletins/2007/07-004.htm. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat
Cynthia Schneider, RN
A look inside Cynthia’s
nomination –
Friday, January 26, 2007 OHA submitted comments his week to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) on the proposed changes to health care services ODH released in December. The rules apply to services such as obstetric and newborn care, organ and bone marrow transplant, and pediatric intensive care. OHA recommended:
The association also expressed concern with overly broad and inconsistent language regarding interference with inspections, investigations or audits of health care services. With these exceptions and recommendations, OHA supports the proposed changes. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org) February is American Heart Month: Go Red For Women Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion, and power women have when they band together and wipe out heart disease. Too few people realize that heart disease is the number one killer of American women – and of men. But the good news is that heart disease can largely be prevented. Go Red For Women empowers women with the knowledge and tools they need to take positive actions to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke and to protect their health. The movement gives women tips and information on healthy eating, exercise and risk factor reduction, such as smoking cessation, weight maintenance, blood pressure control, and blood cholesterol management. Join Go Red For Women and take the Heart Checkup at www.goredforwomen.org. © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
