Monday, March 31, 2008
Department of Insurance Moving in May
On Monday, May 12, the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) will begin operations at its new office in the renovated Lazarus building, located in Downtown Columbus. 

Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Ohio Attorney General Begins Community Benefit Research Process
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann has issued a "request for qualifications" in search of a consultant to do charitable hospital community benefit research. According to the RFQ, Dann is seeking assistance to create regulatory standards for hospitals and health systems that will measure community benefit, with an evaluation of whether the "level of community benefit is adequate to provide meaningful access to healthcare for the citizens of the State of Ohio."  Dann met earlier this year with the OHA Board of Trustees where he vowed to work collaboratively with Ohio hospitals on these issues. Representatives from OHA and the attorney general's office are meeting to discuss community benefit and a range of issues.

The RFQ is open to any interested party—many hospitals and health systems may be in unique positions to respond. Responses are due April 30. A copy of the request for qualifications can be downloaded at http://www.ag.state.oh.us/business/RFP_RFQ/healthcare.asp. (Mary Gallagher)

Registration Open for Communications Symposium on Children’s Health
Voices for Ohio’s Children and Ohio Covering Kids & Families will host a Communications Symposium April 23 in Columbus from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Among other agenda items, the symposium will share findings from focus groups on communicating child health expansions and identify and distribute communications materials to promote children’s health care. The gathering also will establish a learning network of communications professionals that can continue to share strategies and tools to promote children’s health care in Ohio.

The symposium is geared toward pediatricians, family physicians, school nurses, family and child serving agencies, Ohio health plans staff, hospital staff, children’s hospital staff, school-based associations as well as legislators and staff. View more information, the agenda and registration materials at http://www.vfc-oh.org/cms/232b284c4dfdaced/index.html.
 

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Hospital Reps Support Charity Care Provisions In HB 456
The Ohio House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee yesterday heard testimony from hospital representatives and other stakeholders on the charity care provisions in House Bill 456, sponsored by Rep. Jim Raussen (R-Springdale). The bill looks at defining the charitable care hospitals provide and requires the distribution of pertinent information. Hospital representatives testified in support of hospital charity care reporting, and asked that the committee also consider the many other charitable commitments hospitals make to promote the health and economic vitality of their communities.

Tracy Carter, director of advocacy and health policy for Summa Health System, noted that the system is the leading corporate citizen in its community and supports over 20,000 full-time jobs in the Akron region. She voiced support for the shared vision of OHA, the Catholic Health Association and the American Hospital Association of moving beyond charity care to improve the overall health of communities.

Timothy Teynor, vice president of public policy for the Aultman Health Foundation, supported the provision that hospitals publish charity care and tax data on their Web sites, which gives hospitals the ability to also provide other appropriate community benefit data. Brian Bucklew, president and CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, also voiced support for the bill’s charity care requirements. 

Renee George, regional vice president of revenue cycle at Mercy Health Partners Southwest Ohio, testified that her hospitals were among the leaders in voluntarily crafting guidelines for community benefit reporting through the Catholic Health Association (CHA). George advocated for standards in HB 456 that are consistent with existing CHA and IRS guidelines for Ohio hospitals.

Tim Keen, senior policy advisor for Auditor of State Mary Taylor, and Cathy Levine, executive director of UHCAN Ohio, also testified. (Bridget Gargan)

Friday, April 4, 2008
State Reassigns Workforce Programs
To minimize duplicative efforts and work toward expanding the level of training and education of Ohio workers, Governor Ted Strickland last week signed an executive order that reassigns key workforce programs to the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the Ohio Board of Regents.

Effective July 1:

• ODOD will assume responsibility for all services related to employers by transferring authority of the Workforce Investment Act discretionary programs and one-stop business support programs from ODJFS. ODOD also will take on targeted-industry training grants from the Ohio Board of Regents.
• The Ohio Board of Regents will assume responsibility for all programs related to skill development and job training, including the Ohio Skills Bank.
• ODJFS will remain responsible for all programs involving services to individuals and families.

Ohio policymakers understand that hospitals and the biomedical industry will help create jobs by spurring a part of Ohio's economy that saves lives and leads to medical advances. The streamlined workforce programming will help hospitals more easily partner with state agencies and policymakers on efforts to ensure an adequate supply of quality health care providers for the future. (Jean Scholz)