Monday, April 7, 2008
CMS Issues Guidance on CAH Observation Beds, Transplant Hospital Surveys
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released instructions late last week regarding the use of observation beds at critical access hospitals (CAHs) as well as a memorandum with details on surveys for transplant hospitals. The CMS memorandum stipulates that a CAH may maintain bends used solely for outpatient observation services without counting these beds toward the statutory maximum of 25 inpatient beds. It directs State Survey Agencies to examine CAH provision of outpatient services carefully to ensure they are consistent with the 25-bed limit and an annual average length of stay that does not exceed 96 hours per patient.

A second CMS memorandum provides information for transplant hospitals on the clinical requirements of a transplant program and the process for addressing compliance-related problems found during surveys. (Rick Sites)

Ohio Hospital Leaders Receive High Honors from AHA
The American Hospital Association (AHA) today presented James R. Castle with its 2008 Board of Trustees Award and will tomorrow award Timothy J. Jakacki, president and CEO of Fostoria Community Hospital and Defiance Regional Medical Center, with the Partnership for Action Grassroots Champion Award.

The Board of Trustees Award is presented to individuals or groups who have made substantial and noteworthy contributions to the work of the AHA. Castle has served on many boards and committees for the AHA and was appointed an AHA Commissioner to the Joint Commission in January 1999.  “Jim continues to play an important role in advancing the health of individuals and communities in Ohio and beyond,” said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. “Nationally, Jim Castle has led efforts to ensure quality standards are meaningful and effective and in keeping with the needs of hospitals and the people and communities they serve.” 

The Grassroots Champion Award is presented for exceptional leadership in generating grassroots and community activity in support of a hospital’s mission. The award is presented annually to one individual from each state at a special breakfast of Grassroots Champions at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting. Tim Jakacki is one of 51 individuals honored this year.

View an OHA news release for more information.
 

Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Children’s Hospitals Work Together to Improve Quality for their Patients
Ohio Senate President Bill Harris and House Speaker Jon Husted joined the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association (OCHA) and its six member hospitals today in announcing the initial results of their collaboration to improve quality in children’s hospitals. The children’s collaborative is one of five hospital quality improvement collaboratives throughout Ohio managed by OHA.

In its first initiative, the children’s hospital collaborative focused on reducing preventable codes (cardiac and pulmonary arrests) occurring outside of the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. The group identified a protocol called a Rapid Response Team that, when implemented, reduced incidences of preventable codes by more than 20 percent. Each participating hospital adapted a Rapid Response Team model to fit within its own patient care environment and culture. Some hospitals also created a process that enabled patient families to call upon the Rapid Response Team when they felt their child was in need of assessment.

“To our knowledge, this is the first time in the nation that a statewide network of children’s hospitals has come together to focus on quality improvement to save children’s lives,” said David Kinsaul, president and CEO, Dayton Children’s Medical Center and Chairman of OCHA.

The OCHA membership includes Akron Children’s Hospital; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Dayton Children’s Medical Center; Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus; Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland; and Toledo Children’s Hospital. View a news release for more information, or learn more about the other hospital quality improvement collaboratives currently underway.

IRS Released Form 990, Schedule H Draft Instructions
The IRS yesterday released for public comment draft instructions and worksheets for Form 990, Schedule H and other schedules tax-exempt hospitals must file, including J on executive compensation. Comments are due by June 1.

OHA will review the draft materials with its Finance Committee this week and issue an analysis to members as soon as possible. OHA will also submit comments to the IRS and encourages hospitals to submit comments directly to the IRS and copy OHA.

Comments on the instructions should be e-mailed to the IRS at Form990Revision@irs.gov.

Comments may also be mailed to:

IRS
Draft 2008 Form 990 Instructions, SE:T:EO
1111 Constitution Ave., NW.
Washington, DC 20224

In tax year 2008, hospitals must complete only “Part V Facility Information” on Schedule H. The remaining sections are not due until tax year 2009. (Charles Cataline, Mary Gallagher)

Wednesday, April 9, 2008
OHA Requests March Managed Care Plan Info from Hospitals
OHA requests that hospitals submit March data via a simple online survey for its new Medicaid Managed Care Plan accounts receivable report. OHA launched the program last month and received January and February data from more than 40 hospitals – hospitals can continue to submit January and February data in addition to March data. The report will provide hospitals with benchmarks they can use to evaluate their performance and it will provide OHA with data for advocacy purposes.

The survey questionnaire, detailed directions and frequently-asked-questions are available in the “Tools” section of OHA’s Medicaid Managed Care Web page. OHA will review the first round of data in April and expects to provide the first report to hospitals by mid-May. Contact Charles Cataline or Berna Bell at 614.221.7614 with questions.
 

Thursday, April 3, 2008
OHA Helps Hospitals Meet Quality, Procedure Reporting Requirements
Ohio hospitals this month submitted information on 11 quality measures to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) – this is the second year of reporting under new requirements established by House Bill 197 in 2006. More than 160 hospitals reported using a secure OHA Web site that allows hospitals to review, edit and validate data prior to submission. The remaining hospitals reported directly to ODH. Hospitals interested in using the OHA site should contact Mary Drake at 614.221.7614 for a user ID, password and instructions on how to use the site.

House Bill 197 also requires hospitals to report their top 60 outpatient procedures and top 60 inpatient diagnostic related groups (DRGs) for the 2007 calendar year by May 1. OHA also assists hospitals in reporting both inpatient DRG data and outpatient procedure data. The association works directly with hospitals to complete the reports. Contact Dan Paoletti at 614.221.7614 with questions.

More information about the provisions of HB 197 is available in an OHA member bulletin. 

Radiation Advisory Council Committees Seek Candidates
The Ohio Department of Health is seeking to fill two vacancies on committees of the Radiation Advisory Council. The Radioactive Materials Committee needs a “regulatory specialist” who has familiarity with state and federal regulation of radioactive materials. The Radiation Generating Equipment Committee is looking for a “hospital representative” who is involved in hospital administration or management and who understands the operational impact of Ohio’s regulation or radiation generating-equipment. The positions include no compensation beyond reimbursement of travel costs. Interested candidates should contact OHA General Counsel and Senior Director of Healthy Policy Rick Sites at 614.221.7614 or ricks@ohanet.org.

Friday, April 11, 2008
Hospitals Lead the Way
Ohio’s hospitals continue their leadership as employers, innovators and providers of outstanding health care. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Society of Human Resource Managers announced the Best Employers in Ohio 2008. Catholic Healthcare Partners (home office), Cincinnati, was among the small/medium companies recognized, and the following hospitals were recognized in the large companies category: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky; Marietta Memorial Hospital; and Southern Ohio Medical Center, Portsmouth.

EMH Regional Medical Center, Elyria, became the first medical facility in the U.S. to successfully insert the newest Cardioverter Defibrillator “Confient,” a preventive treatment for sudden cardiac death. Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati, received the Greater Cincinnati Health Council’s 2008 Innovative Solutions Award for its project to improve objective methods of evaluating pain in preverbal or nonverbal patients.

Licking Memorial Health Systems, Newark, launched a new Web site at www.LMHealth.org that allows patients to access personal medical records from home, request appointments online and take a virtual tour of many of the hospitals’ departments. The site also offers online bill pay options and other new features for members of the community.

Lifeline of Ohio honored the following hospitals for their role in saving lives through organ and tissue donation: St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, Hospital of the Year Award; The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Outstanding Hospital Marketing Department Award; Lima Memorial Health System (ICU/CCU), Unit of the Year Award.

Thomson Healthcare released its list of the Top 100 Hospitals, including 14 Ohio hospitals: MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland; University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland; Fairview Hospital, Cleveland; Kettering Medical Center; Grandview Medical Center; Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati; Bethesda North Hospital, Cincinnati; Hillcrest Hospital, Mayfield Heights; EMH Regional Medical Center, Elyria; Southwest General Health Center, Middleburg Heights; Mercy Hospital Anderson, Cincinnati; Wooster Community Hospital; Licking Memorial Hospital, Newark; Kettering Medical Center-Sycamore.