Contributory Negligence Deleted Again as Budget Clears Senate Important modifications to copy fee language added

Transcription

1 June 19, 2009 Volume 53, Issue 24 Contributory Negligence Deleted Again as Budget Clears Senate Important modifications to copy fee language added Putting their mark on the budget process, the State Senate agreed with the Assembly this week and voted to remove the harmful tort provisions from the state budget. The removal of the provisions by the Senate is another victory in the budget process for WHA, health care providers, patients, and the 70 organizations voicing opposition to the changes. Additional details on the provisions which would drastically change Wisconsin s litigation landscape along with WHA s position, can be found in last week s Valued Voice ( valued_voice/vv pdf). WHA has made their removal from the budget a priority. Copy fee language improved Troubling language remaining in the budget, and also supported by trial attorneys, related to medical record copy fees was improved by the Senate. The provision, initially slipped into the budget during (continued on page 2) President Proposes Cuts to Hospitals DSH cuts and productivity adjustment will equal at least $220 billion nationwide This past weekend the President announced his proposal to cut more than $200 billion to hospitals. The Wisconsin Hospital Association joins with the American Hospital Association in expressing serious concerns with the magnitude of these cuts and the harm they will cause to community hospitals. The President s proposal includes $110 billion in across-the-board productivity adjustments to Medicare payment increase and $106 billion in cuts to Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH), which serve a disproportionate number of poor and uninsured patients. The latter cut is defended based on claims of a declining uninsured population following health reform implementation. Even by the best estimates right now, people are saying that it looks like some of the [health reform] plans that are out there can cover maybe a third, maybe at the high end, two-thirds of the population, said American Hospital Association President Richard Umbdenstock. That still leaves a lot of people uncovered. It still (continued on page 2) Medical Examining Board Approves Streamlining Licensing of MN-Licensed Physicians At its meeting on June 11, the Medical Examining Board (MEB) approved a WHA-backed proposal ( org/pubarchive/valued_voice/vv htm#5) to streamline Wisconsin licensure requests from physicians already licensed in Minnesota. WHA had requested the MEB to consider taking actions that would reduce the time to license these physicians and increase access to physicians for Wisconsin residents along the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. The Board passed a motion stating: For applicants who hold a full, unrestricted license as a Minnesota physician, exclusive of a telemedicine license, the board accepts the Minnesota license as proof of compliance for licensure requirements set out in Med 1.02 (2) (3) (4) and Med 1.06 (3), the effective date to be no later than August 1. The Board agreed that those physicians would still need to complete an application (specific form to be created and available by August 1), and, if directed by the Board, based on information on the application, might still need to take an ethics exam and an oral exam. This action by the MEB followed comparison of Wisconsin and Minnesota licensure requirements and WHA s meeting with staff from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to affirm that the new streamlined process will have no impact on the Injured Patients and Family Compensation Fund. (continued on page 6) Board Chair: Mike Schafer, CEO/Administrator, Spooner Health System Editor: Mary Kay Grasmick, VP Communications - mgrasmick@wha.org 5510 Research Park Drive P.O. Box Madison, WI P ( ) F ( )

2 Continued from page 1... Contributory Negligence Deleted Again as Budget Clears Senate the final hours of Joint Finance Committee action, limited the amount that can be charged for copying medical records, included no provision for future price increases and included language that conflicts with state privacy laws and federal HIPAA regulations. Working with other members of his Democratic caucus, Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) was able to secure important changes to the language that indexes the price of copies to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) allowing for annual increases and preserves access to low-cost copies only for patients themselves or those designated to make health care (and not courtroom) decisions on their behalf. The improvements were not included in the version of the budget that passed the Assembly. Reconciliation of budget versions begins Because each house of the Legislature must pass identical versions of the budget before it can be forwarded to Governor Doyle for his consideration and potential vetoes, differences in the respective versions passed by the Assembly and Senate including language relating to copy fees must be reconciled. Continued from page 1... President Proposes Cuts to Hospitals leaves a lot of people on the Medicaid program, and it still leaves a lot of people who are undocumented immigrants and so on. That need is not going to go away overnight. The $220 billion in cuts are on top of proposed cuts under the FY 2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule and massive cuts proposed earlier in President Obama s FY 2010 Budget. After an initial review, WHA conservatively estimates the total cuts will equal at least $110 million in 2010 and over $2.5 billion over 10 years. Wisconsin is nationally recognized for providing high quality, low-cost care and we are committed to furthering appropriate health care reform options, said WHA President Steve Brenton. However, cutting provider payments is not health care reform, and we urge our Members of Congress to work to stand with us against these cuts. WHA has already conveyed its concerns to Wisconsin s Congressional Delegation and will be relaying additional information to members in the coming days. If additional information is needed, contact Jenny Boese at jboese@wha.org or DHS Holding HIE Summit Meetings in July Wisconsin s Department of Health Services (DHS) will be holding five Health Information Exchange (HIE) Regional Summit Meetings in early July. The Summit meetings will be held in Appleton, Sauk City, Superior, Milwaukee and Marshfield, and they will be open to hospitals, physicians, payers, consumers and other stakeholders that would like to learn about and share their views about Wisconsin s HIE initiative. Wisconsin s HIE initiative is designed to assess, propose, plan and design a model and architecture for a state-level HIE governance entity and state-level business and technical services in Wisconsin. For more information about the Summit meetings, go to HIERegionalSummitMeetingsFlyer.pdf. Sen. Dave Hansen Final details of the process were not available at press time, but it is believed a conference committee will be formed with members of each house to complete the process early next week. Legislative voting on the final budget will likely take place next week, with the Governor expected to sign the budget into law before the end of the month. The Valued Voice -- Page /19/09

3 Political Action Spotlight Political Action Fundraising Campaign Reaches $85,000 Less than two months into the 2009 Campaign, the Wisconsin hospitals state political action funds fundraising campaign has topped $85,000. This puts the 2009 campaign at 40 percent of its $213,000 monetary goal. Another goal of the 2009 campaign is to increase the number of individual contributors by 10 percent to approximately 660 individuals. To date 138 individuals have participated. Those 138 participants have contributed an average of $615. As in previous years, individual contributors will be listed in The Valued Voice by name and affiliated organization on a regular basis contributors to date are listed below. Contributors are listed alphabetically by contribution category. For more information, contact Jodi Bloch at or Jenny Boese at Contributions Ranging from $1 - $249 Arendt, Kathleen Aspirus Wausau Hospital Banaszynski, Gregory Beckler, Rick Sacred Heart Hospital Bernklau, Robert Memorial Health Center Bliven, David Aspirus Wausau Hospital Boson, Ann Saint Joseph s Hospital Bowe, Cynthia Sacred Heart Hospital Brisch, Joe Holy Family Memorial Medical Center Burgener, Jean Aspirus Wausau Hospital Casey, Karen Columbia Center Censky, Bill Holy Family Memorial Medical Center Clapp, Nicole Grant Regional Health Center Collins, Sherry Culotta, Jennifer St. Clare Hospital and Health Services Davis, Kathleen Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Dietsch, Teresa St. Clare Hospital and Health Services Grohskopf, Kevin St. Clare Hospital and Health Services Hinton, George Aurora Sinai Medical Center Hinz, Russ Hoege, Beverly Reedsburg Area Medical Center Jelle, Laura St. Clare Hospital and Health Services Jones, Tom St. Joseph s Community Health Services Karow, Deborah Aspirus Wausau Hospital Kempen, Jacob Aspirus Wausau Hospital Krueger, Pamela Aspirus Wausau Hospital Logemann, Tim Aspirus Wausau Hospital McCoic, Kristie St. Joseph s Community Health Services Miloszewicz, Angela Morauske, Michelle Mourey, Gerald Aspirus Wausau Hospital Mulder, Doris Beloit Memorial Hospital Powell, Stacey Sacred Heart Hospital Prunty, Brian Aspirus Wausau Hospital Rasmussen, Sheri Rocole, Theresa Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - All Saints Roundy, Ann Columbus Community Hospital Schweitzer, Susan Columbus Community Hospital Selberg, Heidi St. Mary s Hospital Medical Center Stanford, Matthew Swanson, Kerry SSM Health Care-Wisconsin Tryba, Jennifer Aspirus Wausau Hospital Walker, Troy St. Clare Hospital and Health Services Contributions Ranging from $250 - $499 Abitz, John Allison Stonebraker, Pat Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Ayers, Mandy Biros, Marilyn SSM Health Care-Wisconsin Clough, Sheila Howard Young Medical Center Conwell, Lisa Deich, Faye Sacred Heart Hospital Dietrich, Dean Aspirus Wausau Hospital Geiss, Peter ProHealth Care Grundstrom, David Flambeau Hospital Gutsch, Mike Southwest Health Center Hattem, Marita Aspirus Wausau Hospital Johnson, Charles St. Mary s Hospital Levin, Jeremy Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative May, Carol Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital Merline, Karen Nelson, James Fort HealthCare Olkowski, Leland Aspirus Wausau Hospital Pinekenstein, Barbara Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital Ross, Forrest Stout, Johni Stuart, Phil Tomah Memorial Hospital Van Meeteren, Bob Reedsburg Area Medical Center Worrick, Gerald Door County Memorial Hospital Yunk, Dennis Agnesian HealthCare Contributions Ranging from $500 - $999 Andersen, Travis St. Elizabeth Hospital Anderson, Sandy St. Clare Hospital and Health Services Borgerding, Dana Braddock, Michelle Buerstatte, Gary ProHealth Care Bukowski, Cathy Our Lady of Victory Hospital Callies, Julie WHA Information Center Canter, Richard Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Desien, Nicholas Ministry Health Care Eddy, Lee Anne Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Frank, Jennifer Gutzeit, Michael Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Harding, Ed Columbus Community Hospital Heifetz, Michael SSM Health Care-Wisconsin Huber, Mark Klawiter, Anne Southwest Health Center Korom, Nancy Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Merline, Paul Miller, Jim Children s Hospital and Health System Mlynarek, Robert Waukesha Memorial Hospital Potter, Brian Radoszewski, Pat Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Schafer, Michael Spooner Health System Shabino, Charles, M.D. Ship, Mark Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Wallace, Michael Fort HealthCare Woodward, Jim Meriter Hospital Contributions Ranging from $ $1999 Bazan, Bill Birkenstock, Timothy Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Bloch, Jodi Boese, Jennifer Chapin, Rocklon St. Mary s/duluth Clinic Health System Christensen, Cinthia Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Duncan, Larry Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Dunigan, Thomas Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Eichman, Cindy Our Lady of Victory Hospital Erwin, Duane Aspirus Wausau Hospital Gazzana, Thomas Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Grasmick, Mary Kay Kachelski, Joe WHA Information Center Karuschak, Michael Amery Regional Medical Center Leitch, Laura Loftus, Philip Mettner, Michelle Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Morgan, Dwight Munson, Kenneth Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Niemer, Margaret Children s Hospital of Wisconsin O Brien, Mary Aurora St. Luke s Medical Center Olson, David Bay Area Medical Center Olson, Ed Waukesha Memorial Hospital Reynolds, Sheila Children s Hospital of Wisconsin Richardson, Dana Robertstad, John Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital Roller, Rachel Stanford, Matthew Titus, Rexford ProHealth Care Troy, Peggy Children s Hospital and Health System Turkal, Nick, M.D. Warmuth, Judith Welch, Kimberly Contributions Ranging from $ $2999 Braddock, Jonathan Brenton, Mary E. Buser, Kenneth Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - All Saints Katen-Bahensky, Donna Quinn, George Starmann-Harrison, Mary SSM Health Care-Wisconsin Tyre, Scott Capitol Navigators, Inc Contributions $3000 and up Borgerding, Eric Brenton, Stephen Size, Tim Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative The Valued Voice -- Page /19/09

4 Data Collaborative Obtains Funding to Create Data-Based Workforce Planning A unique collaborative of major Wisconsin health organizations has been awarded a $300,000 threeyear Impact Award to address the state s health care labor shortages and related data analysis needs, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today. The grant to DWD, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and two other health organizations is being provided by the Medical College of Wisconsin s Healthier Partnership Program. The collaboration was spearheaded by DWD s Select Committee on Health Care Workforce, which is comprised of more than 30 top regional and statewide educational, labor, employer and government organizations committed to growing Wisconsin s skilled health care labor force. The is a member of the collaborative, represented by Judy Warmuth. Warmuth has been a member of the Select Committee since its inception. As long as I have been in health care, there have been workforce shortages. Each shortage creates a call for increased educational capacity, but without data, these efforts are difficult to sustain. It is imperative in today s very difficult economic environment that scarce dollars are wisely spent to ensure we are building the workforce needed for Wisconsin s future, said Warmuth. Effective health care workforce planning and policy development requires ongoing collection and analysis of labor force supply, demand and distribution data. State health care training programs work to determine numbers of prospective students to admit based on future workforce projections. Health care employers and students seek workforce data and labor market projections for business and career planning purposes. The grant will provide: $108,000 to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to expand data collection and analysis of Wisconsin s registered nursing workforce and improve the Department s forecasting tool for nursing shortage projections; $106,000 to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to analyze the state s public health workforce and ensure continued access to Wisconsin health care providers; $46,000 to the Wisconsin Center for Nursing to assist in expanded data collection and analysis of the state s nursing workforce; and $40,000 to the Department of Population Health at the Medical College of Wisconsin to advise on the assessment of the current and projected public health workforce in Wisconsin. The grant will be administered by the Wisconsin Medical Society in coordination with the Select Committee. Leaders of the following organizations are included on the Select Committee s health care workforce collaborative: Wisconsin Center for Nursing; UW-System; Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development; Wisconsin Nurses Association; Wisconsin Department of Health Services; Center on Wisconsin Strategies; Wisconsin Office of Rural Health and Center for Urban Population Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, UW-Madison; School of Pharmacy, UW-Madison; Wisconsin Primary Healthcare Association; Wisconsin Technical College System; UW-Milwaukee; Medical College of Wisconsin; Wisconsin Health Care Association; Wisconsin Medical Society; Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative; Wisconsin Association of Homes & Services for the Aging; Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin; Wisconsin Area Health Education Centers; Wisconsin Public Health Association; ; and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges & Universities. This project is funded in part by the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program, a component of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The Valued Voice -- Page /19/09

5 Wisconsin Hospitals: Connecting With Our Communities Stories From Our Hospitals Bellin Health, Green Bay Bellin Health s Wrightstown clinic to hold free hunter s health screening Bellin Health Family Medical Center-Wrightstown is offering a free health screening designed to ensure hunters are up to the demands of hiking through the woods in pursuit of wild game. The free hunter s health screenings include total cholesterol and glucose tests, a blood pressure check, body mass index, vision and hearing tests and risk factor evaluation by Dr. Brad Wozney. Each year, more than 600,000 men and women take to the woods, fields and marshes during the fall hunting seasons. Of that number, many experience health issues while hunting that prove fatal. Researchers in Royal Oaks, Mich., conducted a study on middle-aged, male hunters and reported their findings in the August 2007 edition of the American Journal of Cardiology. In the study of 25 deer hunters, the research team found many of the activities related to hunting, such as walking through rough terrain, spotting and shooting an animal and dragging its body, sent the men s hearts monitored by portable heart rate equipment to peak heart rates. In some instances, this led to potentially dangerous heart-rhythm disturbances. Findings like this are why we strongly encourage hunters to take advantage of our free screening, Wozney said. It costs nothing and can help save hunters from potential lifethreatening situations. Southwest Health Center, Platteville Medical professionals participate in UW-Platteville career camp In these uncertain economic times, one thing s for certain. The health services industry will continue to expand because of technological advances in medicine, a growing and aging population and the impending retirement of baby boomers. The demand for well-educated and well-trained health services professionals in hospitals, home health care or in health practitioners offices is projected to grow faster than many other occupations. Two health care professionals from Southwest Health Center recently had the opportunity to share that positive outlook with participants from Wisconsin and Iowa high schools. Julie Tashner, a physical therapist and Debra Kieler, a laboratory technologist, both from Southwest Health Center, participated in a Medical Explorer s Camp sponsored by and held at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on November 8. Julie and Debra presented to groups of high school students who are interested in a health services career. Choosing from eight different professions, the sessions gave insight into specific careers education requirements, skill sets, and compensation. (continued on page 6) The Valued Voice -- Page /19/09

6 Continued from page 5... Community Benefits: Stories From Our Hospitals What if you spent several years getting an education for a job that was no longer in high demand? asked Kieler. Shows like CSI have increased the profile and interest in laboratory-oriented careers. This camp gave students an opportunity to think about how their interests tie into the future trends of the workplace. This was Julie Tashner s first opportunity to participate in the Medical Explorer s Camp. Julie Tashner Debra Kieler Choosing a satisfying career that meets the needs of the marketplace is a really critical decision for these students, says Tashner. These kids are taking a proactive role in planning and directing their career choices. I was very impressed with their strong sense of direction. Submit hospital community benefit stories to Mary Kay Grasmick, editor, at mgrasmick@wha.org. Continued from page 1... Medical Examining Board Approves Streamlining Licensing of MN-Licensed Physicians Warmuth said that this was exciting news for WHA members, their patients and families. This will greatly reduce the amount of time required for physicians now licensed in Minnesota to obtain a Wisconsin license. It also reduces the amount of staff time required to process these requests in the Department of Regulation and Licensing, Warmuth said. We commend the MEB for its action and look forward to working with the state to continue improving patients access to physicians in Wisconsin. The proposal for streamlined licensure was developed with the assistance of the WHA Council on Workforce Development and should mean more timely access to physicians in Western and rural Wisconsin. It is the latest development in ongoing efforts by WHA to expedite licensure of health care professionals in Wisconsin. WHA Workforce Council Chair Phil Stuart, CEO, Tomah Memorial Hospital, praised the MEB and the WHA staff for identifying an opportunity to have more physicians available to practice in Wisconsin. Workforce issues are now and I believe will continue to be a top priority for Wisconsin hospitals in the years ahead. Access to excellent health care hinges on having an adequate number of physicians. Simplifying the licensure process enables physicians to work across state borders. That is a move in the right direction, according to Stuart. In other actions, the MEB learned that paper licenses will not be issued to individuals who renew their credentials electronically after July 1, Electronic documents will be available to those who need such, but the Department of Regulation and Licensing encourages use of the online license look up feature to determine if an individual has a current license to practice. In future meetings, the Board will consider several important issues: orders from out-of-state physicians for laboratory work, waivers to the limit on the number of physician assistants that can be supervised, and residency requirements for licensure. The Valued Voice -- Page /19/09