Ohio hospitals have delivered a package of initiatives that fit within Gov. John Kasich’s call for all Ohioans to work together, employing innovation and common sense, for a better Ohio. In his first State of the State address yesterday, the governor stressed the need for creative solutions to control costs and enact far-reaching reforms to help Ohio deal with an unprecedented $8 billion budget deficit and move the state forward. Ohio hospitals have worked for months to deliver a $2.2 billion proposal to the administration to be part of the state’s budget solution. Hospitals believe these changes can help preserve adequate funding for the Medicaid program and hope they will be included in the governor’s budget when it is introduced March 15.

The looming specter of an $8 billion budget deficit will cast its shadow over nearly everything that happens ’ or doesn’t happen ’ in the Ohio legislature this year. But that won’t stop key interest groups from throughout Ohio’s healthcare community from pushing for (and against) prospective laws that they hold most (or least) dear.

As many people embark on resolutions for the new year, Ohio hospitals continue their decades of service — providing charity care and other community benefits. A recent report, issued last month, calculated the amount at $2.6 billion.But a broader look at recent news reports shows that hospitals are more than just places for the insured [...]

Amy Andres has worked crafting health IT policy and other issues in the medical community and will now work with hospitals in Ohio. The Ohio Hospital Association hired the former Ohio Department of Insurance chief of staff as its director of data services.

During this season of giving, Ohio hospitals are releasing a report detailing the record amount of charity care and other benefits they provide to their local communities, extending $2.6 billion in free or discounted services to some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.The 2010 Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) community benefit report showcases the many compelling contributions hospitals make within and outside their walls. The report, which includes stories of how caregivers go beyond expectations, is available online only for the first time at www.ohanet.org/Community-Benefits/ .

Ohio hospitals provided $2.6 billion in community benefit in 2008, according to a report from the Ohio Hospital Association. Community benefit is defined as the dollar amount that the state’s hospitals provided in charity care, Medicaid subsidies and activities within the community. Hospitals are required by the federal government to show benefit to their communities to justify their tax-exempt status.

Two Ohio hospitals were among 65 named to a coalition of healthcare buyers’ list of the top U.S. hospitals, in terms of quality and safety. The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati and the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus took the honors from Leapfrog Group, which advocates for employers that purchase healthcare.

When it comes to keeping smiles on the faces of Ohio’s medical industry leaders, Governor-elect John Kasich’s predecessor did him a big favor. It’s called Ohio Third Frontier.

Fifty-three Ohio hospitals have cut their rate of bloodstream infections from central-line catheters by 48 percent in the first six months of a two-year nationwide effort to improve patient safety, according to the Ohio Hospital Association.The association and the Ohio Patient Safety Institute launched the Ohio effort — On The CUSP: Stop BSI (bloodstream infections) [...]

Ohio Representatives Terry Boose of Norwalk and Troy Balderson of Zanesville, both Republicans, said Monday they plan to introduce legislation that would provide tax relief to Ohio hospitals.The proposal is aimed at reducing the hospital franchise fee, which took effect in November. The fee is expected to raise $150 million — net of Medicaid and [...]