2008 Issue Briefs
To address and inform the public of hot topics in the healthcare community, CHA rolled out its latest publication, CHA Issue Briefs, in February 2004. Please feel free to contact us with questions.
NEW! A Walk in Their Shoes: Challenges Facing Today's Hospital Administration
Every day, hospitals in the United States provide care and services to heal the sick and take care of those in need. It is the job of hospital administrators to ensure that nonprofit hospitals are focused on their missions and serving the communities in which they exist. That means not just treating patients but providing high quality healthcare in a manner that is safe, provides an excellent patient experience and meets regulatory requirements. This task is by no means an easy one. Today’s hospital leaders must balance the rising cost of providing care to ever greater numbers of the uninsured with the need to bring in revenues that will sustain operations. Add to that the increasing scrutiny of hospital nonprofit status as well as staffing issues inherent in the complex, multi-layered organizational structure of hospitals and one begins to get an idea of the enormity of the job facing our region’s hospital leadership.
- August 2008
Through Frank’s Eyes: Hospital Care from a Patient Perspective
Providing patient care in a hospital setting seems like a fairly straightforward endeavor. In reality, so many factors play into providing patient care that a trip to the hospital can be overwhelming, especially for someone unfamiliar with the system. The reality for hospitals is that demands upon them seem to continually grow while at the same time resources diminish. With challenges like the nursing and allied health shortages, a struggling economy, and ongoing efforts to squeeze reimbursement, a hospital’s ability to provide an excellent patient experience becomes an ever greater struggle. This major challenge of doing more with less begs the question, "What is a patient’s experience truly like?" Who better to answer that question than a hypothetical, typical patient? Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- May 2008
Seeking a Remedy: Growing Need for Nurses Requires a Collaborative Approach
As the largest sector of the healthcare workforce, nurses represent a key component of an effective healthcare delivery system. Yet the ability of the healthcare system to perform at peak capacity is threatened by a looming shortage of nurses that is expected to intensify in the future. Addressing the issue encompasses not just increasing the number of nurses in the workforce, but also ensuring sufficient faculty are available to train nursing students.
Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- November 2007
The Evolution of Medicaid Managed Care in Ohio
Rising healthcare spending prompted Ohio to begin experimenting with Medicaid managed care over 25 years ago. The managed care market has changed over the years, yet area hospitals’ interests in ensuring Medicaid enrollees receive appropriate care while making sure they are appropriately reimbursed for services has not changed. The history of the Medicaid managed care endeavor in Ohio offers lessons that can be applied to the current expansion initiative. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- September 2007
Updated - Hospital Finance 101
CHA has updated one of its most popular issue briefs to reflect the most recently available data on hospital finance. A basic understanding of hospital finance is crucial as leaders continue to create policy that shapes healthcare financing. This updated 30,000-foot view of hospital finance is intended to shed some light on the complex system.
- Updated August 2007
Through the Looking Glass: Understanding Hospital Pricing
With consumers being required to shoulder more responsibility for their healthcare costs, there is growing pressure on providers to simplify prices and billing statements to make them more easily understood by the general public. This brief explores how hospitals set charges, how payers reimburse hospitals, the link between charge masters and reimbursement, what has been happening nationally and in Ohio, unintended consequences of price transparency and competition, and how policymakers can encourage transparency while protecting community hospitals. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- June 2007
A Look at the Year Ahead: Health Policy Issues in the Spotlight
The shift in the balance of power from Republicans to Democrats in Congress and in the Ohio governor’s mansion may provide a new twist, and perhaps inspire some new approaches, but the familiar issues of cost and quality, transparency and access, workforce supply and disaster preparedness, will remain at the top of policymakers’ agendas. This paper explores the issues on the horizon for the year ahead. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- January 2007
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2006 Issue Briefs
Caring for a Changing Community: How Northeast Ohio Hospitals are Serving a Diverse Population
The ability to connect with and understand patients is key to caring for them. Shifting demographics are resulting in an increasingly diverse population, which presents new opportunities for effectively and sensitively serving different patient populations. This brief looks at how national, state and local demographics are shifting; relevant laws and regulatory guidance pertaining to minority populations; and examples of how hospital practices reflect a commitment to assuring care is linguistically and culturally appropriate. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- September 2006
Northeast Ohio Hospitals: Our Economic Future
While manufacturing was once the heart of the region's economy, the decline of that industry is necessitating a fresh look at our local resources and a new strategy for cultivating a robust economy. As the smoke from the smokestacks lifts, we are left with a clear view of our most promising enterprise: healthcare. This paper explores why it is important to begin viewing healthcare differently, and why we should think of our hospitals not simply as places area residents go for care, but as the best bet for the future of our regional economy. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- August 2006
The Focus on Quality: A Closer Look at a National Trend
Quality improvement has long been a part of hospitals’ day-to-day operations. It is a cornerstone of every hospital’s mission, and they stake their reputations on their ability to provide quality care. In recent years, insurers have become more involved in healthcare decisions through the rise of managed care, and increasing expenditures have spurred interested parties – like employers who pay for health benefits – to become involved in initiatives to control expenses. As a result, the concept of healthcare quality assessment and improvement has begun to garner increased public attention. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- April 2006
2005 Issue Briefs
The Value of Modern Medicine: Understanding Rising Healthcare Spending |
This paper explores the situation regarding healthcare spending, including to what degree it has risen, where the nation’s healthcare dollar is being spent, and what factors have contributed to the increase. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- August 2005 |
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| Medicaid Code Blue: Saving the Safety Net |
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As Medicaid continues to absorb ever larger portions of both the state and federal budgets, there is growing concern about the future affordability of the program. This paper explains how Medicaid is administered, who is eligible and what is covered, and also explores what is currently taking place in the state and federal budget processes and the potential effects on the program and recipients. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- April 2005 |
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| Tipping the Scale to the Benefit of Our Community: The Real Value of Hospitals' Nonprofit Tax Status |
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Not only are hospitals a staple of the Northeast Ohio economy in terms of employment and the economic activity they generate, the activities associated with their charitable missions also provide vast benefits to the community. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- January 2005 |
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| 2004 Issue Briefs |
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| Is Inefficiency Ailing the Healthcare System? |
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This paper explores how healthcare financing, consumer behavior and regulation have influenced the healthcare system, and the role these factors play in the system's ultimate ability to function efficiently. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- September 2004 |
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| Protecting Access to Care Through Civil Justice Reform |
High jury awards, medical liability insurance market instability and subsequent professional liability premium increases are affecting access to physicians in Ohio. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- August 2004 |
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| The Domino Effect of the Uninsured |
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This issue brief paints a picture of the uninsured and describes the domino effect of the lack of insurance on individuals, providers and society. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- April 2004 |
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| Hospital Finance 101 |
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A basic understanding of hospital finance is crucial as leaders continue to create policy that shapes healthcare financing. This 30,000-foot view of hospital finance is intended to shed some light on the complex system. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
- February 2004
- Please note: Hospital Finance 101 has been updated as of August 2007. Please click here to read the updated issue. |
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