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 Each month, Oregon Health Forum will post highlights from its latest 12-page issue to give you a taste of what's available. We encourage you to subscribe now to get the full month's serving of news, insight and statistics on health care in Oregon. February OMA comes halfway on peer review Changing the reporting requirements for physicians who’ve been disciplined for medical incompetence or unprofessional conduct took center stage when the Board of Medical Examiners (BME) met with the executive committee of the Oregon Medical Association on Feb. 1. Back in 2003, the BME passed legislation to clarify such requirements (ORS 677.415). But until now it’s had difficulty getting an administrative rule adopted to implement that law. Once that occurs, such reports will have to be filed with the BME within 10 working days of the incident. When health care facilities or government agencies take “official actions,” against a physician who’s been impaired because of substance abuse, is considered mentally incompetent or has engaged in unprofessional conduct, the BME not only wants to know the details, but also the patients who’ve been impacted to conduct its investigation. “We want more specificity in reports to the board,” said Kathleen Haley, executive director. Charity care wars in Clark County Legacy Salmon Creek may win the prize for glitz and glamour in Clark County, but its competitor, Southwest Washington Medical Center, remains the leader in one important category, say its officials: charity care. “The medical center has historically been the main provider of services for the special needs population, the uninsured, the underinsured and the poor,” said Ken Cole, senior public affairs coordinator for Southwest Washington Medical Center. The introduction of Legacy Salmon Creek’s 151-bed facility in August, he added, hasn’t made a difference. “That’s definitely still the case,” Cole said. Doctor sues Santiam A lawsuit has been filed against Santiam Memorial Hospital by Dr. Katie Houts. She alleges top management “intentionally, maliciously and torturously interfered with her practice,” according to a complaint filed in Marion County Circuit Court. Houts, who resigned her hospital privileges in October 2004 and closed her practice shortly thereafter, is seeking $600,000 in damages. She also requested a restraining order to prevent a hospital investigation that she believes could tarnish her record. Houts claims hospital officials labeled her as a “disruptive” physician and “a malcontent” after she spoke out about poor quality of care at Santiam. Since 2004, she’s been on the board of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians. Tobacco giant ties up measure in courts A ballot measure to increase tobacco taxes would light up in flames if it were up to cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris USA. The company has challenged the ballot title with the Oregon Supreme Court on behalf of cigarette retailer Darimart and the Korean-American Grocers Association of Oregon. If it reaches voters, the measure would boost tobacco taxes by 60 cents on a pack of cigarettes and 5 percent on other tobacco products, generating another $175 million during the 2009-11 biennium ($133 million in 2007-09). The current tobacco tax ($1.18 per pack and 65 percent on the wholesale price of other tobacco products) is slated to draw $474 million in 2007-2009. On the record with Dr. John Kitzhaber Former Governor John Kitzhaber’s proposal to revamp our nation’s health care system has the ear of national and state leaders. The Archimedes Movement has even attracted interest from officials in Vermont, Maryland, Washington and Colorado. But beyond gaining federal waivers (Medicare, Medicaid, federal tax code and ERISA), Kitzhaber wants the 2008 presidential candidates to focus on our nation’s health care crisis. Here, in an interview with Oregon Health News Editor Diane Lund, he shared more details. OHN: What’s your political strategy? JK: We’re trying to enact a policy framework that would allow us to enter into a waiver debate back in D.C. The best way to do this would be through the legislative assembly. You could do it through the ballot measure. I expect I’m going to file something for 2008, and hopefully have 100,000 signatures by the time we reach the legislature next January.
Nurses turn down heat at St. Charles The fires are quieting at St. Charles Medical Center, where nurses and hospital officials have been engaged in a five-month struggle over staffing issues and a proposal by the hospital to eliminate charge nurses. But the coals are still hot. The medical center’s CEO, Jim Hobbs, issued a letter Jan. 20 calling off his charge nurse plan and making a commitment to develop “a staffing plan that would achieve the goals of quality patient care.” Implementing a permanent staffing plan, however, may take several months, and it’s unclear what role charge nurses will play in performance evaluation, a contributing factor in the original proposal, which would have cut their positions. Happy Valley’s crowded Providence Health System doesn’t plan to build a hospital in Happy Valley for at least another 10 years. But it’s already staked a claim on a piece of property. In January, the health system closed a $9.6 million deal on 69 acres just outside Portland’s eastern urban growth boundary. Construction on a medical office building could break ground by the end of this year on a nearby four-acre lot. That’s where Providence plans to house physician offices, rehabilitation, diagnostic and imaging services and capitalize on the burgeoning Clackamas County region. County shakeup stalled There’s virtually been no movement on a proposal to dissolve Multnomah County’s Department of County Services, and among other things, split up mental health and chemical dependency services. But the county commissioners did learn they could save between $700,000 and $1.4 million next fiscal year by not hiring a new department director and other support staff, which represents $180,000 to $400,000 in county general funds, said David Boyer, chief financial officer. Resurrecting SB 501 Instead of going straight for the bull’s eye, Tom Chamberlain, president of Oregon's AFL-CIO, is initially going for the 20s and the 19s. Since there’s no silver bullet for rising health costs, the best solution, he said, is to focus on incremental change. Chamberlain’s set his sights on insurance transparency. He wants to create a review board that insurers would have to answer to before imposing rate hikes on large group policies, similar to what was proposed originally in Senate Bill 501. Purchasers miss invite Mum’s the word. Joel Ario, administrator of Oregon’s Insurance Division, remains close-lipped about the transparency meetings he’s convening to paint a clearer picture of hospital costs. “At this point, we’re better off having private discussions,” said Ario, who was unwilling to share participant names. These closed-door meetings may be more secret than some believed because at least one sector, the purchasers, hasn’t shown up on the invite list. Also in this issue...
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