2011 rate cuts make a bad situation worse. In 2009, skilled nursing facilities were underfunded by $262 Million;

According to a new report, there are massive financial challenges for nursing facility providers across Ohio, in the next year.

Medicaid is the health program for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Ohio skilled nursing facilities were underfunded by $14.31 per patient per day, in 2009. Projected forward to 2011 that is now underfunded by $18.23 per patient per day, a total of $330 million.

It would have been bad enough, but it gets worse – those calculations were for Fiscal Year 2011, which did not take into account the Medicaid rate cut of nearly $10 per day imposed by the state budget bill, House Bill 153. This cut took effect for Fiscal Year 2012, which began July 1, 2011.

“The widening gap between the cost of providing the quality skilled nursing care that Ohio’s seniors deserve and what Medicaid actually pays the providers who deliver that care puts our most vulnerable seniors at risk. This report underscores the need for policymakers to consider the impact additional cuts to either Medicare and Medicaid funding for skilled nursing facility care will have on Ohio’s seniors and people with disabilities.”
- Peter Van Runkle, Executive Director of the Ohio Health Care Association

Released by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), A Report on Shortfalls in Medicaid Funding for Nursing Home Care, compiled by Eljay, LLC, a national research firm, reveals a bleak outlook for both Ohio and the nation. Nationally, skilled nursing facility care was underfunded by $6.3 billion in 2011, or $19.55 per patient per day.

State underfunding leaves care providers with a shortfall of almost $20 each day for those who rely on Medicaid. Consistent underfunding of Medicaid only harms those most at-risk.

According to the survey, the 385 responding facilities eliminated more than 3,000 jobs to cope with the cuts in both Medicare and Medicaid. Although costs have been reduced, the gap between costs and payments is still growing. The really bad news is the survey only covered 40% of facilities.

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Ohioan who recorded this said “Well it breaks up at the end, but this tornado looked like it was seconds away from tearing up Akron”

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Voyages Season continues on Friday, December 31, 2010 at 8 p.m. in the Schuster Center, as the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Kettering Health Network present the Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration Concert.

Maestro Neal Gittleman has chosen a festive Italian theme for this year’s concert: “Viva Italia!” A wide variety of Italian music will be highlighted, including light selections from the classics and some of the great moments from Italian opera and Neapolitan song. Joining Neal and the DPO will be four outstanding soloists: soprano Karin Wolverton, tenor Scott Piper, and the DPO’s own Jessica Hung, violinist, and Ashley Hall, trumpeter. The program will include the following works:

The concert includes complimentary sparkling Moscato (sparkling non-alcoholic wine available as well) at intermission and a festive balloon drop at its conclusion. The concert will end around 10:30 p.m. with plenty of time for your party at home or out and about town. In addition to the concert festivities, the DPO will unveil its new 2011-2012 season at this performance.

Citilites, the restaurant at the Schuster Center, invites patrons to join us early in the Wintergarden for Dinner-by-the-Bites, featuring the following items:

Antipasto Skewer ($2)

Roasted Tomato and Goat Cheese Bruschetta ($2)

Cannoli ($2)

Italian Meringue Cookies ($2)

Flutes of Cava Champagne ($5)

For patrons choosing a full pre-concert dinner at Citilites, the feature will be Gnocchi Ragu w/ Italian Sausage ($19) as well as a Surf n’ Turf special,  plus a full menu. Call for reservations at (937) 222-0623.

Tickets for the New Year’s Eve performance range from $5 – $65 and are available by calling (888) 228-3630 or by ordering on the web at www.daytonphilharmonic.com. The concert is presented by Kettering Health Network.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Brennan Lafferty has been promoted to associate publisher of Waste & Recycling News, Publisher Bob Simmons announced today.  He previously was the brand’s Eastern sales manager.

“Brennan joined us in 1997 as a copy editor and moved through the editorial ranks to managing editor.  He then joined the sales team and was equally successful, particularly as the project manager for our buyers guide and Residential Recycling Conference.  This is a well earned and deserved promotion,” said Simmons.

“Brennan has proven himself over the years in his dedication both editorially and in sales,” said KC Crain, group publisher of Waste & Recycling News. “He is a strategic and innovative thinker who will help position the brand for the future.”

As associate publisher, Lafferty will take on a greater role in the business and overall operations of the publication.

Prior to joining Waste & Recycling News, Lafferty was a reporter and editor at Ceramic Industry, The Columbus Dispatch, The Morning Journal, The Intelligencer, the News-Register and WSTV-AM.

Lafferty is a graduate of John Carroll University and is currently working on a master’s degree in media management at Kent State University.  He is a member of the Akron Press Club and the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Cleveland.

About Waste & Recycling News

Waste & Recycling News is the largest environmental management business publication in the country with a circulation of 46,000 subscribers.  It is published by Crain Communications Inc.  For more information, visit wasterecyclingnews.com or crain.com.

Popularity: 5% [?]

The Senate has passed legislation to help defeat human trafficking, a move that some say is long overdue.

Senators voted overwhelmingly, 32-0, to pass the bill that would make human trafficking a crime in Ohio, a state which is among few to not have a human trafficking law. It will now move on to the House, where it is predicted to pass easily.

A state commission reported that close to 1,000 children are forced into sex trafficking every year in Ohio. Roughly 800 immigrants are exploited and thrown into demeaning, low paying and harsh sweatshop-esque jobs.

Senator Teresa Fedor says the law is necessary to ease the burden on federal authorities who can’t keep up with all of the cases Ohio sees.

Popularity: 11% [?]

The suspect in a random shooting outside an Akron deli was caught by police and their K-9 unit on Wednesday.

Police caught the short, 26 year old Jonathan Fedrick hiding in the attic of a home on Eastland Avenue, not so far from where he committed the crime. The trained K-9, named Liberty, sniffed him out behind some insulation and a chimney in a cramped attic.

He is accused of shooting a 21 year old man three times in a murder attempt outside of Six Corners Deli on Eastland Avenue at around 9 am Tuesday. The victim was treated at a hospital and is expected to recover. As for Fedrick, hee was treated at a hospital for a dog bite wound and subsequently charged with attempted murder.

In addition to the murder charge that has him in a Summit County Jail, Fedrick is charged with illegal weapon possession, resisting arrest and carrying a concealed weapon.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Popularity: 11% [?]

The Akron and Luxembourg-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that The Goodyear ‘Support Our Troops’ initiative raised $100,463 for the nonprofit organization, Support Our Troops®.

“Given our long-standing history with the United States Armed Forces, we are proud to present a donation of $100,463 to Support Our Troops,” said Kris Kienzl, Goodyear’s NASCAR marketing manager. “Goodyear would like to thank everyone who got involved to support this cause…NASCAR drivers, teams, other partners and especially the fans.  Their generosity and expressions of support that they extended through our program mean so much to us as well as the troops.”

The Company kicked off the fundraising effort around the July 4th holiday weekend races in Daytona Beach, Florida.  Every Goodyear Eagle racing tire was transformed to feature a red, white and blue color scheme reading “Support Our Troops” on the tires’ sidewalls. The new scheme was designed to help say ‘thank you’ to the members of the United States Armed Forces and their families.

“We are very grateful for the opportunity to have an iconic American company like Goodyear create such a successful initiative to support our mission,” said Martin C. Boire, Executive Director of Support Our Troops.  ”The NASCAR fans – some of the most patriotic and dedicated fans in the world – should feel good knowing that the proceeds generated by this program will go a long way in helping Support Our Troops achieve its mission — making a difference in the lives of our service men and women and their families.”

Goodyear jump-started the fundraising effort with a $20,000 donation to the initiative and also leveraged the new-look, race-used tires from the July 3rd Coke Zero 400 to host an online tire auction which ran from July 3rd to July 17th and provided fans the opportunity to bid on a piece of the action with all proceeds benefitting Support Our Troops.  Additional funds were generated through Goodyear dealer fundraising contributions and generous consumers donating portions or all of tire purchase rebates.

All funds raised are being donated to Support Our Troops, a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization founded to directly help citizens and community-minded businesses find constructive ways to benefit and support American troops. Funds raised through the Goodyear effort will benefit the programs which deliver more than $8 million per year in care packs and requested items to the front lines, positive support at home, kids’ camp assistance and more.

Goodyear has a longstanding history with the U.S. Armed Forces, with over 100 years of commitment to building innovative and reliable equipment to support and protect our troops. To this day, Goodyear continues to develop and test new possible fitments for U.S. military vehicles.

Goodyear’s commitment extends beyond products and charitable donations; Goodyear prides itself on hosting events at U.S. military bases throughout the year, including visits by NASCAR drivers and the Goodyear Blimp. These events allow the military service men and women and their families a chance to interact with the drivers and receive the rare opportunity to take a ride on the Goodyear Blimp.

Popularity: 23% [?]

It’s a testament to the sweeping epidemic that comes in the form of bullying – suicide.

A local Cuyahoga Falls man has become another part of the statistic, but to a different degree. Ronald Holly, 57, killed himself at an unknown time over the last week of October by overdosing on pills. As something of a final statement, a letter he wrote to an Akron Beacon-Journal editor was published November 4. He showed disdain for how society handles the gay community – Holly came out two years ago.

The letter was written on October 25. His body was found October 29.

The letter was a plea to society to give more respect to gays, in wake of the news of gay bullying leading to a plethora of suicides emerging in recent months. He says in the letter ”[I had to wait] until I was 55 years old before I could admit I was gay, because of the shame society heaped on me. I don’t want that to happen to anyone else.”

His walls were adorned with posters that reminded him to stay in good spirits and accept who he is, acting as another testament to the torment he was enduring .

Despite the seemingly obvious nature of this suicide, his family says other factors could be to blame, such as his battle with bipolar disorder or the death of his wife of 31 years three years ago. He was becoming more active in the community regardless, as he had recently become a member of Cascade  Community Church – a church that in a shocking twist, accepts gays for who they are and has many gay members.

The retired postal worker was hospitalized in 1987 for mental health problems, and was there as recent as October. Complicating the already labyrinthine struggle inside of his head, he was sexually assaulted at age 17. While all of these indicators would be a psychologist’s dream case, they tell the tale of a distressed man who couldn’t bear the pressure that society presses upon gays. Despite his self-burdening depression, Holly was widely accepted by friends and family, including within his church and around the community. That statement was echoed by the turnout at his funeral November 3.

One of his closest friends, Bruce Bidwell, calls on people to be tolerant and nice to others: ”You don’t know what others are going through. Everybody should remember that God loves them.”

If you are contemplating suicide, or if you know someone who is, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255.

nt today.

Popularity: 9% [?]

As all residents of Akron are probably aware, it’s a madhouse out there. That being said, here is a litany of burglaries that have occurred in the city as of late. Anyone with information is urged to call Akron police detectives at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips can be made at http://ci.akron.oh.us/ASP/tip.html.

• 300 block of East Thornton Street, between Oct. 14 and 23, someone forced open rear door. Taken: nothing.

• 700 block of Garfield Street, Oct. 22, someone forced open front door. Taken: surround-sound stereo box, Xbox 360, TV, PlayStation 3, miscellaneous video games, miscellaneous documents.

• 1200 block of Grandview Avenue, between Oct. 14 and 28, someone forced open rear door. Taken: faucet, dehumidifier, miscellaneous copper pipe.

• 900 block of Danmead Avenue, Oct. 28, someone forced open side of garage. Taken: nothing.

• 900 block of Kelly Avenue, Oct. 27, someone entered by unknown means. Taken: nothing.

• 2800 block of Ellet Avenue, between Oct. 21 and 29, someone forced open side window. Taken: nothing.

• 700 block of Utica Avenue, between Aug. 6 and 18, arrested entered by unknown means. Taken: two checks, credit card, miscellaneous jewelry. Arrested: Taylor G. Poe.

• 1200 block of Grant Street, between Oct. 20 and 27, someone entered side window. Taken: stove, computer.

• 800 block of Beardsley Street, Oct. 26 or 27, someone forced open side door. Taken: miscellaneous copper pipe.

• 500 block of Noah Avenue, Oct. 26, someone forced open rear door. Taken: Xbox 360, Wii, computer, TV.

• First block of White Pond Drive, Oct. 28, someone entered rear door. Taken: $100, two computers, miscellaneous jewelry.

• 100 block of Russell Avenue, Oct. 25, suspect entered side door. Taken: two air conditioners, washer, transmission. Suspect: Albert L. Grace, Jr.

• 300 block of Cleveland Street, Oct. 28, someone forced open rear window. Taken: lock box, miscellaneous documents.

• 900 block of Jefferson Avenue, Oct. 28, someone forced open rear door. Taken: $20, TV.

• 600 block of Johnston Court, Oct. 27, someone entered by unknown means. Taken: nothing.

• Andrew McAllister Photography, 30 N. High St., Oct. 31, someone attempted to force open front door. Taken: nothing.

• 700 block of North Main Street, Oct. 27, someone entered front door. Taken: TV.

• Bank of America, 701 Fouse Ave., between Sept. 1 and Oct. 29, someone entered side door. Taken: miscellaneous copper pipe.

• SafeGuard Properties Inc., 886 Berwin St., between Oct. 1 and 28, someone entered by unknown means. Taken: miscellaneous copper pipe.

• 900 block of Chalker Street, between Oct. 29 and 30, someone forced open rear door. Taken: $500, two computers, driver’s license, credit card, TV, VCR, Wii with controllers, miscellaneous video games.

• Safeguard Properties, 1033 Belden Ave., between Oct. 27 and 29, someone forced open rear door. Taken: miscellaneous copper pipe.

• 800 block of Corbett Avenue, Oct. 29 or 30, someone forced open rear door. Taken: stove.

• First block of North Arlington Street, Oct. 29, someone forced open side door. Taken: nothing.

• 1200 block of Niagara Avenue, between Sept. 1 and Oct. 28, someone forced open front door to shed. Taken: miscellaneous tools.

• 900 block of East Market Street, Oct. 28 or 29, someone entered by unknown means. Taken: two TVs.

• 1700 block of Flint Avenue, Oct. 29, someone forced open rear window. Taken: Toshiba Satellite L300, Apex digital recorder, iPod nano, miscellaneous jewelry.

• Wells Fargo, 252 Shawnee Path, between Oct. 8 and 15, someone forced open window. Taken: miscellaneous copper pipe.

• 700 block of Donald Avenue, Oct. 28, someone entered front window. Taken: Wii.

• 800 block of Palmetto Avenue, Oct. 28 or 29, someone forced open front window. Taken: TV.

• 1100 block of Georgia Avenue, between Oct. 27 and 29, someone entered unlocked rear window. Taken: miscellaneous copper pipe.

• 1100 block of Herberich Avenue, Oct. 31, someone entered by unknown means. Taken: computer, mirror, iPod touch.

• 1000 block of Peerless Avenue, Oct. 29, someone forced open side door. Taken: TV, computer.

• 900 block of Seward Avenue, Oct. 28, someone forced open side door. Taken: miscellaneous copper pipe.

• 1100 block of Nome Avenue, Oct. 29, someone forced open front door. Taken: $250, two TVs.

• 1200 block of Barcelona Drive, Oct. 29, someone entered by unknown means. Taken: computer, PlayStation 2, miscellaneous video games, miscellaneous jewelry.

• First block of Harcourt Drive, Oct. 27 or 28, someone forced open rear door. Taken: $90, two credit cards, wallet, miscellaneous documents, miscellaneous keys.

• 1100 block of Fess Avenue, Oct. 29, someone entered rear window. Taken: computer, TV, Xbox, miscellaneous video games.

• 600 block of Carroll Street, Oct. 29, someone forced open front window. Taken: two computers, iPod nano, iPod touch.

• 300 block of Fountain Street, Oct. 30, someone forced open side window. Taken: $20, TV, computer, router, miscellaneous keys.

• 100 block of Byers Avenue, Oct. 30, someone entered front of garage. Taken: lawn mower.

• Temple Israel, 133 Merriman Road, between Oct. 27 and 29, someone forced open front door. Taken: miscellaneous tools.

• 700 block of Moon Street, Oct. 29, someone forced open front door. Taken: two TVs.

Popularity: 15% [?]