School Nurses Lobby Legislators Over Funding

Nurses' lobbying group on the State Capitol staircase, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

School nurses lobbied hard at the state capitol Tuesday, hoping to dissuade lawmakers from slashing their budget.

Governor Sonny Perdue proposes a $30 million cut for school nurses from the coming school year budget. But a spokesperson from his office says schools will have the flexibility to keep the program using local, and other state funding.

Legislative official speaking with nurses at the State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Joanne Giel is a school nurse and the president of the Georgia Association of School Nurses. She says the future of school nurses in Georgia is in jeopardy, if it’ll be up to local school districts to fund the program:

“It may mean a significant loss to their school nurse program if not the elimination.”

Its unclear how many districts would be able to keep the program alive.

The cuts come as lawmakers look for ways to fill a $2.2 billion hole in the state’s budget.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of budget issues

CSU: state nursing grant is good Rx

Columbus State University officials are optimistic that $3 million in competitive grant awards from the Board of Regents Nursing Education Initiative will alleviate the nursing shortage statewide.

CSU is to receive $141,043 to increase nursing faculty salaries to more competitive levels; increase admissions to 96 applicants to the bachelor’s of science in nursing program; and increase student retention and graduation rates to produce 66 additional graduates by 2010, a school statement said.

June Goyne, chair of CSU’s Department of Nursing said that:

“Beginning around 2010, nursing faculty retirements are going to begin increasing exponentially across the state. Unless more nurses with master’s degrees are attracted to nursing education careers, the state’s ability to graduate nurses is going to fall dramatically while the need for nurses continues to rise. Right now, nursing faculty salaries that are not competitive with clinical salaries for similarly educated nurses is our major obstacle.”

CSU’s efforts are part of a statewide goal of dramatically increasing the number of nurses in the state. Click here for more GPB News coverage of this story.

Regents bets $3 million will add more nurses

The University System of Georgia is hoping to graduate 50 percent more new nurses in the next three years under a new three million dollar program. The state's public college and university system is funding strategies at 16 campuses in hopes of increasing the number of nursing graduates statewide by 700 a year. Medical College of Georgia President Daniel Rahn told the state Board of Regents on Wednesday during the panel's monthly meeting that the move means the state would produce 2,400 new nurses annually. The strategies include offering accelerated degree programs for registered nurses, increasing nursing faculty salaries and hiring more faculty to teach a larger number of students. Each campus will receive anywhere from $140,000 to $200,000 for the strategies. A recent state House study committee report found that the public health nursing force has dropped to 1,556 in 2006 from 1,700 in 1990.

(Source: Associated Press)

Perdue Signs Access to Flu Vaccines Act into Law

Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law today the Access to Flu Vaccines Act. The law gives the governor power to declare a “pandemic influenza” state of emergency. That would come if the World Health Organization declares a Phase 5 Pandemic Alert for influenza or the Centers for Disease Control declares at least a Category 2 Pandemic Severity index for influenza, whether in the United States or Georgia.

The new law also allows pharmacists and registered nurses to order and dispense flu shots without a doctor's prescription. This was the case in the state until last fall, when the Composite Board of Medical Examiners classified the flu vaccine as a "dangerous drug." That classification made individual prescriptions a necessity.

Now pharmacists and nurses can enter into "protocol agreements" with physicians. This gives businesses, like small clinics in grocery stores and drug stores, the ability to offer flu shots without a prescription.

In a press release, Perdue says the new law gives more access to the vaccine and "allows the state to respond quickly and effectively to any flu outbreak.”

Grants to boost number of Georgia nurses

Sixteen of Georgia’s public universities will receive a total of $3 million in grants to produce more nursing graduates. The Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia hopes its Nursing Education Initiative will remedy the state’s shortage of registered nurses. The funding will be used to expand education programs and boost nursing faculty salaries around the state. Dr. Daniel Rahn is President of the Medical College of Georgia and a University System senior vice chancellor. He said the initiative is intended to increase by 50% the number of new registered nursing grads by 2010.

General Assembly Roundup: Day 31

Money apparently has been found to keep nurses in Georgia schools. Budget writers in the House Tuesday came up with $29-million for the school nursing program, with some of that money coming from federal stimulus dollars headed to the state. Governor Sonny Perdue had previously cut money for nurses. Still, the chair of a House education panel says furloughs should be considered for teachers to get money into the state’s ‘in trouble’ school districts. State Representative Ed Lindsey is a Republican from Atlanta:

"Particularly the poor school districts and the small school districts are being hit awfully hard regarding school financing. And we're already getting reports of layoffs and cutbacks in the various school districts."

Lindsey says furloughs for six planning days a year would save about $200-million.

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House Republicans plan to look at the measure to revamp Georgia’s capital punishment laws, whereby the death penalty would be allowed without a unanimous jury decision. House leaders pulled the proposal from debate Tuesday until they can make some technical changes.

House Budget Passes

The house version of the budget totals out at about 18.5 billion dollars.

1.4 billion of that comes from the federal stimulus spending. That federal money will keep school nurses employed, and help balance the state’s Medicaid budget. And while 18.5 billion dollars might sound like a lot of money, it’s a pretty steep drop off from the past two years where spending came in over the 20 billion dollar mark.

In short, as Republican Ben Harbin explains, there were deep cuts to spending.

"We've had to make some tough decisions, and those tough decisions didn't come with just a willy-nilly reaction to what we thought was way a to get this budget balanced..."

For example, this bill does not fund homeowner tax relief grants. That’s means some property owners and municipalities will have to make up that shortfall. Democrats like House leader Dubose Porter, voted against the bill, calling the gutting of the tax grants unacceptable.

“We, by passing this bill are authorizing the largest tax increase in Georgia History.”

While technically not a tax increase, the decision to cut the grants could end up costing individual homeowners hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars next year. Normally the state has pays a portion of each homeowners tax bill. Republicans say the choices are tough when state revenues are shrinking, layoffs are increasing and consumer spending is way down. The House budget now goes to the Senate for approval.

Faith-Based Groups Lobby for Cigarette Tax

A bill that would tack on a one dollar sales tax to every pack of cigarettes sold in Georgia is stuck in committee. But the bill's sponsor says the shrinking state budget might help turn the tide.

For Nurse Jean Holley, the message to lawmakers is simple:

"So do what we elected you to do.... pass the buck."

Holley is with the Georgia Network of Faith Community Nurses. She and other faith-based organizations lobbied at the Capitol for House Bill 39. Supporters say it could bring in more than $350 million a year to the state. And that money, Holley says, could make the future of Georgia a lot healthier.

"Financially, it's a no-brainer," says Holley. "You know we both stop some of the spending that we're doing, we hold on to more cash, and then we get some cash to develop programs that can really make a difference in the long-term health of our country and of our state."

The bill's sponsor, Republican Ron Stephens, says the legislation is stuck in an a House subcommittee. But he remains optimistic. That's because, he says, new cuts to next year's budget could spark lawmakers to look for money wherever they can get it.

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FBI Hiring In Georgia

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking for a few good men and women in Georgia - not as fugitives, but rather to join the force.

It's the largest FBI recruiting effort since the terror attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

FBI Special Agent Steve Lazarus of the Atlanta Field Office says that while he couldn't provide figures of how may spots were in Georgia, he said the agency employs over 30,000 personnel nationwide, and that 13,000 of them were gun and badge-carrying agents.

The law-enforcement agency's posted openings for over 2,000 positions nationwide; from accountants and auto mechanics, to nurses, linguists and cyberspooks.

Eight hundred and fifty of the spots are for special agents.

Professor John Fuller teaches criminology at the University of West Georgia. He says terror threats and natural attrition are behind the hiring drive:

"I'm finding from my students that are going out there for employment; that even though this is a very, very tough time, that many agencies are experiencing vacancies because there's this new mandate to do something about terrorism, and -- their established workforce -- many of them are reaching the retirement age."

The agency has 56 field offices nationwide.

Lazarus said applicants should apply through the agency's website, and not call the Atlanta office.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about the FBI in Georgia.

About that special session

It has been nearly two weeks since Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed the midyear budget passed by the state legislature, citing lack of funding for basic services and a controversial property tax cut championed by House Speaker Glenn Richardson.

On April 20, his office released a statement saying "he would make an announcement next week calling for a special session of the legislature to pass a balanced 2007 amended budget that meets the needs of Georgia's citizens."

But that week has come and gone, and Perdue has kept mum.

Meanwhile, schools that were counting on the midyear budget for money to ease overcrowding and pay nurses are digging into their rainy-day funds.

"Some are quite worried," says Department of Education Spokesman Dana Tofig. "They haven't hit crisis mode yet, but some are spending their own money—either surpluses or redirecting other funds. That's not ideal at all."

State leaders who say they want the special session to be as swift and painless as possible might be trying to get their ducks in a row before lawmakers return to the Capitol. That won't be a small feat, judging from the end of the regular session.

At that time, Richardson vowed the House would override Perdue's veto of the budget "again and again and again" in a special session. Richardson continues to insist on including a tax cut in the budget.

Tempers have cooled somewhat in the interim, but Richardson's spokeswoman, Clelia Davis, says the speaker has not met with Perdue.

"We're willing to work on it," said Davis. "We're willing to talk, but we have not heard from the governor's office."

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle says he has met separately with both men. "I wish you could take the politics out of the equation that we're in," he told reporters last week. "Unfortunately, that does not exist."

Georgia sports for Monday, August 6th

Rookie Yunel Escobar delievered an RBI-single in the 10th inning for the winning margin, as the Braves topped the Rockies 6-5 at Turner Field Sunday. Escobar had 2 RBI's for the game. The Atlanta-offense included a 3-hit day for Chipper Jones--a 2-run home run and double on his scorecard. Corky Miller and Willie Harris had RBI-doubles. The pitching win went to Oscar Villareal from the bullpen, his 1-inning of work to improve his mark to 2-1. The Braves finished a 4-2 homestand, and remain 4-and-a-half games behind the Mets for 1st in the NL-East division.

News-and-notes with the Braves from the weekend: Andruw Jones missed starting the past 2 games as he nurses an ailing left elbow. He received a cortisone shot to help the healing, and expects to play in the Mets-series which starts tomorrow night in New York. Shortstop Edgar Renteria was placed on the disabled list with an ankle sprain. Yunel Escobar will be the replacement at short until Renteria returns.

New 1st baseman Mark Teixeira has played 5 games since his trade to Atlanta. He's hit 3 home runs with 7 RBI's. Chipper Jones was mired in a 6-for-34 slide at the plate until getting healthy in Sunday's game with 3 hits.


Former Brave Tom Glavine last night became the 23rd pitcher all-time to record 300 wins for a career. Glavine's Mets beat the Cubs in Chicago. Glavine in the achievement is the 5th lefthanded pitcher in history to reach the milestone. While with the Braves, Glavine won 242 games and a pair of Cy Young awards.

From college football, preseason practice is underway in earnest for the teams of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia Southern.

V.A. clinic opens on coast

A new veterans' clinic is open on the coast. The Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in St. Marys will save thousands of veterans long drives for medical treatment and advice about benefits. It will be fully staffed by December with 20 doctors, nurses, lab technicians and a pharmacist. The VA says the clinic will accept veterans from anywhere with no geographical restrictions.

(Associated Press)

Columbus: 2 dead, 2 wounded in hospital shooting (updated)

Columbus Police Command and Control van outside of the emergency room of Doctors Hospital in Columbus, GA., where one of the shootings took place, on March 27, 2008. (Dave Bender)

A Muscogee County man went on a shooting spree at Doctors Hospital Thursday afternoon, killing two people and wounding a third.



Columbus Chief of Police Ricky Boren talking with reporters at the scene of the shooting, Doctors Hospital, Columbus, GA., on March 27, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren says 63-year-old Charles Johnston, reportedly a retired Muscogee County schoolteacher killed a male nurse who had taken care of his mother, who had died at the hospital from natural causes:

“The individual had carried a grudge against at least one of the nurses involved in her care from 2004 until today. He came here to the hospital carrying three weapons. He was carrying a nine millimeter automatic, a .380 automatic and a .32 revolver.”

Boren, who told reporters that police received a call for assistance at 2:17 pm, says Johnston then shot and killed a second person, and fled to the parking lot. There, he then shot and critically wounded a third individual traveling in a vehicle, as they pulled into the lot.


Law-enforcement officials confer near a Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime scene van in the parking lot of Doctors Hospital, Columbus, GA., on March 27, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Police say the suspect then opened fire on a Muscogee County deputy marshal and a Columbus police office who had been called to the scene. Both returned fire, and were unhurt.

A police detective who arrived on the scene fired at Johnston, wounding him. Johnston was operated on and is in police custody.

Information about family members who were at the hospital at the time of the shootings is available at 706-494-4057.

The midyear budget: winners and losers

When Governor Sonny Perdue signed the midyear budget Tuesday, he admitted it helped some state agencies but hurt others.

"I've been trying to persuade my legislative brethren [who write the budget] there were unmet needs and these things would happen," Perdue told reporters. "Bad decisions have consequences."

The consequences will be felt strongly by the following "losers" in the 2007 amended budget:

Prosecuting Attorneys Council Executive Director Richard Malone says the budget shortchanges district attorneys' offices by $1.2 million.

Malone says every employee, except the district attorneys, will be furloughed without pay for up to six days.

"The DAs themselves will be okay," Malone said. "It's the younger and the less financially stable folks—meaning those that get paid a lot less—that are going to suffer the most."

Malone worries that line prosecutors and staff will become discouraged and go job-hunting elsewhere.

Adult basic education teachers are in an even worse bind: they could be furloughed for an entire month because the Department of Technical Education did not receive the $800,000 it needs for salaries in June.

Spokesman Mike Light says the department is seeking other sources of money.

"If we're going to do anything to save the people and keep them on their jobs," Light says, "It would have to be local funds from the college level or somewhere else."

About 96,000 students are in the programs that could be suspended. They include high-school dropouts in GED classes, and immigrants learning English.

On the other hand, here are some "winners":

Administrators of the cash-strapped Peachcare child health program are relieved. They will receive up to $81 million to reimburse providers.

But, they will not lift the freeze on enrollment until October or later, according to Mark Trail, who oversees the program.

Trail says state officials want to make sure that Congress reauthorizes the program and changes its federal funding formula.

About 284,000 children from low-wage and middle-class families use Peachcare.

Finally, the budget brings good news for public schools. They will get $164 million to pay teachers and school nurses.

Voters to be offered flu shots

Officials in western Georgia say they have a novel way to boost voter turnout on Election Day.

Muscogee County’s Board of Elections and Registrations, together with the local Health Department are taking part in a nationwide “Vote and Vax” campaign. The program was launched in the summer of 2006 and voting officials hope it will draw more voters to the polls by offering flu vaccinations.

Nancy Boren is Muscogee County’s voter registrar:

"The Health Department and the Board of Elections decided to team together to have the elderly and those in need of a flu shot to get their flu shot at the same time that they vote."

And, Boren says, four early-voting stations in Columbus will be the first to administer those shots, from October twenty-seventh to the thirtieth.

A West Central Health District spokesperson says their sole intention "is to offer convenient influenza vaccinations at select early polling sites for our community members."
Professional nurses from two Columbus colleges will give the injections. They’ll costs $23 dollars apiece, and won’t require a prescription.

Boren says that while voting and vaccinations will be held at the same locations, one doesn’t depend on the other:

"You do not have to vote to get a shot, nor do you have to get a shot to vote, so, while they will be in the same area, there will be a separation between the two."

Health officials add that only people of voting age will be eligible to receive the immunization, but that age-appropriate shots are available at local health departments.

While only Muscogee and Cherokee counties have signed up so far, officials hope more of the 15 counties that make up the West Central Health District will take part.

A West Central Health District spokesperson says their sole intention "is to offer convenient influenza vaccinations at select early polling sites for our community members."

Click here for more GPB News coverage of health issues.

Legislative Round-up: Bills Passed Final Day

The 40-day session came to a close, Friday. Here's some bills that passed the finish line before the gavel came down.

Georgia Budget 2010

The $18.6 billion state budget slashes about $1 billion in spending because of the lagging economy. The Senate's top budget writer said agencies will see an average cut of about eight percent. The plan voids increasing health insurance costs for state workers by tapping federal stimulus dollars to pay for Medicaid, the health program for the poor that's seeing enrollment soar as the economy worsens. The budget covers the fiscal year beginning July 1st.

Transportation

Lawmakers agreed on a separate transportation overhaul that would give state politicians vast new control over infrastructure dollars. The transportation makeover, which passed the Senate
33-22, comes after heavy lobbying from Republican leaders who argued that granting the governor and lawmakers new powers over transportation funding would help transform a dysfunctional bureaucracy into one that is more accountable to voters. However, no new funds for transportation were passed.

Tax Breaks

Lawmakers approved a sweeping new tax break that cuts the state's capital gains tax in half over two years. A capital gain is the difference between what you paid for an investment and what received when you sold that investment. Investments include mutual funds, bonds, stocks, options, precious metals, real estate, and collectibles.

The measure also doles out a $2,400 income tax credit to any business that hires someone who has been unemployed for at least four weeks. It creates a one-year "new business holiday" that waives the $100 filing fee for new businesses. Those efforst are aimed at encouraging businesses to hire new employees, but critics say the capital gains cuts would rip an even greater hole in the recession-ravaged budget and would benefit only the wealthiest Georgians.

Tax Delinquent Lawmakers

Georgia lawmakers who fail to pay taxes could soon face sanctions from a legislative committee.
The House and Senate each overwhelmingly passed measures late Friday that would allow their chambers' respective ethics committees to investigate and sanction legislators who fail to pay
their taxes.

The vote comes after the state Department of Revenue revealed that 22 state lawmakers - about 10 percent of the General Assembly - are delinquent on their taxes. Only three of those lawmakers' names have been made public. Legislators said they cannot consider sanctions unless they know who they are.

Voting Checks

Georgia lawmakers voted Friday to require prospective voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before they cast their ballots. Georgia would become the second state with such requirements. Only Arizona requires its residents to prove they are U.S. citizens to register to vote.

The measure, which passed the House by a 104-67 vote, would require voters to prove their citizenship using a passport, a driver's license or other documents. It now goes to Gov. Sonny
Perdue.

Access to Flu Vaccines

Pharmacists would be able to continue administering flu vaccines under legislation that cleared the Georgia Legislature. The "Access to Flu Vaccines Act" received final passage on Friday.

It allows doctors to enter into agreements with pharmacists and registered nurses to order and dispense the shots without each one needing a separate prescription.

Governor Sonny Perdue said the bill was needed to prevent confusion among pharmacists about whether they could dispense the shots. Perdue said the bill makes it easier for Georgians to receive their yearly flu shots.

(The Associated Press)

Patient advocates: the doctor will see you. Now.

After three surgeries, Judy Sherer still had chronic pain in her left shoulder. She'd lost faith in her doctors, and in despair tried a new health benefit offered by her employer.

The service, Health Advocate, is a call-in center that helps customers find the right doctor, haggle over insurance coverage and manage other medical system headaches.

An advocate helped Sherer find a new surgeon — one who found metal shavings left in her shoulder by a previous doctor. The advocate also negotiated the charge for her physical therapy down to $40 per visit from the $200 she was told initially.

"It saved me a ton of money," said Sherer, 63, of Norcross, Ga. "I'm very, very pleased."

Health Advocate is one of a growing number of U.S. companies offering some form of advocacy services to medical consumers.

Currently, the health advocacy business is an industry with about $50 million to $75 million in annual revenue but only about a half-dozen companies of any significant size, said Richard Rakowski of Intersection LLC, a Connecticut-based investment and development firm that has researched the field.

More than ever, people need help negotiating the medical system, said Jessica Greene, a University of Oregon health policy analyst.

"We're asking consumers to make more complicated decisions, but the numeracy and health literacy skills of many consumers are not at the level needed to handle this new responsibility," Greene said.

Though some consumers are savvy enough to beat a billing overcharge or probe doctors' litigation histories, they don't have the time for such labors, experts said.

Indeed, the largest customers of health advocacy services are companies, not individuals. "The employers are interested because it means their employees are not on the phone taking care of doctor's visits" during work hours, Fischer said.

Some other companies have always focused on individuals, especially rich ones.

One example is $10,000-a-year PinnacleCare, founded in 2002 by John Hutchins, who created a concierge-like service at the Cleveland Clinic. He later used his connections to build a national network of doctors for his private health advisory start-up.

The Baltimore-based company is essentially a club for millionaires and billionaires that puts nurses and social workers in touch with members. Not only will they help members find top-level care, they will get them moved to the head of the line. PinnacleCare advisers will even meet the patient at a doctor's office or hospital.

PinnacleCare has about 1,700 member-families. One satisfied customer is Kirk Posmantur, 45, the founder and chairman of Axcess Luxury & Lifestyle. His Atlanta-based company markets handmade watches, private jets and other luxury items to the affluent.

"It's a no-brainer for those who've got net worth of $5 million or more," he said. "You've got people who advise you on your taxes. You've got people who advise you on how to manage your money. But what's more important than your health?"

(The Associated Press)

Click here for more GPB News coverage of health issues.

Columbus: Third shooting victim dies

Law-enforcement officials confer near a Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime scene van in the parking lot of Doctors Hospital, Columbus, GA., on March 27, 2008. (Dave Bender)

A person who was shot in the head and critically wounded in Thursday afternoon's shooting spree at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, died of their wounds this evening.

The individual was shot in the hospital's parking lot by a man who police said bore a grudge against staffers who had treated his mother several years earlier. The man shot and killed the other two victims in the hospital a short time earlier.

The three have not been identified as this update was posted, pending notification of their families.

Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren said 63-year-old Charles Johnston, a retired Muscogee County schoolteacher killed a male nurse who had taken care of his mother, who had died at the hospital from natural causes:

“The individual had carried a grudge against at least one of the nurses involved in her care from 2004 until today. He came here to the hospital carrying three weapons. He was carrying a nine millimeter automatic, a .380 automatic and a .32 revolver.”

Larry Sanders, CEO of Columbus Regional Hospital released a statement over the slaying:

"On behalf of the board of directors, medical staff and all the employees of Doctors Hospital and the entire Columbus Regional family, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the vicitms in this shooting. We are deeply saddened at the tragic loss of these three lives. We are reminded of how a tragedy can strike without warning and that life is precious. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of their families. We ask that everyone in the community keep them in their thougts and prayers as well."

Information about family members who were at the hospital at the time of the shootings is available at 706-494-4057.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about the shootings at Doctors Hospital.

State puts two nursing programs on notice

The practical nursing programs at Augusta Technical College's Waynesboro campus and Coastal Georgia Community College have been put on notice by a state regulatory board. Too few graduates have passed the national professional exam.

The Augusta Chronicle reports it's the first time either program has been cited. That word comes from the Secretary of State's office, which is facilitator of the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses.

The Chronicle reports Augusta Tech's passing rate was just above 62-percent, while Coastal Georgia's was 75-percent. Should the passing rate for graduates taking the exam a first time stay below 80-percent, the schools could lose permission to offer the nursing programs.

MDs decide who lives in case of pandemic

From the Associated Press

An influential group of physicians has drafted a grimly specific list of recommendations for which patients wouldn't be treated. They include the very elderly, seriously hurt trauma victims, severely burned patients and those with severe dementia.

The suggested list was compiled by a task force whose members come from prestigious universities, medical groups, the military and government agencies. They include the Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The proposed guidelines are designed to be a blueprint for hospitals "so that everybody will be thinking in the same way" when pandemic flu or another widespread health care disaster hits, said Dr. Asha Devereaux, a critical care specialist in San Diego and lead writer of the task force report. The idea is to try to make sure that scarce resources — including ventilators, medicine and doctors and nurses — are used in a uniform, objective way, task force members said.