The cost of healthcare is climbing, thanks to inflation. Labor costs are up 15-30%, while drugs, supplies and energy cost 20% more. And Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are lagging behind. Clinic CEO and President Dr. Tom Mihaljevic laid out challenges in the annual State of the Clinic address Wednesday morning. The health system, which expects to lose $200 million in 2022, won’t cut back on its expansion plans. But it is looking to decrease travel, consultant fees and administrative hiring. It also aims to address declines in patient experience, burned-out healthcare workers leaving their jobs and growing gaps in healthcare equity. As Cleveland’s largest employer, these issues affect the entire region. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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Cleveland Clinic president and CEO Dr. Tom Mihaljevic says he’s optimistic about the health system’s future, despite an expected operating loss of more than $200 million for 2022. |
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State of the Clinic: The Cleveland Clinic’s operating loss of more than $200 million for 2022 stands in stark contrast to 2021, when the hospital system had its strongest financial performance and the highest clinical activity ever recorded. Julie Washington reports from the annual State of the Clinic address. Dark money: Ohio’s Republican political leaders are either shrugging it off or doubling down on the decision to call natural gas “green energy,” even though the methane-based fossil fuel causes climate change. Jake Zuckerman called Republicans after records show a dark money nonprofit pushed state lawmakers to legally redefine the gas in a 36-hour dash. He found a quote from a natural gas advocate who questioned the wisdom of calling solar and wind energy “renewable.” “You’ve never seen a wind turbine rebuild itself." Today in Ohio: Who was behind Ohio redefining methane-based fuel as “green energy?” Months before it was introduced and passed in a 36-hour legislative sprint, a dark-money nonprofit linked to the natural gas industry pushed for legislation. We’re talking about it on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Ethics law: A group of Ohio House Republicans are calling for changing state ethics law to require greater disclosure from lobbyists and utility board nominees while restricting elected officials from holding corporate board positions, among other changes. Andrew Tobias reports that Rep. Derek Merrin said the bill would the first major overhaul of state ethics laws in decades. Automated vehicles: Drivers may see more automated vehicles on rural roads with the testing of smart-vehicle technologies in southeast and central Ohio, reports Laura Hancock. The rural testing will help companies learn about the technologies when vehicles navigate curves, hills and in and out of shaded areas. |
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Cost of rent: The U.S. Census has found at least one-third of renters in 42 of Ohio’s 88 counties spend 35% or more of their income on rent and other housing costs, reports Zachary Smith. This trend is most widespread across Southeast Ohio, which is also characterized by some of the highest poverty rates and lowest incomes in the state. Scooters: Those who rent e-scooters in the city of Cleveland will soon be able to ride them until 11 p.m. -- two hours later than the current cutoff of 9 p.m. Courtney Astolfi reports that city officials are making the change in response to riders who weren’t happy with the earlier curfew, and data from e-scooter companies that showed there is “significant demand” for availability outside of current operating hours. Property taxes: Cuyahoga County has extended the deadline to pay property taxes to Feb. 9 to give residents more time to pay before incurring penalties, reports Courtney Astolfi. |
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Movie theater: The AMC Classic Solon 16 has permanently closed, ending the theater’s 31-year run, reports Joey Morona. When it opened in 1991, the Solon Commons 8, as it was known then, was touted as the city's first cinema since the town’s original movie house shut down in 1974. Power plant: The W.H. Sammis coal power plant will shut down by mid-July, setting an official end date for a former FirstEnergy and Ohio Edison power plant that has been on the chopping block several times. Energy Harbor sent a layoff notice to the state last week, saying that it plans to lay off 140 people who work at the plant in Stratton, reports Sean McDonnell. |
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Stolen identities: A Nigerian man found guilty of running an online marketplace that sold stolen identities, bank accounts and credit card information will spend the next three years in prison, reports Adam Ferrise. Blessing Adeleke, 31, said nothing during Wednesday’s hearing in federal court. TSA: Authorities seized 35 handguns at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport last year, a slight drop from the 43 found in 2021. Nationwide, officers grabbed 6,542 firearms at checkpoints at 262 airports, surpassing the previous record of 5,972 firearms caught at checkpoints last year. The vast majority of those firearms, 88%, were loaded, reports Molly Walsh. Police lawsuit: A Linndale police officer smashed a Cleveland man’s car window, pointed a gun at him and shoved him to the ground during a traffic stop, according to a lawsuit. Adam Ferrise reports that Fred Haynes and his girlfriend, Shannon Moneypenny, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Cleveland earlier this month. Police bribery: Two former East Cleveland police officers admitted to taking bribes to provide a man with falsified police reports as part of an insurance scam. Cory Shaffer reports Von Harris, 53, and Demarkco Johnson, 29, each pleaded guilty in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court to one count of bribery. |
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Benny Vino Winery: Benny Bucci is selling his dream, Benny Vino Winery, in Geneva, Ohio, which started in 2010 as an urban winery in a former lumber warehouse in Perry. Paris Wolfe reports the nearly 7-acre wooded property includes a 1,600-square-foot tasting room, crush house, tank/bottling room and laboratory, and a cabin overlooking the river. It is listed for $2.5 million. |
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Woman facing charges in crash during funeral procession that killed her 12-year-old son, 6-year-old nephew Read more Shoplifting call in Lake County leads to arrest of Cleveland murder suspect Read more No injuries reported after plane carrying federal inmate crashes at Geauga County Airport Read more Local leaders mourn death of retired Shaker Heights Municipal Judge K. J. Montgomery Read more John Carroll University gets city go-ahead for field house project Read more Parma Heights continues to replenish service department vehicle fleet Read more WellNow Urgent Care and Aspen Dental coming to Brooklyn Read more North Olmsted expected to eliminate tax abatement for new residential construction Read more |
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