August 2009

This Month's Features

  • July 31, 2009 | COMMENTS ()

    Survey tool delivers ROI for disease management program

    A University of Oregon study on disease management patients who were coached using a survey tool called the Patient Activation Measure showed significant improvements in clinical outcomes, fewer hospitalizations and ER visits and cost savings over patients who received traditional telephonic coaching.

  • July 31, 2009 | COMMENTS ()

    White House secures AHA's backing

    The American Hospital Association has reached an agreement with the Obama Administration on a "framework" for reimbursement concessions and other key changes that could help achieve national healthcare reform. The agreement involves a hospital commitment of $155 billion in Medicare and Medicaid savings over the next 10 years to cover to help cover the cost of reform.

Industry News

  • Merger reshapes healthcare in Dakotas

    Richard Pizzi

    After four months of discussion, South Dakota-based Sanford Health and the North Dakota-based MeritCare Health System have announced plans to merge, creating one of the country's largest integrated healthcare systems.

  • Study: Uninsured ER patients amount to 20% of all visits

    Chelsey Ledue

    According to the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, the largest all-payer emergency department database in the United States, uninsured persons accounted for nearly one-fifth of the 120 million hospital-based emergency department visits in 2006.

  • Obama, Congress wrangle over reform

    Diana Manos

    President Barack Obama says America can no longer live with the status quo when it comes to healthcare.

  • Public health plans? We have them already

    Diana Manos

    As the health reform debate continues, the Democratic proposal for a public health plan option seems to be a hot topic for reform opponents. But the truth is, public programs already exist in the United States – with more than half of all Americans eligible for them. They seem to be not only quite welcome, but are mainstays of our society's (dare I say the forbidden words?) "common good."

  • Study: 45k physicians qualify for ARRA HIT payments

    Richard Pizzi

    About 45,000 office-based physicians may be eligible for up to $63,750 over six years to improve and maintain their health information technology systems because of their participation in Medicaid, according to a new study.