News

Sort by: Date | Rating | # Views | # Comments

CMS won't enforce 'direct supervision' policy for critical access hospitals

 Richard Pizzi March 17, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has instructed Medicare contractors not to evaluate or enforce the "direct supervision" requirement for therapeutic services furnished in calendar year 2010 to outpatients in critical access hospitals.
(0)

Brand-name drug prices are rising in 2010

 Chelsey Ledue March 17, 2010
A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis finds that prices for commonly used brand name drugs are rising in 2010.
(0)

New AMA tool to help doctors correct managed care contracts

 Chelsey Ledue March 17, 2010
A new online resource from the American Medical Association is designed to help physicians who are seeking alternatives to one-sided contracts offered by some managed care organizations.
(0)

California hospitals end affiliation talks

 Richard Pizzi March 17, 2010
Affiliation discussions have ended between Los Angeles-area-based Downey Regional Medical Center and the five-hospital Daughters of Charity Health System.
(0)

GE gives $1M to 4 Milwaukee health centers

 Chelsey Ledue March 16, 2010
The GE Foundation and the GE Corporate Diversity Council have awarded $1 million to four Milwaukee community healthcare centers to increase access to primary care for uninsured and underserved populations.
(0)

P4P models could improve medical professionalism

 Chelsey Ledue March 16, 2010
Properly designed pay-for-performance programs can strengthen the relationship between physicians and patients and increase the likelihood that physicians will deliver the best possible care, according to a panel convened by the American College of Physicians.
(0)

Hospital CEO turnover rate increases

 Richard Pizzi March 16, 2010
Hospital CEO turnover increased in 2009, tracking at 18 percent nationwide, up from 14 percent in 2008, according to the American College of Healthcare Executives.
(0)

HHS announces $162 million in 16 state HIE grants

 Diana Manos March 16, 2010
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday $162 million in awards to 16 states and qualified state designated entities for the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program.
(0)

New MedAssets program helps providers with construction projects

 Eric Wicklund March 16, 2010
Healthcare providers looking to launch construction projects will have a new tool at their disposal to make sure brick and mortar issues don’t affect the healthcare delivery process.
(0)

Vendor Notebook: Craneware, Inc., signs contract to deploy new toolkit

 Eric Wicklund March 15, 2010
Craneware, Inc., based in Orlando, Fla., has signed multi-year contracts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System on Long Island, N.Y., and the HealthEast Care System in Minnesota to implement the Chargemaster Corporate Toolkit, Online Reference Toolkit and Bill Analyzer solutions.
(0)

Mayo Clinic’s debt rating improves

 Richard Pizzi March 15, 2010
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has revised its rating outlook to positive from stable and affirmed a 'AA-' rating on debt issued for the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.
(0)

Community pharmacies tout "smaller" health reform bill

 Chelsey Ledue March 15, 2010
The National Community Pharmacy Association says a smaller healthcare reform bill introduced by Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) could greatly benefit community pharmacies.
(0)

Number of uninsured Americans could grow by 10M in five years

 Chelsey Ledue March 15, 2010
Without significant reform to the healthcare system, the number of uninsured Americans could grow by 10 million in five years, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
(1)

USDA funds construction of North Carolina hospital

 Richard Pizzi March 15, 2010
A $25 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help fund the construction of a new 50-bed acute care hospital in Harnett County, North Carolina.
(0)

Economist says episode payments will bend healthcare cost

 Patty Enrado March 15, 2010
Episode payments – case rates for major acute interventions and chronic conditions – are the best approach for payment reform, according to a University of California economist.
(0)

Operating improvements drive debt rating boost for Connecticut hospital

 Richard Pizzi March 12, 2010
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has revised the outlook on its underlying rating on revenue bonds issued for Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Conn., from negative to stable.
(0)

Michigan doctor convicted in $18.3M Medicare fraud scheme

 Chelsey Ledue March 12, 2010
A Detroit federal jury has convicted Farmington Hills, Mich. physician Jose Castro-Ramirez on 13 counts in connection with his role in an $18.3 million Medicare fraud scheme.
(0)

Puerto Rican coalition asks Congress for health equality

 Chelsey Ledue March 12, 2010
The National Puerto Rican Coalition has asked Congress to adopt revisions to pending healthcare reform legislation to better address the needs of U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico.
(0)

Creative payment reform initiatives abound nationwide

 Patty Enrado March 12, 2010
Innovative programs, such as tying the payment system to the delivery system, could help bend the healthcare cost curve, according to Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund.
(0)

Senate votes to delay doc pay cut until Oct. 1

 Diana Manos March 11, 2010
The Senate voted on Wednesday to delay a 21 percent Medicare physician pay cut until Oct. 1.
(1)