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High private-payer margins can lead to negative Medicare margins

 Richard Pizzi March 18, 2010
An article published this week in Health Affairs found that hospitals with strong market power lose money on Medicare patients because these hospitals tend to have high cost structures.
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New York hospital official pleads guilty to bid rigging and fraud

 Chelsey Ledue March 18, 2010
A former New York Presbyterian Hospital purchasing official pled guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to conspiring to rig bids on re-insulation service contracts.
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Insurance plans say health reform bill will drive up premiums

Diana Manos March 18, 2010
As Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill scramble to find votes to pass a healthcare overhaul bill as early as this weekend, America's Health Insurance Plans has launched a nationwide campaign to warn America that premiums will go up if the bill is passed.
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Study finds nursing workforce is growing and diversifying

 Richard Pizzi March 18, 2010
The number of licensed registered nurses in the United States grew to a new high of 3.1 million between 2004 and 2008, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Survey: Health insurance and access to care not so closely linked

 Chelsey Ledue March 10, 2010
Having health insurance is not synonymous with having access to healthcare, according to a survey released by the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation.
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