News for All Sections

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

HUD opens new debt refinancing option for hospitals

 Richard Pizzi July 02, 2009
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has made it possible for hospitals to refinance debt under the HUD/FHA Section 242 Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program, without conditioning such refinancing on new construction or renovation.
(0)

Obama rallies 'ordinary Americans' to push health reform

 Diana Manos July 02, 2009
President Obama called on "ordinary Americans" to support his battle to reform the nation's healthcare system in a Wednesday town hall meeting on healthcare hosted by the Northern Virginia Community College.
(0)

Globally, patients pay the price for insufficient nursing staff, large workloads

 Chelsey Ledue July 02, 2009
Nurses believe that heavy workloads and insufficient staff are impacting patient care and health outcomes around the world, according to research presented at the International Council of Nurses' 24th Quadrennial Congress.
(0)

CMS proposes payment rate changes for hospital outpatient departments and ASCs

 Healthcare Finance News Staff July 02, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released proposed rules updating payment policies for hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgery centers in calendar year 2010.
(0)

Anti-fraud programs saved WellPoint $75M in 2008

 Chelsey Ledue July 02, 2009
As a result of its anti-fraud efforts, WellPoint and its affiliated health plans saved almost $75 million in 2008.
(0)

New Jersey hospital closes inpatient pediatric unit

 Healthcare Finance News Staff July 02, 2009
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, N.J., closed its inpatient pediatric unit this week, primarily due to under-use of the nine-bed unit.
(0)

NEHI calls for wellness campaign to curb chronic illness and lower costs in Massachusetts

 Chelsey Ledue July 01, 2009
As Massachusetts faces rising healthcare costs driven by sharp increases in costly, preventable chronic illnesses, the New England Healthcare Institute and the Boston Foundation have released new research highlighting the “vital importance” of improving wellness in the commonwealth.
(0)

Wake Forest Medical Center hires institution-wide CFO

 Healthcare Finance News Staff July 01, 2009
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has named Edward G. Chadwick its executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer, a new position created as part of a reorganization that began two years ago.
(0)

New Hampshire health system to integrate financial and clinical systems, strengthen physician ties

 Chelsey Ledue July 01, 2009
The need for a common financial platform to support physician practices, remote facilities and clinical information systems has prompted Capital Region Health Care to plan to replace its revenue management system.
(0)

IOM names top 100 research priorities for finding best healthcare

Diana Manos July 01, 2009
A report released Tuesday by the Institute of Medicine recommends 100 health topics that should get priority attention and funding from a new national research effort to identify which healthcare services work best.
(0)

Prescription co-pays rise for healthcare workers

 Richard Pizzi July 01, 2009
While approximately 95 percent of healthcare organizations offer prescription drug coverage as part of their medical plan offerings, non-formulary co-pays in these plans have increased over the last three years.
(0)

Wal-Mart, SEIU support health reform, employer mandate

 Diana Manos July 01, 2009
Wal-Mart, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Center for American Progress are urging President Barack Obama and Congress to move forward on health reform.
(0)

Economic productivity in healthcare means eliminating middle managers

 Chip Means July 01, 2009
Cutting administrative work out of the healthcare system is the first step to increasing the industry's economic productivity, said David Cutler, a Harvard University economics professor and campaign advisor to President Barack Obama.
(0)

Federal council recommends comparative effectiveness research priorities

 Richard Pizzi June 30, 2009
The Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research has recommended that the Department of Health and Human Services prioritize certain types of interventions and populations when allocating $400 million in funding.
(0)

Survey: HSAs are becoming more popular

 Chelsey Ledue June 30, 2009
According to a recent survey, health savings accounts continue to be adopted widely, with an ever-growing number of accounts and assets.
(1)

HHS rescinds Medicaid outpatient rule, other regulations

 Richard Pizzi June 30, 2009
The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the Obama administration will rescind all or part of three Medicaid regulations that were previously issued and delay the enforcement of a fourth regulation.
(0)

AHRQ releases state quality of care data with mixed findings

 Diana Manos June 30, 2009
In its annual state-by-state quality data, released last Friday, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality continues to give states mixed reviews for the quality of care they provide.
(0)

First Lady announces $851M in grants for community health centers

 Molly Merrill June 30, 2009
First Lady Michelle Obama announced the release of $851 million in grants to Community Health Centers on Monday.
(0)

Sebelius releases state reports highlighting need for health reform

 Richard Pizzi June 29, 2009
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has released a series of new reports on the healthcare status quo that highlight what she calls the "urgent need" for health reform across the nation.
(0)

Study details cost cutting successes in Medicaid, CHIP medical homes

 Diana Manos June 29, 2009
A Commonwealth Fund study shows how Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs have found ways to build medical homes to cut costs and improve care.
(0)