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Today's News: 05/17/2012

Thu, 17 May 2012 20:33:00 GMT

Medical Professional Liability Reform

The Times-Tribune reports, �Medical malpractice lawsuits in Pennsylvania have dropped by more than 40 percent...� HAP cited

Member News

The Central Penn Business Journal reports that Lancaster General Health announced a transfer in ownership of its outpatient renal dialysis center.

The Express-Times reports that Easton Hospital plans to open its first health and wellness center.

State Budget

The Patriot-News reports that two Pennsylvania counties have passed resolutions opposing Gov. Corbett's proposed cuts to human service program funding.

An Intelligencer opinion asks for a Pennsylvania budget that is realistic and supports the state's mental health and other community-based programs.

Technology

The Record Herald reports that new technology at Waynesboro Hospital links local doctors to burn specialists via Lehigh Valley Health Network's TeleBurn program. Chambersburg Hospital cited

State News

The following news sources report about the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment council's newly released report, citing HAP or DVHC of HAP: the Bucks County Courier Times, the Citizen's Voice, the Patriot-News, the Philadelphia Business Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phoenixville Patch, the Pittsburgh Business Times, the Standard-Speaker, and the Times-Tribune.

In related articles, the following news sources also report about the story:�the Central Penn Business Journal, the Erie Times-News, Essential Public Radio, the Observer-Reporter, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Times-Tribune reports about the recent state Supreme Court ruling about tax-exempt status.

In a related article, a Daily News opinion discusses the tax-exempt status of not-for-profits.

Health Reform

A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette opinion discusses the benefits to Pennsylvania from the Affordable Care Act.

Reuters reports that a November 16 deadline has been set for state submission of health insurance exchange proposals.

The American Medical News reports that meaningful use incentive payments made during 2011 helped boost the bottom line for several for-profit hospital companies.

Health IT

Healthcare IT News reports that, by the end of 2011, 58 percent of office-based physicians were e-prescribing.

Today's News: 05/16/2012

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:54:00 GMT

Member News

The Herald-Mail reports that Waynesboro Hospital is expanding its programs and services to keep pace with the needs of the community. Chambersburg Hospital cited

The Gant Daily reports about the recent ribbon cutting and open house celebrating the new Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute-Hanover.

The Express-Times reports that Lehigh Valley Health Network's hospitals have formed a new partnership with the Wister Institute in Philadelphia.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports about UPMC's plans to expand its Shadyside hospital.

State News

The Intelligencer Journal reports that local health care leaders and officials are gathering to discuss the problem of obesity. Ephrata Community Hospital and Lancaster General Health cited

National News

HealthLeaders Media reports that the national annual cost of medical care for a typical family of four with PPO coverage has edged up over $20,000 for the first time.

Healthcare Finance News reports about Moody's newly issued special comment, �Peer Pressure Will Drive More Healthcare Companies to Pay Dividends.�

Health Reform

The Public Opinion reports about changes in the health care industry, especially efforts to rein in costs, through an interview with Waynesboro Hospital vice president and CEO Ken Shur.

Becker's Hospital Review reports about a single payer system as a way to control national health care costs.

Bloomberg reports that health insurers will gain $1 trillion in new revenue during the next eight years under the Affordable Care Act, if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Medicare & Medicaid

The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that UPMC For You has been awarded a three-year grant of more than $440,000 to improve the quality of care for kids with complex problems.

A Philadelphia Inquirer opinion states, �A federal program called Senior Medicare Patrol is using senior citizen volunteers to educate other seniors about Medicare fraud...�

A New York Times op-ed discusses the influence that competitive bidding has on quality of care.

Health IT

Bloomberg reports about data-mining technologies that use electronic health records to detect patterns toward improving medical care.

Insurance & Managed Care

CNN reports, �Americans needing health insurance or disability services could be overlooked by their local governments if a bill now being considered by the Senate passes.�

Medical News

PBS reports about the newly launched federal strategy to combat Alzheimer's disease.

The New York Times reports that, as artificial limbs are infused with better technology, some people are opting to amputate more extensively to regain something more akin to normal function.

Today's News: 05/15/2012

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:34:00 GMT

Member News

The Central Penn Business Journal and the Intelligencer Journal report that Hershey Medical Center has signed a contract with Lancaster General Hospital to provide pediatric doctors.

State Budget

The Associated Press reports, �A program that provides about $200 a month for disabled adults who can't work is on Pennsylvania's chopping block...�

The Patriot-News reports about the two state budget proposals.

A Pocono Record opinion written by Pocono Health System president and CEO Kathleen E. Kuck states, �...cutting the funding for one of the most basic health care services such as the delivery of a newborn is not the answer.�

Quality and Patient Safety

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Schuylkill Health System's Schuylkill Center is one of four nursing homes recently honored with the state's new Excellence in Health Care Compliance award.

State News

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that UPMC has requested to pause an antitrust lawsuit.

National News

USA Today reports that a federal judge has invalidated a recently enacted National Labor Relations Board rule to speed up union elections.

Healthcare Finance News reports that wellness centers are becoming a component of the real estate strategies for some health systems.

The Washington Post reports, �Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election...�

Health Reform

The Washington Post reports that the Affordable Care Act is expected to influence a new wave of insurance subscribers and a greater need for primary care providers.

Forbes elaborates about the Affordable Care Act's medical loss ratio.

Medicare & Medicaid

The New York Times reports, �President Obama and Mitt Romney agree on one thing about Medicare: the differences between them are huge.�

Health IT

Healthcare IT News reports that federal authorities are calling for public comment about proposals for rules to govern a nationwide health information network.

The American Medical News reports about a newly published study that shows that giving physicians timely access to the patient information they need at the point of care can be financially beneficial.

Workforce

Forbes reports about the growing demand for temporary doctors.

In a related article, HealthLeaders Media reports that most health care organizations are able to capture the high expense of temporary physicians by billing Medicare, Medicaid, or private pay.

Medical News

HealthLeaders Media reports about a new study linking feeding tubes for dementia patients with pressure ulcers.

Today's News: 05/14/2012

Mon, 14 May 2012 20:27:00 GMT

Member News

The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that Thomas Jefferson University Hospital has opened the Jefferson Hepatitis C Center.

The Pittsburgh Business Times reports about financial losses at West Penn Allegheny Health System for the nine-month period ending March 31.

The Morning Call reports that Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest is expanding its emergency department for children.

The Lancaster Sunday News reports that Lancaster General Hospital's surplus fell for the fourth consecutive year, due in large part to a growing number of Medicare and Medicaid patients and low reimbursement rates.

A Morning Call columnist reports about Easton Hospital's ER wait time policy.

State Budget

The Times-Tribune reports that advocates for �a host of other programs� are competing to join those expected to benefit from the state's improved tax revenue collections.

Economic Impact of Hospitals

The Los Angeles Times reports about the continued growth and stability of the health care industry in the Pittsburgh region. UPMC cited

Technology

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports about Philadelphia as a �hotbed� of wearable robotic frames that help paralyzed patients to walk. Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, and MossRehab cited

National News

Healthcare Finance News reports about a new report that indicates nearly half of health care leaders around the country have overcrowded emergency departments.

The New York Times reports that revisions to a major psychiatric manual would expand recognized addiction symptoms, which could pose huge consequences for insurers and taxpayers.

The Los Angeles Times reports about the global push in other, less affluent countries toward universal health care coverage.

Health Reform

The Washington Post reports that about two dozen states with Republican governors or lawmakers have stalled their state's health insurance exchange.

The Philadelphia Inquirer states, �No matter how the case turns out, one group of Americans is assured of getting quality health insurance when the Supreme Court rules on President Obama's Affordable Care Act in June: members of the court itself.�

A New York Times economist reports that the court debate about the new health care law offers yet another example of worrying about imaginary risks.

Insurance & Managed Care

The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that Highmark has asked for approval to increase rates on various products an average of 8.6 percent, affecting a total of 75,000 members.

The Boston Globe reports that, increasingly, small employers are offering health insurance plans that require workers to pay more for tests, treatments, and doctor visits.

Workforce

Healthcare Finance News reports about health care professionals' compensation and incentive programs as ineffective.

Miscellaneous

The Los Angeles Times reports that, using data from government agencies and private watchdogs, several websites provide consumer information about hospitals.

Today's News: 05/11/2012

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:32:00 GMT

Member News

The Tribune-Democrat reports about the Advanced Wound Care Center at Somerset Hospital.

A Daily American opinion by Somerset Hospital's CEO Michael Farrell recognizes hospital employees in honor of National Hospital Week.

The Mountaintop Eagle reports that Wilkes-Barre General Hospital recently held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for its new campus.

The Pittsburgh Business Times reports, �Excela Health is taking its show on the road, marketing specialized surgical procedures well outside its traditional service area for the first time.�

State Budget

A Philadelphia Inquirer opinion by Einstein Healthcare Network's president and CEO Barry R. Freedman discusses the state proposal to reduce payments to hospitals for the delivery of babies.

A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial states, �Gov. Corbett...continues to make poor choices that in the long run will cost the state more than he expects to save.�

Technology

Healthcare IT News reports that a mobile health app store is launching a trial of mRx, a program that enables physicians to prescribe mHealth apps to patients.

Quality and Patient Safety

A New York Times op-ed discusses the distribution of free infant formula starter packs in hospital maternity wards.

National News

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports about a new federal investigation into whether pharmaceutical companies are inappropriately pushing sales.

The Intelligencer Journal reports that an influential Congressional panel has passed legislation to impose higher fees on the medical device industry for faster product reviews.

The Wall Street Journal reports, �Massachusetts is one step closer to passing major legislation that would aim to control the state's rising health care costs.�

Health Reform

The Wall Street Journal reports, �The controversy over President Barack Obama's sweeping health insurance law is putting the nation's 29 Republican governors in an awkward position.� Pennsylvania cited

The New York Times reports that New Jersey's Governor Christie is the second in the U.S. to veto state health insurance exchange legislation.

Medicare & Medicaid

Healthcare Finance News reports about newly published rules that revise Medicare's Conditions of Participation, and eliminate duplicative, overlapping, and outdated provider requirements.

In a related article, HealthLeaders Media also reports about the story.

The New York Times reports that a shift by the federal government in how it pays for drugs for dialysis patients may have had an unintended and potentially dire consequence.

Insurance & Managed Care

The Philadelphia Business Journal reports about the growing market of consumer-purchased health insurance, and what insurers are doing to reach customers.

Healthcare Finance News reports about Aetna's new national program that seeks to decrease the number of out-of-network referrals for outpatient surgical procedures.

Workforce

A Baltimore Sun commentary discusses the national shortage of physicians.

Today's News: 05/10/2012

Thu, 10 May 2012 19:49:00 GMT

Member News

The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that growth in insurance, hospitals, and medical specialty service lines drove UPMC's operating revenue up by 11.5 percent for the nine-month period ending March 30.

In related articles, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review also report about the story.

The Star Gazette (New York) reports that Becker's Hospital Review has named Guthrie's Robert Packer Hospital one of the 100 Great Hospitals of 2012.

The Central Penn Business Journal reports that Ephrata Hospital announced the start of a $13 million emergency department expansion project.

State Budget

A Patriot-News op-ed by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo states, �...I am concerned that the Department of Public Welfare's proposed budget for the new state fiscal year contains provisions sure to add to the suffering of our most vulnerable citizens.�

Quality and Patient Safety

HealthLeaders Media reports about the ongoing dispute between hospitals and outpatient centers, �...with patient care and economics at the crossroads.�

National News

Modern Healthcare reports, �Hospitals that have seen demand drop and more anemic Medicare revenue growth can expect more of the same in coming years...�

In a related article, Reuters also reports about the newly released Moody's report for non-profit hospitals.

The Associated Press reports that, moving to protect the Pentagon, Republicans controlling the House are pressing cuts to food stamps, health care, and federal pensions as an alternative to January's automatic 10 percent cut to the military.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that, faced with growing bad debt, more hospitals and major health systems across the U.S. are asking for patients to prepay for services.

Health Reform

Kaiser Health News reports, �The government has identified hundreds of hospitals whose Medicare patients are incurring especially high bills, a first step toward using bonuses and penalties to encourage more efficient care.�

Modern Healthcare reports, �States will receive an $11 billion boost for primary-care physicians in their Medicaid programs over the next two years, under a new proposed rule.�

The Hill reports about a recently published analysis that offers recommendations to states about their insurance exchanges.

Disaster Preparedness

The Bucks County Courier Times reports that outside contractors at Lower Bucks Hospital accidentally drilled into an oxygen line at the hospital.

Medicare & Medicaid

McKnight's Long-Term Care News reports that Medicare cuts scheduled to hit during January will cost skilled nursing facilities close to $800 million in fiscal year 2014.

Modern Physician reports that bipartisan legislation has been introduced to repeal the Medicare sustainable growth-rate formula used to pay physicians and avert a more than 30 percent payment cut to doctors in January.

Forbes reports, �The recent double-counting dispute isn't just about politics; it also reveals a flaw in budgeting for Medicare Part A.�

Health IT

Healthcare IT News reports about five things that cause electronic medical record data inaccuracies.

HealthLeaders Media reports about comments submitted in response to the proposed meaningful use Stage 2 rules.

Insurance & Managed Care

NPR reports that some employers are adopting value-based insurance design so that drug costs to patients are based on benefits.

Workforce

The Times-Tribune prints a letter to the editor from Geisinger-Community Medical Center's chief executive officer and chief medical officer saluting nurses and hospital staff members during National Nurses Week.

Medical News

Reuters reports that patients treated for severe injuries at a specialized trauma center may survive with fewer disabilities than those treated at other hospitals.