Modern Healthcare articles from August 2003

Modern Healthcare archives from August 2003

The partisan party is over as tempers flare over Medicare.(Outliers: Asides & Insides)(news briefs affecting the health care industry)
August 4, 2003... Medicare turned 38 last week, and Senate Democrats handed out cupcakes to mark the occasion. But the Capitol Hill birthday party took a typically partisan turn when Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and some of his colleagues accused...

Something for everyone; Edwards' health plan takes comprehensive approach.(The Week in Healthcare)(senator John Edwards proposes healthcare reform)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Tony Fong Last week, in an attempt to boost his campaign, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina became the latest Democratic presidential candidate to unveil a comprehensive healthcare reform initiative that seemed to include...

AMA studies membership drop.(The Week in Healthcare)(American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Michael Romano The American Medical Association formed a task force last month at a closed-door meeting in Chicago to examine ways to boost membership. Members of the board of trustees and senior staff looked at everything from...

Corrections & Clarifications.(The Week in Healthcare)(Correction Notice)
August 4, 2003... * A story (p. 8) in the July 28 issue incorrectly identified the corporate headquarters for the Jackson Group, a patient survey firm. The company is based in Hickory, N.C. * The photo of Premier Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard...

Moving out of Lincoln Park.(News Makers)(hospital CEO Clarence Nagelvoort resigns)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Mark Taylor Less than a year after Louisville, Ky.-based Merit Health Systems bought Chicago's Lincoln Park Hospital at auction for $25.2 million, the for-profit hospital's president and CEO has resigned. Officials at the...

Healthcare on report; IOM president, just one year into his term, vows to build on organization's groundbreaking studies.(Healthcare Profile)(Institute of Medicine president, Harvey Fineburg)(Interview)
August 4, 2003... Byline: John Morrissey Tremors from an Institute of Medicine report on patient safety split open the facade of healthcare quality four years ago and exposed the prevalence of medical errors for all to see. Two years later the crevice...

Bad days in Detroit; Troubles rock city's public health network.(The Week in Healthcare)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Mark Taylor The turmoil in Detroit's public health system continued last week, with the announced closing of inpatient services at one hospital, a top official of another set to depart and a task force releasing a plan for a new...

The doc is out; Tufts-NEMC looks at nonphysicians to fill CEO slot.(The Week in Healthcare)(Tufts-New England Medical Center )
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jeff Tieman As more hospitals look to fill their chief executive officer slots with physicians, one New England hospital may be doing just the opposite: replacing a physician CEO with a nonphysician. Tufts-New England Medical...

High-pressure health plans; Insurers accused of courting seniors too aggressively.(The Week in Healthcare)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Laura B. Benko Although health insurers nationwide have been fleeing unprofitable Medicare markets in droves, some health plans in Florida have landed in hot water for courting seniors too aggressively. Federal regulators last...

Late News.(health care industry news briefs)
August 4, 2003... White House may nominate Huse The White House plans to nominate Social Security Administration Inspector General James Huse Jr. as the next HHS inspector general, replacing Janet Rehnquist, who resigned in June, Modern Healthcare has...

In the spotlight.(News Makers)(health care industry personnel news briefs)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... * Colin Rorrie Jr. has resigned as executive director of the American College of Emergency Physicians, effective Sept. 1, to become president and CEO of Meeting Professionals International, based in Dallas. Michael Gallery, deputy...

Briefly: Managed Care.(The Week in Healthcare)(health insurance news briefs)
August 4, 2003... Earnings rocket at Anthem Anthem, Indianapolis, last week reported a 67% jump in earnings in the quarter ended June 30, thanks largely to its acquisition of Trigon Healthcare last year. Net income reached $177.3 million, or $1.25 per...

CMS' inpatient surprise; Outlier threshold cut; transfer policy remains.(The Week in Healthcare)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Jeff Tieman Hospital advocates were both elated and disappointed last week when the CMS published final 2004 inpatient regulations that unexpectedly lower the threshold required to qualify for outlier payments but expand a...

Other Voices.(Opinions-Editorials)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... "It... dawned on Gov. Sonny Perdue that kicking 30,000 or 40,000 children out of the state children's healthcare program and keeping thousands more from joining would be just a tad unpopular and fiscally silly, not to mention cruel. He ordered...

Are they worth it? Executive compensation, company performance don't always relate at top hospital, post-acute and insurance companies.
August 4, 2003... Byline: Vince Galloro and Laura B. Benko It's open season on corporate compensation and the critics haven't spared healthcare executives. The pay police have been focusing much of their healthcare scrutiny on HealthSouth Corp. and...

Plenty of money; Healthcare industry bestows some outrageous, some sane pay packages.(Opinions-Editorials)(Editorial)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Neil McLaughlin, Managing Editor Healthcare traditionally lags behind other industries in the use of technology and business innovations. But the field has done some quick remedial work in one realm-compensation. This news is both...

Lonely at the top; Ousted CEOs must maintain confidence, continue to stand up for their beliefs.(Publisher's Letter)(Column)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Charles S. Lauer I just got off the phone with a good friend and very talented individual. He's one of my favorite people because he has a great sense of humor and is totally committed to the healthcare industry. Like so many...

HealthSouth vs. everybody; Feds allege execs fabricated documents, balance sheet.(The Week in Healthcare)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Vince Galloro To cover up their $3.5 billion inflation of profits, HealthSouth Corp. executives fabricated documents to boost the value of assets on the company's balance sheet, federal prosecutors have alleged. To mask that...

On the move...(News Makers)(health care industry appointment briefs)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Joe Dionisio, 55, acting president and CEO of New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, for the past nine months, has been appointed to the position on a permanent basis. He was previously the CFO of CareGroup, Baptist's parent.... After 23 years...

Perking up; Survey shows more hospitals aligning salaries, bonuses with operational goals.(Special Feature)(St. Joseph's Healthcare System )
August 4, 2003... Byline: Patrick Reilly Count the board of trustees at St. Joseph's Healthcare System in New Jersey among those participating in the groundswell of support for healthcare's pay-for-performance movement. Board members are close to approving...

No definitive answers; GAO report weakens some of docs' arguments.(The Week in Healthcare)(a discussion of a report on malpractice insurance)
August 4, 2003... Byline: Michael Romano A government report on malpractice insurance has blunted some of the arguments from the medical establishment that the skyrocketing premiums that have forced some doctors to relocate or retire are due almost entirely...

On the move...(News Makers)(health care industry personnel news)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Jeffrey Menkes is the new COO of 992-bed Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. Menkes, 54, succeeds interim COO Gail Donovan, who remains executive vice president and COO of four-hospital Continuum Health Partners, Beth Israel's parent.......

Up and up; Nursing home rates still on the rise.(The Week in Healthcare)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Susanna Moon Private pay rates for nursing home care are continuing to rise and vary widely by region, according to a new study. The average nursing home rate for a private room has risen 8% to $181 per day, from $168 per day...

Briefly: Beltway Briefs.(The Week in Healthcare)(health care indsutry political developments)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Medicare payments may rise * Medicare payments for outpatient department services would increase 3.8% in 2004 under proposed regulations released by the CMS last week. Among other changes to the outpatient prospective payment system, the...

Show them the money; Hospitals are choosing to forgo the risks and burdens of ownership, instead opting into agreements with outpatient developers.(Special Report)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Mary Chris Jaklevic When it comes to financing outpatient real estate, hospitals are getting some pretty sweet deals. Take Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, N.C. The stand-alone not-for-profit wanted to build a medical...

Leading the way; Managers are important, but leaders really make things happen.(Publisher's Letter)(leadership in the health care industry)(Column)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Charles S. Lauer I recently had lunch with a top healthcare association executive. During the meal we got on the topic of the difference between leaders and managers. His contention was that too many people confuse the two. He...

Against the current; Uncertainty of consensus still roils debate of embattled Medicare reform.(The Week in Healthcare)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Jeff Tieman With members of Congress away for their August recess, congressional aides continued to toil away on a compromise Medicare reform bill that does not easily give way to consensus. Legislative staff for the chief...

Cutting back; VA restructuring could close seven hospitals.(The Week in Healthcare)(the Veterans Affairs Department announces a restructuring which could lead to seven hospitals being closed)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Tony Fong The Veterans Affairs Department last week unveiled a restructuring proposal that would close seven hospitals and relocate numerous services in an effort to cut costs and redirect services to where care is most needed. ...

AMA strikes PR pay dirt with release of safe-driving guide.(Outliers: Asides & Insides)(the American Medical Association issues a guide to help doctors assess the ability of older drivers)
August 11, 2003... The timing of the American Medical Association's new guide to help doctors assess the ability of older drivers couldn't have been better-just weeks after two tragic accidents involving elderly drivers who lost control of their vehicles. ...

Other Voices.(Opinions-Editorials)
August 11, 2003... "In theory a new (Medicare prescription) drug benefit will cost $400 billion over the next decade. Even with higher deductibles and copayments, that price tag strikes many experts as unconvincingly small.... The hard fact is that there will...

Vaccination solutions; IOM suggests providers be reimbursed.(The Week in Healthcare)(hospitals would benefit if Congress adopts vaccine coverage rules)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Jeff Tieman Hospitals would have one less cost to worry about if Congress adopts recommendations on vaccine coverage made by the Institute of Medicine. An IOM panel last week issued a report proposing that the federal...

Debt: The more the merrier.(Regional News)(Crouse Hospital will take on some new debt in order to put an $88.2 million capital spending plan in place)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Cinda Becker Poised to emerge from more than two years of court protection from its creditors, Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y., is preparing to take on some new debt in order to put a five-year, $88.2 million capital spending...

A melting pot it's not; ACHE study finds healthcare management still dominated by whites, men despite efforts to promote greater diversity.(American College of Healthcare Executives)
August 11, 2003... Byline: David Burda The field of healthcare management continues to be an old boys' network and it's getting even whiter despite efforts to promote racial and gender diversity in the ranks of the industry leadership, according to the...

Tragic end for Ky. hospital exec.(News Makers)(investigaroge find the body of health care executive Linda Culp)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Michael Romano Six days after a Kentucky hospital executive was found dead in a shallow grave outside her home, the case ended with an equally grisly discovery: the corpse of her husband, the chief suspect in her murder. The...

Still smelling like roses; A scathing report won't shake Scully, insiders say.(The Week in Healthcare)(criticisms of CMS Administrator Tom Scully are not expected to hurt him politically)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Mark Taylor Last week's General Accounting Office report criticizing CMS Administrator Tom Scully for rescinding a Medicare contract raises questions about his job performance and judgment. However, like earlier volleys fired at...

Injecting some hope; Cell therapy could lead to new treatments for congestive heart failure, whose sufferers now have few options.(Medical Advances)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Cinda Becker Congestive heart failure-the inability of the heart to keep up with its workload- represents one of the most problematic diagnoses in healthcare and certainly one of a hospital quality-improvement officer's worst...

Star-crossed merger; Kan. court ends courtship between Anthem, Blues.(The Week in Healthcare)(the Kansas Supreme Court blocks Anthem's plans to acquire Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Michael Romano A decision last week by the Kansas Supreme Court has closed the books on a 2-year-old plan by Indianapolis-based Anthem to gobble up not-for-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. Though the legal setback...

Slump ahead; Industry's investment losses outpace improvements, rating agencies say.(The Week in Healthcare)(hospitals' operational improvements do not make up for investment losses in 2002)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Mary Chris Jaklevic Hospitals' extraordinary operational improvements-including better cash collections-failed to make up for investment losses last year, according to two rating agencies, which said the industry appears to be...

Beyond good; Improving governance means not settling for what's merely adequate.(Opinions-Commentary)(managing health care organizations)(Column)
August 11, 2003... Byline: R. Timothy Stack and Dennis D. Pointer Gov*ern-Exercising ultimate responsibility for, and authority in, an organization serving as a fiduciary agent; ensuring that an organization's resources and capabilities are deployed in ways...

Fight for survival; D.C. hospital expected to win crucial reprieve.(The Week in Healthcare)(Greater Southeast Community Hospital and the District of Columbia Department of Health work on an agreement to allow the hospital to stay open temporarily)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Tony Fong Greater Southeast Community Hospital and the District of Columbia Department of Health neared approval of an agreement last week allowing the hospital to stay open temporarily while it addresses patient-care issues. ...

South.(Regional News)(health care industry news briefs)
August 11, 2003... NEW ORLEANS-The Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, in a draft plan to address a $40 million projected deficit while raising some workers' pay, late last month proposed closing nine operating rooms, an HIV clinic and 20 psychiatric...

Midwest.(Regional News)(health care industry news briefs)
August 11, 2003... AKRON, Ohio-Summa Health System last week opened two new outpatient centers adjoining the campus of its Akron City Hospital, the system announced. The twin five-story, 80,000-square-foot facilities will employ 6,000 and offer multiple specialty...

Get 'em while they're hot; Medical office buildings bring good prices, terms.(Special Report)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Mary Chris Jaklevic Arguably, white hot.'' That's how one healthcare real estate executive, Jay Flaherty, president and chief executive officer of Health Care Property Investors (HCPI), recently described the market for medical...

Minority report; SSM Health Care works to diversify its ranks.
August 11, 2003... Byline: Patrick Reilly Four years ago, the leaders of St. Louis-based SSM Health Care, which operates 21 hospitals in four states, created a program to boost diversity in its executive ranks. The system's leaders wanted the executive...

Lack of visibility, not women.(the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation claim there are qualified women for healthcare boardrooms)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Mary Chris Jaklevic An organization founded to promote female healthcare executives to corporate governance is asserting that there is no shortage of qualified women to populate the nation's boardrooms, but they need visibility....

Late News.(health care industry news briefs)
August 11, 2003... HealthSouth sells Fla. hospital HealthSouth Corp., Birmingham, Ala., said it agreed to sell its acute-care hospital in Coral Gables, Fla., to four-hospital Baptist Health South Florida, Coral Gables, for undisclosed terms. HealthSouth said...

Help for rural health; Money helps existing facilities become critical-access.(Late News)(HHS awards $30+ million in grants to help states strengthen rural hospitals)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Tony Fong HHS awarded more than $30 million in grants to states in an effort to strengthen rural hospitals. Most of the money, $22.6 million, is being given to states to help interested facilities become critical-access hospitals....

Its own reward; Plan would recognize docs for heart, stroke care.(The Week in Healthcare)(a new initiative is announced to recognize doctors for providing exemplary care to heart and stroke patients)
August 11, 2003... Byline: John Morrissey An initiative announced last week to recognize doctors for providing exemplary care to heart and stroke patients is following in the footsteps of an established program to single out physicians with superior track...

Managed profits; Health plans' skyrocketing margins put them under the cost spotlight.(Opinions-Editorials)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Todd Sloane, Assistant Managing Editor/Op-Ed So who's driving the healthcare cost train? We heard it's hospitals. Or maybe phamaceuticals. Now it seems that health plans have grabbed a cap and hopped aboard the locomotive as well....

Brown gets back to work.(The Week in Healthcare)(Fred Brown becomes president and CEO of Northern Arizona Healthcare in Flagstaff, Arizona)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Patrick Reilly The former president and chief executive officer of BJC HealthCare and 1999 chairman of the American Hospital Association has emerged from semi-retirement to head up a two-hospital Arizona system. Fred Brown, 62,...

States weigh in; Legislatures helped stop push for national cap.(The Week in Healthcare)(a discussion of the opposition to a nationwide cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Michael Romano After struggling for years in its high-pressure campaign for malpractice tort reform, America's medical establishment came as close as it ever has this summer to the Holy Grail-a $250,000 nationwide cap on...

In the spotlight.(News Makers)(Paul Brucker announces his retirement as president of Thomas Jefferson University's medical school and chairman of Jefferson Health System)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... * Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia is losing a health icon. Paul Brucker, president of the medical school since 1990 and founding chairman of the Jefferson Health System, announced his retirement at the annual board of trustees...

CMS' plan for patient surveys draws wide variety of reactions; Hospitals and other industry members can't agreehow long survey should be, how to administer it.(The Week in Healthcare)
August 11, 2003... Byline: Jeff Tieman Hospital and industry leaders are not yet singing from the same hymnal when it comes to patient satisfaction surveys. Under a plan the CMS disclosed to Modern Healthcare in February, hospitals would have been...

Getting around the system; Despite law, Wyo. hospital finds way to get funding.(The Week in Healthcare)(Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, Wyoming)
August 18, 2003... A rural hospital in Wyoming is resurrecting an old financing structure, a so-called joint powers board, for some badly needed upgrades and improvements that could cost up to $25 million. Cheap financing is available to not-for-profit...

A numbers game; Volume totals depend on the definition of volume.(Special Report)(looking at the top seven national GPOs)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Cinda Becker Separating GPO spin from substance is difficult. For example, based on group purchasing organization-reported data, the General Accounting Office ranked the top seven national GPOs anonymously based on purchasing...

West.(Regional News)(health care industry news briefs)
August 18, 2003... VENTURA, Calif.-The medical staff of 180-bed Community Memorial Hospital of San Buenaventura, Ventura, Calif., is a legal entity and may sue the hospital's board over a new code of conduct and control of a $250,000 bank account, a Ventura...

Healthcare plays small role in star-studded recall election.(Outliers: Asides & Insides)(a discussion of the health care industry implications of the California gubernatorial recall election vote)
August 18, 2003... With an estimated 145 Californians expected to be listed on the state's Oct. 7 gubernatorial recall election ballot, it shouldn't be surprising that several are from the healthcare arena. A doctor, a paramedic, an anti-HMO crusader and a...

CMS proposes payment rules.(Late News)(proposed rules for how Medicare pays for drugs)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Tony Fong The CMS proposed new rules for how Medicare pays for certain drugs that beneficiaries receive at physician offices or that are otherwise administered on an outpatient basis. The CMS is proposing four approaches to...

The end of civility? Gallantry may be passe, but good manners always make good sense.(Publisher's Letter)(Column)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Charles S. Lauer What has happened to us? I cannot believe the rudeness I run into so often in day-to-day living. Somewhere, we've gotten lost in our dealings with each other. I haven't experienced quite the same level of rudeness...

Making an impact; Institute examines healthcare's effect on economy.(The Week in Healthcare)(the Milken Institute releases a report to examine how the health care industry impacts local economies)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Mary Chris Jaklevic While economists bemoan the nation's growing healthcare budget, cities and states are quietly battling for their shares of high-paying healthcare jobs. And according to a study released last week, the Northeast...

An affordable transformation; Medicare reforms may be basis for streamlining the larger healthcare system.(Opinions-Commentary)(Column)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Newt Gingrich The Medicare legislation before Congress represents an opportunity not only to reshape a program serving more than 40 million people but also the entire U.S. healthcare system. It's important to see the House and...

Corrections & Clarifications.(The Week in Healthcare)(Correction Notice)
August 18, 2003... * A special report on medical office building financing incorrectly reported that a joint venture including General Electric Co. provided financing to Rendina Cos., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Aug. 11, p. 34). The financing was provided by a GE...

At last; Fla. Legislature passes reform bill, establishes cap.(The Week in Healthcare)(Florida's Legislature passes a medical liability reform bill)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Michael Romano It took five months and three special sessions, but the Florida Legislature finally passed a medical liability reform bill last week, establishing a $500,000 limit on noneconomic damages in malpractice lawsuits. ...

Numbers don't lie; ... but coalition says who are they trying to kid?(The Week in Healthcare)(the Health Care Payers Coalition of New Jersey faces a challenge in its attempt to form an 'exclusive provider organization')
August 18, 2003... Byline: Mary Chris Jaklevic Citing a rash of price increases, a New Jersey payers' cooperative is attempting to inject price competition into the hospital market by forcing hospitals to bid for its business. The head of the Health Care...

CMS issues fee schedule.(The Week in Healthcare/Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Tony Fong The CMS issued its 2004 physician payment regulations with a caveat: While the proposed regulations would cut doctors' Medicare reimbursement by 4.2%, the proposal could be moot if Congress has its way. "Physicians...

On the move...(News Makers; various health care facility appointments U.S.)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Timothy Moran has been named president of Methodist Hospital of Sacramento (Calif.), part of Catholic Healthcare West, San Francisco. He replaces Denny Powell, who left in June to become president of another CHW hospital in Sacramento, Mercy...

Troubled Vt. system names CEO.(News Makers)(Melinda Estes named president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Tony Fong Melinda Estes has been named president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt., inheriting a facility trying to put a scandal behind itself and whose former executives may face federal and state criminal...

Out in the open; Long-secret whistleblower suit could harm Premera's attempt to go for-profit.(The Week in Healthcare)(Premera Blue Cross's whistleblower lawsuit could hinder its plans to go for-profit)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Laura B. Benko In what may be the latest in a growing litany of conversion woes for Blues plans, the existence of a long-secret whistleblower lawsuit against Premera Blue Cross has been made public-potentially throwing a crimp into...

In the spotlight.(News Makers; Molly Coye awarded Woman of the Year by Women Helath Care Executives of Northern California)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... Molly Coye may be a woman for all seasons, but for now she has to be content with being one group's 2003 Woman of the Year. She received that honor from the Women Health Care Executives (WHCE) of Northern California. Coye is the founder and...

Adjusting the numbers; New Jersey Hospital Association says cost efficiency should be based on costs ...(The Week in Healthcare)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Cinda Becker In a quest to counter the perception that New Jersey hospitals are among the nation's most inefficient, the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) has taken indirect aim at what some argue is one of the most fictional...

System shuffle; After reshaping DMC, Porter latest exec to resign.(The Week in Healthcare)(Arthur Porter resigns as president and chief executive officer of Detroit Medical Center)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Mark Taylor Arthur Porter, the hard-nosed president and chief executive officer of Detroit Medical Center, resigned last week after a four-year tenure that reshaped the inner-city healthcare system and helped renew debate on access...

Cost of education; Federal ruling may boost teaching hospitals' funds.(The Week in Healthcare)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Mark Taylor Teaching hospitals' coffers could benefit from a federal judge's ruling in Columbus, Ohio, late last month. The judge overturned a decision by CMS Administrator Tom Scully to disallow indirect medical education...

Handsomely compensated; Despite drop in assets, AHA president gets $1 million.(The Week in Healthcare)(American Hospital Association)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Patrick Reilly The American Hospital Association's assets dropped nearly $10 million, and the organization lost money in 2002, but its president's total compensation topped the $1 million mark for the first time, according to the...

Midwest.(Regional News; Sisters of St. Francis Health Services to hospital buyout and The Federal Trade Commission settles with Washington University Physician Network, St. Louis, Missouri)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... LAFAYETTE, Ind.-Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Mishawaka, Ind., earlier this month said that it would pay $130 million to purchase the remaining half of a hospital joint venture from its partner, North Central Health Services in...

South.(Regional News)(health care industry news briefs)
August 18, 2003... MIAMI-Jackson Memorial Hospital said last month it would pay $16.8 million to settle allegations that the hospital and its outpatient clinics double-billed Florida's Medicaid program from 1996 to 2001. The 1,789-bed public hospital signed a...

Northeast.(Regional News; Maine Health Alliance, Marketing Business Associates of America and Princeton Insurance Co.)
August 18, 2003... BANGOR, Maine-The Maine Health Alliance, a physician-hospital organization (PHO), settled price-fixing allegations with the state last month by agreeing to improve operations and do more to improve quality and reduce costs. In Maine, competing...

New arrival; AHA names George Lynn chairman-elect for 2004.(The Week in Healthcare)(American Hospital Association)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Patrick Reilly George Lynn, president and chief executive officer of AtlantiCare, Egg Harbor Township, N.J., will work on tightening laws governing self-referrals and increasing coverage and access for the uninsured when he becomes...

Court dismisses Banner case.(The Week in Healthcare; Banner Health System)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Patrick Reilly How much claim states have on the charitable assets of healthcare systems remains an unresolved issue after a North Dakota court's ruling last week in a case involving Banner Health System. District Court Judge...

Business almost as usual; The 16-month probe into GPO behavior hasn't led to many changes in hospitals' purchasing practices. But it has forced execs to re-examine group relationships.(Special Report)(group purchasing organizations)(Industry Overview)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Cinda Becker Group purchasing organizations haven't exactly been beating down the door of Jim Ulrich, vice president of finance and support at 44-bed Community Hospital in McCook, Neb. McCook, population just over 8,000, is...

Out-of-hand spending; Medicare+Choice out-of-pocket costs on the rise.(News)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Jeff Tieman A finding that Medicare+Choice beneficiaries' out-of-pocket costs continue to grow could put a damper on Congress' plans to enroll seniors in private health plans. Under the pending House and Senate Medicare reform...

Lights out; Hospitals operate as usual during power outages.(Late News)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Cinda Becker and Mary Chris Jaklevic Hospitals across the country remained relatively calm even as power outages in the Northeast and Midwest tested the limits of backup power sources and brought other businesses to a halt. New...

Going for the green; As higher premiums and stable medical costs fuel health plans' profits, providers say time is right to win bigger reimbursement.
August 18, 2003... Byline: Laura B. Benko Health Net, 15%. Aetna, 28%. UnitedHealth Group, 35%. PacifiCare Health Systems, nearly 260%. The second quarter was one of soaring profits at health plans nationwide, a payoff from higher premiums and an easing...

Conspiracy theory; Hospital's suit accuses Tenn. system, Blues of scheme.(Regional News)(Regional Hospital files a lawsuit against West Tennessee Healthcare and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Tennessee)
August 18, 2003... Byline: Vince Galloro Two giants-West Tennessee Healthcare, Jackson, Tenn., and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Tennessee-have been pushing around little Regional Hospital of Jackson, the hospital alleged in a recent antitrust lawsuit. ...

Briefly: Finance.(The Week in Healthcare)(Brief Article)
August 18, 2003... HealthSouth caught up HealthSouth Corp., Birmingham, Ala., said last week that it has caught up on $117 million in past-due interest payments and will keep current with upcoming payments. The company said asset sales and improved cash flow...