Modern Healthcare articles from November 2007

Modern Healthcare archives from November 2007

HHS tries EHR bonus plan; But docs are less enthusiastic, calling it a `tiny step'.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Joseph Conn A new HHS plan to provide bonus payments to 1,200 physicians in a dozen communities for quality reporting using electronic health records received mixed reviews from industry executives, despite HHS' claim it will be...

Hospitals, say `welcome'; Patients should be treated as customers needing help.(Charles S. Lauer)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Charles S. Lauer Whatever happened to the old "meet and greet''? I used to hear that phrase more often than I do of late. At business and social gatherings, it is still alive as what people call networking these days. In terms of...

This special report is based on a roundtable discussion with four rural healthcare executives held Oct. 15 at Modern Healthcare's offices in Chicago.(Special Report)
November 5, 2007... This special report is based on a roundtable discussion with four rural healthcare executives held Oct. 15 at Modern Healthcare's offices in Chicago. The executives are: Scott Bullock, president and chief executive officer of MaineGeneral...

Medicine off the battlefield; VA hospitals, community-based clinics meet special challenges in trying to provide care to veterans living in rural areas.
November 5, 2007... Byline: Jessica Zigmond When Elmer "Buzz'' Ours travels the roughly 100 miles from his rural West Virginia home to the nearest full-service veterans' hospital for counseling services, the smell of diesel fumes and asphalt takes him back to...

Not a happy ending; Stand-alone N.J. hospital likely to close doors after affiliation talks fail.(Strictly Finance)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Cinda Becker Hospital bankruptcy stories are always poignant, peopled with doctors, nurses, patients and bondholders left in the lurch. But bankruptcies and the ensuing reorganizations usually include a glimmer of hope for rebirth,...

'08 Hall nominations.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 5, 2007... Modern Healthcare is inviting readers to submit nominations for the 2008 Health Care Hall of Fame induction. The program recognizes luminaries who have made outstanding contributions to healthcare nationally and internationally. A panel of...

Outliers; Asides & insides.
November 5, 2007... FTC's fraud office gets hit by a `phishing expedition' Healthcare executives don't like getting e-mails from the Federal Trade Commission (or any branch of the government) that include the word "complaint,'' but one circulating recently is...

Hospitals' code blues; MS-DRG switch may initially delay pay.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Cinda Becker Now that the policy issues surrounding the major change in the inpatient prospective payment system that went into effect Oct. 1 are mostly settled, there is a not-so-small matter of implementation in hospital billing...

Grassley hears, but will he listen? Community-benefit draft needs work, execs say.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Matthew DoBias A Senate roundtable convened last week by influential Sen. Chuck Grassley may have provided hospital representatives with a soapbox for their opinions on the hot-button issue of community benefit, but may have done...

UnitedHealth to buy Fiserv units in $775 million cash deal.(Late News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Fiserv said it signed a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its healthcare businesses, including several managed-care and prescription benefits management companies to Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare, a subsidiary of...

Improve reimbursement: MGMA; Group urges members to voice concerns to Congress.(Physician Affairs)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Andis Robeznieks The Medical Group Management Association used its annual conference last week in Philadelphia to stump for changes in the way doctors are reimbursed. MGMA President and Chief Executive Officer William Jessee...

Mixing business and academics? Researchers may need to disclose their affiliations.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Cinda Becker Last month's morning raid by federal agents on the Tampa, Fla.-headquarters of WellCare Health Plans embroiled at least one prominent healthcare scholar into the mysterious fray: Harvard Business School professor and...

Investors staying alert; UHS and CHS provide updates on federal probes.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Vince Galloro Federal law enforcement agencies have a major advantage when they pursue cases against publicly traded for-profit hospital chains-the unrelenting scrutiny of investors. Universal Health Services and Community...

A critical role.(Special Report)(Interview)
November 5, 2007... David Burda: At the top of any CEO survey we've ever seen-in terms of what issues they are most concerned about-is always reimbursement. Phil, could you tell us a little bit about your payer mix at your hospital and how that is affecting you...

Satisfaction survey.(The Week in Healthcare)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Modern Healthcare's second annual Patient-Satisfaction Measurement Firms Survey is open for participation by companies who perform surveys on satisfaction for companies in the healthcare industry. The deadline is Nov. 7 with results to appear...

Cigna's N.Y. pact may be model.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Vesely An agreement over physician-ranking programs between Cigna Corp. and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo could lead to similar agreements involving other insurers and serve as a framework nationally. The...

When we're 65 ... Few are looking ahead at how to care for a coming horde of new seniors.(Opinions Editorials)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Todd America lacks the planning gene. As individuals, we don't think about the future; the personal savings rate as a percentage of disposable income has steadily declined from less than 8% in the early 1990s to minus 1% last year....

Nearly 1.8 million vets uninsured.(The Week in Healthcare)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Jessica Zigmond As industry leaders wrangle over ways to improve healthcare access for former service members in rural areas, they must also contend with the growing number of uninsured veterans. In December, the American Journal...

Prime acquires Centinela; Integrated to buy Anaheim facility.(Late News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Prime Healthcare Services, Victorville, Calif., announced a Los Angeles-area hospital deal as one of its former purchase targets, 224-bed Anaheim (Calif.) Memorial Medical Center, announced a new suitor. Prime, owned by physician Prem Reddy,...

CMS: ASCs will be paid 65% of hospital rate in most cases.(Late News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Medicare will pay ambulatory surgery centers at 65% of the hospital outpatient department rate-with some exceptions-under a final rule issued by the CMS. The move follows through on its original plan unveiled in July (July 23, p. 6). While some...

AMA rails against CMS' plan to cut doc payments 10% in '08.(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... As expected, the CMS unveiled a plan to cut physician reimbursements by close to 10% in 2008, prompting a sharp reaction from the American Medical Association. The AMA urged Congress to provide payment increases for physicians instead. The cut...

Senate passes SCHIP again, Bush promises to veto it again.(Late News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... The American Hospital Association called on President Bush to sign newly revised legislation the Senate approved to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The Senate voted 64-30 to approve the bill, nearly a week after its...

Other voices.(Opinions Editorials)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Todd "Americans are increasingly frustrated about the subpar performance of this country's fragmented healthcare system, and with good reason. A new survey of patients in seven industrialized nations underscores just how badly sick...

The watchdogs are baying; Physician deals may need to be cleaned up to avoid that knock on the door.(Opinions Editorials)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Todd Sloane This era may turn out to be the heyday of healthcare law enforcement. Yes, that is a big statement, but the evidence in its favor is mounting: a new 516-page set of Stark self-referral rules; an ambitious, 111-page...

West.(Regional News)(Scottsdale Healthcare opened hospitals)(Brotman Medical Center filed for bankruptcy )(California hospitals must have written discharge policies patient dumping)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-A new $98 million hospital opened on Nov. 5. The 64-bed Thompson Peak facility is the third hospital for Scottsdale Healthcare. The hospital has an emergency department, 56 inpatient beds, an eight-bed intensive-care unit and...

Midwest.(Regional News)(Kishwaukee Community Hospital opened a 100-bed replacement hospital)(Truman Medical Centers opened its cardiology unit)(Iowa hospitals must win certificate-of-need approval for hospital construction)
November 12, 2007... DES MOINES, Iowa-Iowa hospitals must win certificate-of-need approval to build a replacement hospital at a new location, an Iowa District Court judge said. The state CON law exempts projects to replace or modernize hospitals that do not add new...

OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE; Primary-care physicians seek to legitimize the 'medical home' concept to improve quality, costs-but will insurers buy it?
November 12, 2007... Byline: Andis Robeznieks For advocates of primary care, and for payers and purchasers looking to improve healthcare quality while lowering costs, apparently there is no place like home-specifically, a "patient-centered'' medical home. ...

`Alarming' VA problems; Questions continue over quality of vets' healthcare.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Matthew DoBias The Veterans Affairs Department last week continued to see its reputation for high-quality healthcare tarnished, with federal lawmakers challenging VA officials to explain how one of the most sophisticated systems in...

Let the consumer rule; I seek excellence, affordability in a reformed system.(Opinions Commentary)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Rudy Giuliani America is at a healthcare crossroads. We have the best healthcare system in the world. That's why people come here from all over the world seeking treatment. However, our system also suffers from decades of failed...

Med-mal merger dissent; Shareholder seeks to block Doctors Co., SCPIE deal.(Physician Affairs)(Doctors Co. accquires SCPIE Holdings Inc.)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Vesely The tentative merger between two major California medical malpractice insurers is facing fierce opposition from a former board member who is also a shareholder, and who could foil the plan to create the largest...

South.(Regional News)
November 12, 2007... CLEARWATER, Fla.-Morton Plant Mease Health Care announced a $49 million construction project at its Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, New Port Richey, Fla. Construction, which is expected to start by year-end and finish by late 2010, will add a...

Physician-executive pay rises 7.5% from 2005 to 2007.(Late News)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Physician-executive compensation rose 7.5% between 2005 and 2007, with average annual compensation now at $258,000, according to a survey to be released this week. In the past decade, physician-executive compensation has jumped 36.6%. "Demand...

Moratorium sought on Recovery Audit Contractor program.(Late News)
November 12, 2007... A House bill introduced by Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) would place a one-year moratorium on Medicare's Recovery Audit Contractor program. The legislation would specifically require the CMS and the Government...

Northeast.(Regional News)(Fulton County Medical Center )(St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers)
November 12, 2007... NEW YORK-St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers, which emerged from bankruptcy protection in September, released its proposed design concepts for a new "green'' hospital designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. At the same time, the Rudin family...

South.(Regional News)(Alabama Department of Public Health)(St. John Health System)
November 12, 2007... MONTGOMERY, Ala.-The Alabama Department of Public Health will develop a statewide trauma system in collaboration with medical professionals throughout the state. The trauma system, including emergency medical technicians, communication,...

Telling your story; Execs need to learn the fine art of public speaking.(Charles S. Lauer)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Charles S. Lauer In his Little Green Book of Getting Your Way, author Jeffrey Gitomer writes: "If I had a dollar for every corporate leader, from CEOs to branch managers, who had lousy presentation skills, I'd be a...

Donations in conflict; Medical groups get $1.5 million from devicemakers.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Shawn Rhea At least seven medical-profession associations are among the names appearing on payment-disclosure lists posted on orthopedic-device makers' Web sites, prompting some policymakers to suggest the payments are further...

In the spotlight.(News Makers)(DaVitas employee Mark Harrison leave his position as CFO)(Cardinal Health announced the immediate resignation of Mark Parrish)(Iowa Health System promoted Bill Leaver)
November 12, 2007... * Renal-care provider DaVita, El Segundo, Calif., said Mark Harrison will leave his position as CFO, effective Nov. 30. Harrison's departure was "reached by mutual agreement,'' the company said in a news release. Harrison, 50, said that he...

A long-term solution; IT scarce in nursing homes, but likely key to future care.(Information Edge)(information technolgy)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Joseph Conn In 2006, the first of the roughly 79 million American baby boomers hit age 60, representing the vanguard of a feisty demographic group moving inexorably toward its final confrontation-old age. Boomers, who are half...

Marshfield deal delayed; Wis. clinic aims to acquire first wholly owned hospital.(The Week in Healthcare)(Marshfield Clinic plans to accquire Lakeview Medical Center)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Melanie Evans A deal for Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic to acquire its first hospital, Lakeview Medical Center, Rice Lake, Wis., won't go to a vote this week as expected as the prospective partners continue to negotiate terms and a...

On the move ...(News Makers)(American Medical Association named Marietta Parenti as its new senior vice president)(HCA Inc. hired Stephen Corbeil )(Cheryl Johnson president of the United American Nurses )(Obituary)
November 12, 2007... ASSOCIATIONS The American Medical Association named Marietta Parenti as its new senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Previously, Parenti was the vice president of marketing and public relations at the Rehabilitation Institute...

William Anderson takes helm of Regency Hospital Co.(Late News)(Regency Hospital Co appointed William Anderson )(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Long-term-care provider Regency Hospital Co., Alpharetta, Ga., named William Anderson president and chief executive officer. Anderson, 58, had served as division president of Triad Hospitals, Plano, Texas, since 2001. Community Health Systems...

Probe spotlights director; Roper on DaVita, NQF, Robert Wood Johnson boards.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Jessica Zigmond The criminal investigation into DaVita's pharmaceutical billing practices in Nevada may subject yet another healthcare luminary to questions about serving as a paid director on the board of an outside healthcare...

Calling Most Powerful docs.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 12, 2007... Nominations for the fourth annual ranking of the 50 Most Powerful Physician Executives in Healthcare are being accepted. Modern Healthcare and sister publication Modern Physician co-sponsor this annual recognition program. To submit a...

Archimedes' new benefactor; RWJ Foundation gives Kaiser for-profit $15.6 million.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Vesely In an unusual move, one of the nation's largest foundations supporting healthcare improvement has given a multimillion-dollar grant to a for-profit company that is wholly owned by the not-for-profit managed-care...

Maryland has nurses in mind; $59 million initiative to help deal with shortage.(Regional News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Matthew DoBias A coalition of Maryland hospitals and the state schools that train potential medical staff last week unveiled a $59 million initiative to double the number of nursing students, expand the educational workforce and...

False Claims recoveries down; Experts: 2006 figure understates feds' determination.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Gregg Blesch The U.S. Justice Department closed its fiscal 2007 books with a tally of healthcare-related False Claims Act recoveries that was down by a third from the previous year. But experts say the government is hardly losing...

Nevada eyes DaVita bills; U.S. attorneys also looking into alleged overbilling.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Gregg Blesch National dialysis giant DaVita is facing another investigation that involves its use of the anemia drug Epogen, a subject that has caught the interest of Congress and various state and federal authorities but has so...

Northeast.(Regional News)
November 12, 2007... ROCHESTER, N.Y.-The University of Rochester Medical Center submitted an application to the New York health department for the largest clinical expansion in Strong Memorial Hospital's history, boosting its licensed bed capacity to 862 beds from...

Longer life, less healthy; Community outreach needed: experts.(The Week in Healthcare)(Report)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Jessica Zigmond A state-by-state ranking of the nation's overall well-being revealed some disturbing paradoxes last week as experts said hospitals can improve public health by reaching out to their communities. Results from...

Outliers; Asides & insides.(Rafael Espada)(Occupation overview)
November 12, 2007... A physician returns to his roots in a new kind of executive role After more than 30 years of practicing medicine in Houston, heart surgeon Rafael Espada has returned to his native Guatemala in a big way-as the nation's newly elected vice...

Survey says ... ... voters rank healthcare as their biggest issue.(The Week in Healthcare)(Report)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Jennifer Lubell Hospital executives were encouraged by the results of a poll of potential voters released last week that indicated healthcare is voters' top priority. The opinions could have implications for next year's...

Not up to speed; Boards still don't grasp gravity of some issues: report.(The Week in Healthcare)(Report)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Cinda Becker Hospital boards still don't get it. Under attack in recent years for ham-handed billing policies, opaque financial reporting, and sloppy conflict-of-interest procedures, hospitals have responded, yet too many...

Briefly Deals.(The Week in Healthcare)(Greene Health Partners contracts with Kettering Health Network)(Temple University Health System contracts with Tenet Healthcare Corp.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Two Ohio systems announce joint operating agreement Greene Health Partners, a one-hospital system in Xenia, Ohio, formed an affiliation with Kettering Health Network, a four-hospital system based in Dayton, Ohio. Under a joint operating...

CMS will delay one provision in final rule for Stark law.(Late News)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... The CMS said it will delay for one year the so-called "stand-in-the-shoes'' provision in the final rule implementing Stark law prohibitions against physician self-referral, but only as applied to academic medical centers and not-for-profit...

Congress raises concerns over UnitedHealth, Sierra merger.(Late News)(Sierra Health Services Inc. merger between UnitedHealth Group )(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... A congressional committee is expressing concerns about the pending $2.6 billion merger between UnitedHealth Group and Sierra Health Services in a letter to the U.S. Justice Department. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of the House...

Calif. probes reports Health Net tied bonuses to cancellations.(Late News)(Health Net of California Inc.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... California's insurance commissioner is investigating a report that Health Net rewarded an analyst more than $20,000 in bonuses tied to canceling individual health insurance policies, thereby saving the company millions in medical expenses. "We...

Other voices.(Opinions Editorials)
November 12, 2007... "President Bush's nomination of former Army general Dr. James Peake to head the Department of Veterans Affairs demands closer scrutiny.... Though Peake stepped down from his post more than two years before the Walter Reed debacle, we have...

William Anderson takes helm of Regency Hospital Co.(Late News)(apoointment of William Anderson at Regency Hospital Company L.L.C.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... ***** Correction: Also in the Nov. 12 issue (p. 4), Rod Laughlin's ongoing role at Regency Hospital Co. was misstated. He is vice chairman of the board and Gary Mecklenburg is chairman. ***** Long-term-care provider Regency...

Second chance; Docs, not-for-profit join forces for Ind. hospital.(Physician Affairs)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Gregg Blesch Hard times tend to inspire new alliances. A once-struggling physician-owned specialty hospital in Munster, Ind., has been reborn as a joint venture with a not-for-profit system. Physicians have paid Sisters of St....

TRANSPARENT CHALLENGES; Leaders see value in reporting of price, quality data, but effects may be marginal.(Healthcare Opinion Leaders Survey)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Melanie Evans Healthcare's push to boost quality and curb costs by publicly reporting on price and performance may be critical to reform efforts, but patients probably have little use for what's currently available, a new...

A strong pulse.(By The Numbers)(Brief article)
November 19, 2007... When it comes to improving hospital performance and cardiac care, at the heart of the matter is an unending obsession with detail. It also helps to have best practices and expertise to emulate at affiliated hospitals. Those are among the...

Consumer-driven, at slow speed; As healthcare costs rise, plans may gain traction.(Payers and Purchasers)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Vesely The promise of lowering healthcare spending through health savings accounts and other consumer-driven medical payment methods hasn't come to fruition, at least not yet, as most consumers and employers remain wary of...

Pennsylvania pacts; Catholic Health East agrees to sell pair of hospitals.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Cinda Becker In two separate deals, Catholic Health East last week took major strides toward selling two financial underperformers in Western Pennsylvania to secular hospital systems that promised to continue the Catholic...

Net income plunges at FAH; Adjustment to expense accruals explains drop on 990s.(The Week in Healthcare)(Federation of American Hospitals)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Vince Galloro The Federation of American Hospitals saw its net income plummet in 2006, as expenses grew more rapidly than revenue because an accounting review uncovered some costs that were not being accrued properly. The...

Spending, expenses up at AMA; Revenue dropped 3.3% for fiscal 2006.(The Week in Healthcare)(American Medical Association )
November 19, 2007... Byline: Andis Robeznieks The Chicago-based American Medical Association took in $8.6 million less in 2006 than it did in 2005, while spending increased more than $3 million over the previous year, according to its 2006 Internal Revenue...

Rewarding investments; CHA sees higher returns than expected in 2006, Form 990 shows.(The Week in Healthcare)(Catholic Health Association)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Melanie Evans The Catholic Health Association reported a healthy profit for the year that ended in June, after better-than-expected investment returns offset the Catholic Health Association's falling dues revenue. The St....

Wal-Mart not discounting health; Retail giant partnering with hospitals to boost clinics.(The Week in Healthcare)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Vesely Wal-Mart is on track to roll out as many as 2,000 in-store health clinics over the next five to seven years and is seeking to partner with hospitals and systems to offer the medical services to their customers. ...

Outliers; Asides & insides.(case against Mister A.C. for competitive bidding)(Crescent City hosted charity event)
November 19, 2007... To err is human, but to air condition took cool gifts So maybe you don't have to be a doctor courted by deep-pocketed pharmaceutical and device companies to get free trips and gifts out of a healthcare job. The proprietor of Mister A.C., a...

To the insiders go the spoils; Policy wonks, execs, researchers grow rich from a system in need of repair.(Opinions Editorials)(Editorial)
November 19, 2007... Byline: David Burda The healthcare system in this country does a lot of things right, but there's one thing it does better than anything else. It makes people rich. Even the biggest critics of the industry have figured out a way to...

A historic change; Now we have to make transparency meaningful.(Healthcare Opinion Leaders Survey)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Robert Galvin Broad agreement that clinical performance measures should be publicly released marks a major transformation in the U.S. healthcare system. Several trends have combined to create this historic change. Increasing cost...

Patients can't do it alone; For transparency to work, insurers need to take the lead.(Healthcare Opinion Leaders Survey)(Viewpoint essay)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Paul Ginsburg Handing consumers hospital chargemasters to help them "shop'' for the best deal is about as useful as handing them a scalpel and telling them to perform their own bypass surgery. Yet, the state of California in 2003...

Startup targets credit scores; Tenet backs firm seeking to improve collections.(Finance)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Vince Galloro Hospitals are used to being wholesalers in a business that is going retail. While an HCA subsidiary is selling collection services on those retail accounts to other hospitals, a startup is borrowing an idea from the...

Profit dips a bit; Joint Commission sees revenue, expenses rise slightly.(The Week in Healthcare)(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)(Financial report)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Jean DerGurahian The Joint Commission posted slightly lower profits in 2006 on revenue and expenses that increased marginally, according to its annual tax form filed last week. The Form 990 showed the Oakbrook Terrace,...

ACHE sees dues revenue fall; Revamped membership structure cited for decrease shown in Form 990.(The Week in Healthcare)(The American College of Healthcare Executives)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Melanie Evans The American College of Healthcare Executives closed 2006 with a loss from operations, despite membership gains, after the Chicago-based professional group overhauled its dues structure. Revenue from the college's...

Quality better, not great; Compliance still low: Joint Commission report.(The Week in Healthcare)(Report)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Jean DerGurahian Hospitals still aren't hitting the bull's-eye in their quality targets, despite areas of improvement, according to the annual report on quality and safety from the Joint Commission released last week. The...

CMS says improper Medicare claims drop to 3.9% in '07.(Late News)(United States. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief article)
November 19, 2007... The CMS said improper Medicare claims declined to 3.9% in 2007 from 4.4% in 2006 and 14.2% in 1996-the result of aggressive oversight efforts involving detailed data analysis in targeting areas where there might be waste, fraud and abuse....

Baptist Health, St. Mary's sign merger agreement.(Late News)(Brief article)
November 19, 2007... Baptist Health System of East Tennessee and St. Mary's Health System, both based in Knoxville, said that they have signed a definitive agreement to merge their systems under a new, still-to-be-named umbrella organization. The deal was announced...

Ryan named president of N.J. Hospital Association.(Late News)(Elizabeth Ryan)(Brief article)
November 19, 2007... Elizabeth "Betsy'' Ryan was named the next president and chief executive officer of the New Jersey Hospital Association, succeeding Gary Carter, who will retire next year after 14 years in the position. Carter, 63, will remain at the...

Quality - costs = access; A remade health system is key to universal coverage.(Opinions Commentary)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton The availability of quality, affordable care for all Americans is central to my vision for healthcare reform. All too often though, the imperative of retaining and improving the quality of care is lost in...

Out in front; Author says healthcare desperately needs leadership.(Charles S. Lauer)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Charles S. Lauer Recently a friend sent me a new book entitled The Leaders We Need: And What Makes Us Follow by Michael Maccoby, a psychoanalyst, anthropologist and consultant. For anybody concerned about the lack of quality...

Construction design survey.(The Week in Healthcare)
November 19, 2007... Modern Healthcare's 29th annual Construction and Design Survey is now available. To participate, please visit modernhealthcare.com/surveys. Responses are due Feb. 4, 2008, by 5 p.m. CST. Selected results of the survey will be published in the...

Look who's buying retail; Hospitals, health systems, and even physician groups are getting involved in the latest wave of 'convenient-care' clinics.(Special Report)
November 19, 2007... Byline: Andis Robeznieks Displaying an "If you can't beat 'em, copy 'em,'' attitude, hospitals and health systems are getting into the retail clinic game. While the clinics usually aren't staffed by physicians and might be found across...

Where there's a bill, there's ... ... a way. HCA units are handling bill collecting, other services for providers, while Tenet considers getting a piece of the action.
November 19, 2007... Byline: Vince Galloro If you can't beat it, profit from it. That's what Nashville-based HCA has been doing with self-pay patient accounts by way of a subsidiary, National Patient Accounts Services. Based in Louisville, Ky., NPAS (commonly...