Modern Healthcare back issues from January 2007:
Part D extension; Some get more time to enroll in drug program.(Medicare Part D)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Jennifer Lubell At least a quarter-million Medicare beneficiaries are getting extra time to enroll in Part D for 2007. Last week, the CMS announced it will extend by 45 days its Part D open-enrollment deadline to Medicare beneficiaries who didn't receive ...
Attitude Adjustment; Adopting a more positive outlook on the world can help you succeed.(Lauer's Letter)(Editorial)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Charles S. Lauer With the new year upon us, many of us will resolve to start doing something better, or at least to stop doing something detrimental to our well-being. With apologies to Jonathan Swift, here is my modest proposal: Cultivate a better attitude toward life. ...
Healthcare's sacred cows; Have Berwick and Gingrich become too powerful for the common good?(Opinions)(Editorial)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: David Burda, Editor There's a scene in Animal House when Otter's solution to a confrontation with Dean Wormer is to throw a toga party. Hoover, Delta House president, at first rejects the idea. Otter and Bluto then whip their fellow fraternity brothers into a ...
Rebuilding in New Orleans; Feds set aside $300 million for LSU Medical Center.(Louisiana Recovery Authority )
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Jessica Zigmond and Vince Galloro Plans are moving forward to build a new Louisiana State University's Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans. The Louisiana Recovery Authority authorized a plan last month to allocate $300 million in federal funding for the center, ...
Looking beyond the horizon; Systems buck investment trends, going longer term with 'alternative' portfolios.(Strictly Finance)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Cinda Becker Hospitals are generally not big risk-takers when it comes to investing, and they probably shouldn't be. But they also shouldn't be so consumed by worry over the next financial catastrophe that it paralyzes them completely. Although their ...
Psychiatric keeps on buying; Pending Horizon deal would add 15 facilities.(The Week in Healthcare)(Psychiatric Solutions Inc acquires Horizon Health Corp.)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Vince Galloro In Horizon Health Corp., Psychiatric Solutions is acquiring a company that took a bit of a tumble after aggressively expanding into psychiatric hospitals during the past three years. Franklin, Tenn.-based Psychiatric Solutions contends that it won't be ...
On the Move...(News Makers)(Christopher Lloyd appointed as a system executive )
Jan 01, 2007 ... HOSPITALS, SYSTEMS Christopher Lloyd, COO for Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, has been named system executive for the neuroscience service line, officials announced. Lloyd, 42, also will direct the construction of the new ...
Managed-care shake-up; Two major Mich. players leaving insurance business.(The Week in Healthcare)(Michigan Health System's M-Care, Trinity Health )
Jan 01, 2007 ... Byline: Laura B. Benko Consolidation continued to reshape Michigan's managed-care industry last month as two of the state's largest healthcare systems prepared to sell off their health plans after more than 20 years in the insurance business. Last week, University of ...
Outliers; Asides & Insides.(American College of Healthcare Executives elected Ogan Gurel)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Chicago execs group's ouster of next chief goes unexplained At a recent board meeting, the Chicago Health Executives Forum-a chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives-dethroned its president-elect, physician Ogan Gurel. Or did it? The board ...
BALDRIGE INTERRUPTED; Premier and North Mississippi both took home the prestigious quality award, but their victory celebrations were shortlived.(Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, North Mississippi Medical Center)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Joseph Mantone When a company wins the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the company's typical reaction is celebratory. The company, its executives and its employees revel in the fact that the federal government has bestowed upon it the highest honor ...
Top women sought.(The Week in Healthcare)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Modern Healthcare is seeking nominations for its second biennial Top 25 Women in Healthcare recognition program, honoring those female healthcare executives who are making a positive difference in the industry. The magazine is seeking nominees from all sectors of the industry, including ...
South.(Regional News)(Mountain States Health Alliance is granted permission to build the replacement hospital)(Russell Williams is named chaimrman of the Georgia Health Information Technology and Transparency Advisory Board)(Presbyterian Healthcare is to build hospital in Mint Hill)
Jan 01, 2007 ... JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.-Mountain States Health Alliance said that Tennessee regulators granted it three certificates of need that will lead to the building of a $122 million, 80-bed replacement hospital and the addition of 64 beds at its flagship 433-bed Johnson City Medical Center. The ...
New year, new faces; Handful of CEOs tapped before `Auld Lang Syne' sang.(The Week in Healthcare)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Melanie Evans with Cinda Becker, Vince Galloro, Michael Romano and Mark Taylor Congress isn't the only institution with new leadership in the new year. Several healthcare companies-from a 13-hospital Catholic health system to a rural, small Mississippi ...
Take the IT survey.(The Week in Healthcare)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Modern Healthcare's 17th annual Information Technology survey is now available. This invitation-only survey analyzes the opinions of senior healthcare executives to understand the benefits of implementing new IT systems and sharing data. Replies are needed by Monday, Jan. 8. Individual ...
Options probe opens.(The Week in Healthcare)(Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate UnitedHealth Group Inc.' stock option practices)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Laura Benko UnitedHealth Group said the Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a formal investigation into its historical stock-option granting practices. In its latest SEC filing, the nation's second-largest health insurer said it was notified of the probe on ...
N.Y.'s turn; Groups formulating universal plans.(The Week in Healthcare)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Cinda Becker Inspired by Massachusetts' groundbreaking universal health insurance plan, key organizations in New York have begun to separately conceptualize their own plans. Both the Blueprint for Universal Health Insurance Coverage in New York, a project conducted ...
CEOs focus on finances, docs; Execs cite financial challenges as No. 1 problem: ACHE.(The Week in Healthcare)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Melanie Evans Doctors ranked No. 2 on hospital chief executive officers' list of most significant challenges for 2006, ousting the nation's chronic shortage of healthcare workers from CEOs' top three concerns for the first time in the American College of Healthcare ...
Emergency preparedness; Texas system scores first with inflatable surge hospital.(Regional News)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Michael Romano The hospital building boom has taken on a slightly different meaning for Harris Methodist Fort Worth (Texas) Hospital, which recently unveiled what officials describe as the first privately owned, inflatable surge hospital in the U.S. Since the ...
Giving vendors the bill; Law makes VA contractors liable in security breaches.(Department of Veterans Affairs)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Joseph Conn President Bush signed into law late last month legislation aimed at preventing data-security breaches at the Veterans Affairs Department, ironically considered by many to be the model of information technology adoption in healthcare. Bush signed ...
Late news.(Federal Trade Commission accused physicians for price fixing)(Pitt County Memorial Hospital being inspected by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Clark Mitchell accused for securities fraud with Mutual Benefits Corp.)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Groups charged with price fixing The Federal Trade Commission charged several groups representing more than 2,900 Chicago-area physicians with price fixing and refusing to deal with certain health plans except on collectively determined terms. According to the FTC complaint, the ...
Hitting resistance; Two doc-owned hospitals sell to not-for-profits.(New Albany (Ohio) Surgical Hospital, Wisconsin Heart Hospital)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Michael Romano For physicians, the sudden spurt of specialty hospitals over the past few years seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. Offering high-margin services such as cardiac care and orthopedic surgery, these specialty hospitals were widely touted as a sure ...
CONSUMERS ARE KING; From IT projects to quality initiatives to improved transparency, in '07 it's all about making the healthcare experience better, safer.(Special Report)
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Cinda Becker with Laura B. Benko, Joseph Conn, Melanie Evans, Vince Galloro, Joseph Mantone, Andis Robeznieks, Michael Romano, Mark Taylor and Jessica Zigmond Cinda Becker Consumers are king From IT projects to quality initiatives to improved ...
War of Words.(The Week in Healthcare)(Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2007 ... On Dec. 11, 2006 ... "The only way this mess will go away is for Premier to withdraw. I wish they would for a variety of reasons. But many of the `experts' say that is not a likely scenario. What is likely, if they do not withdraw, is a never-ending issue concerning ethics and ...
Express Scripts' power play; Caremark deal would make the PBM largest by far.(The Week in Healthcare)(pharmacy benefit managers )
Jan 01, 2007; ... Byline: Cinda Becker The already highly concentrated market shared by pharmacy benefit managers could consolidate into two powerhouses if Caremark Rx yields to Express Scripts' hostile takeover bid of $26 billion. If so, a superconcentrated PBM market could further ...
West.(Vincent Regional Medical Center constructing emergency deaprtment)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2007 ... SANTA FE, N.M.-St. Vincent Regional Medical Center began construction in early December on a $12 million project to expand the 190-bed not-for-profit community hospital's emergency department by more than 20,000 square feet. Expected to open in early 2008, the department will be about ...
Midwest.(Regional News)(ProHealth Care Inc. and Centerre Healthcare Corp. to jointly build a rehabilitation hospital in Waukesha County)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2007 ... WAUKESHA, Wis.-ProHealth Care and Centerre Healthcare, St. Louis, announced a joint venture to build a 40-bed rehabilitation hospital in Waukesha County. ProHealth's 15-bed rehabilitation unit at 326-bed Waukesha Memorial Hospital cannot meet demand, the not-for-profit health ...
Wish you were here.(The Week in Healthcare)
Jan 01, 2007 ... But if you weren't, Modern Healthcare Online has you covered. Our seasoned group of 28 reporters and editors attends dozens of healthcare conferences throughout the year. You can read their take on those conferences in the Reporter's Notebook at modernhealthcare.com. Here's the ...
Other Voices.(Opinions)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2007 ... "If you get a bad meal at a restaurant, you expect the manager to tell you it's on the house. Similarly, if the plumber wrecks your sink instead of fixing it, you don't pay him. That's the American way of commerce. Do the job right or forget about getting paid in full. Except for doctors ...
Docs fear 2008 cuts; Another round of possible reimbursement reductions.(The Week in Healthcare: Physicians)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Matthew DoBias For physicians and their lobbyists, congressional lawmakers made sure that 2007 would be anything but a happy new year. In a report released quietly at the end of December, federal actuaries from the Congressional Budget Office reported that the ...
LTACs need fine-tuning: report; Congress could play role in establishing guidelines.(long-term acute care hospitals)(Report)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Jennifer Lubell A long-awaited, CMS-mandated report that may have a financial impact on the lucrative business of providing long-term acute care could open the door to congressional action this year. Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), the new chairman of the House ...
Short-term failure; 4 of 5 cardiac-care measures don't help much: report.(The Week in Healthcare: Quality)(Report)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Andis Robeznieks Recently published findings indicating that four out of five popular heart-failure treatment performance measures don't affect short-term patient outcomes drew criticism from a heart-care provider who helped develop those measures. The findings reopened ...
IT survey extension is Jan. 12.(The Week in Healthcare)
Jan 08, 2007 ... The deadline for Modern Healthcare's 17th annual Information Technology survey has been extended until Jan. 12. The survey analyzes the opinions of senior healthcare executives to understand the benefits of implementing new IT ...
Late news.(credit ratings trends of healthcare companies, expanded insurance coverage in the agenda of the American Medical Association, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations name changed to the Joint Commission, )
Jan 08, 2007 ... Credit ratings may keep dropping Credit ratings may fall further for healthcare companies if they give in to shareholder pressure to increase returns, with either stock buybacks or leveraged buyouts like the $33 billion deal that took HCA private last year, Standard & Poor's ...
Carilion readies med school; Va. plans come as other states boost education.(a joint venture between Carilion Health System and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Melanie Evans Carilion Clinic's $100 million overhaul took another turn last week when the seven-hospital Virginia system unveiled plans to open a medical school by 2010. The school, a joint venture between Roanoke-based Carilion and Virginia Polytechnic ...
Outliers; Asides & Insides.(Memorial Hermann Healthcare Systems announces new dressing trends and services for patients)
Jan 08, 2007 ... System looks at the ins and outs of `holistic patient environment' Patients should remember to pack some designer pajamas if they plan to stay at one of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System's hospitals. Last week, the Houston-based system announced what's in and what's ...
A hamstrung healthcare agenda; Dems limited by fiscal, political constraints, but there are a few opportunities.(Opinions Editorials)(Editorial)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Todd Sloane Their hands are tied. Giddy Democrats danced into control on Capitol Hill last week, with healthcare a headliner of their agenda. But seldom has there been less wiggle room for substantive action by a new majority party in Congress. A tissue-thin ...
Change will be incremental; Democrats will push a healthcare agenda, but Bush still stands in the way.
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Rep. Pete Stark In the 110th Congress, new leadership will bring new priorities. However, we have to be realistic: President Bush will continue to occupy the White House for two more years. Instead of working toward quality healthcare for everyone, President ...
PPS to draw more attention.(Prospective Payment System)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Jennifer Lubell The continued phase-in of a new payment system for inpatient care is likely to be the biggest regulatory issue for hospitals in the coming year, although the industry will need to be watchful for other rule changes that may affect patient care. ...
Huron Consulting's expansion; Group purchases Wellspring Partners for $65 million.
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Melanie Evans Huron Consulting Group expanded its hospital and health system practice at least fourfold with its $65 million cash deal to buy healthcare consultant Wellspring Partners. The acquisition, announced last week, adds Wellspring's 65 consultants and ...
Baptist system taps CEO.(Shane Spees appointed as chief executive officer)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Melanie Evans After six months without a chief executive officer, four-hospital Baptist Health System named Shane Spees as president and CEO. Spees, who will start with Birmingham, Ala.-based Baptist on Feb. 1, will inherit a system that weathered tumultuous years ...
TIME TO ACT ON COVERAGE; Survey finds uninsured No. 1 priority, but achievable goals may be incremental.(Healthcare Opinion Leaders Survey)(Survey)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Jennifer Lubell Most of the healthcare opinion leaders who responded to the Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare survey agreed that Congress should target the uninsured as a top priority in the next five years, but some are doubtful that the issue will get much traction ...
On the Move.(Catholic Healthcare Partners appoints James Gravell Jr., Bruce Rendina, former chairman of Rendina Cos. died)(Obituary)
Jan 08, 2007 ... HOSPITALS, SYSTEMS Catholic Healthcare Partners, Cincinnati, named James Gravell Jr., 58, as its senior vice president and CFO effective Jan. 1. William Shuttleworth, who will retire from the position at the end of the first quarter, is working with Gravell during the ...
Looking into HCA's future; Analysts offer '07 predictions for newly private co.(buyout of the Hospital Corporation of America, opinions of hospital industry observers )
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: V ince Galloro The biggest story involving HCA in 2006 was, of course, the $33 billion leveraged buyout that made it a private company again. What's ahead for the Nashville-based giant in 2007? Modern Healthcare asked three hospital industry observers to make some ...
Wash. alliance gets HHS' OK; Puget Sound first to get designation, could get data.(Department of Health & Human Services designates Puget Sound Health Alliance a "Community Leader for Value-Driven Health Care")
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Matthew DoBias Puget Sound Health Alliance became the first organization to win an HHS designation that eventually could give the Seattle organization access to Medicare data on hospital and physician performance. HHS designated the alliance a "Community ...
Regional News: Northeast.(Geisinger Health System's patient records stored in computer stolen from Electronic Registry Systems, Coordinated Health Care opened an orthopedic hospital, Elder Health Pennsylvania to acquire Health Partners of Philadelphia)
Jan 08, 2007 ... PHILADELPHIA-Elder Health Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of Elder Health, Baltimore, will acquire 21,000 Senior Partners Medicare members from provider-owned Health Partners of Philadelphia, the companies said last week. Financial terms weren't disclosed. The deal will make Elder Health the ...
Regional News: Midwest.(Aurora Health Care Inc. awaits approval from Summit to build hospital, lawsuits against Ocomowoc planned to be dropped, Wisconsin hospital systems contract with the state over uninsured billing practices, Nurses filed antitrust case against hospitals in Detroit)
Jan 08, 2007 ... MILWAUKEE-Aurora Health Care filed plans with Summit, Wis., to build a 110-bed hospital and medical office building there. The $189 million project, if approved by Summit authorities, would end the 12-hospital system's long-running battle to build a hospital in Waukesha County, Aurora ...
Regional News: West.(St. Mary's Regional Medical Center merged with Catholic Healthcare West, task force recommends California's medicaid program to upgrade electronic claim processing, Tenet Healthcare Corp. sells Alvarado Hospital Medical Center to Plymouth Health)
Jan 08, 2007 ... SACRAMENTO, Calif.-A task force urged California's Medicaid program to upgrade its aging computer system and convert to an all-electronic claims-payment process in an effort to clamp down on an estimated $3 billion in fraudulent payments annually. The program, known as Medi-Cal, spends a ...
One vendor at the core; Will rare breed of RHIO ever become dominant?(Regional Health Information Organization)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Joseph Conn Healthcare leaders in more than 100 communities across the U.S. are exploring ways to share patient information through regional health information organizations. One way providers in several communities have tried to achieve interoperability is by agreeing ...
Regional News: South.(District of Columbia council voted to use $245 million fund for health facilities, Huntsville Hospital and Athens and Limestone Hospital alliance, Medical Properties Trust acquires real estate for the Warm Springs Hospital System)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WASHINGTON-The District of Columbia council voted unanimously to use $245 million in tobacco-settlement funds for a new healthcare complex, several new ambulatory-care centers and a host of preventive-health services. The council authorized spending $116 million to build new healthcare ...
Unlikely GPO partners unite; Could Consorta and HealthTrust's collaboration spark a trend among the nation's other top group purchasing organizations?(Group Purchasing Organization)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Cinda Becker Two of the nation's largest group purchasing organizations with roots stretching to opposite corners of the healthcare provider world last week announced they were joining together, startling the GPO industry from a restless slumber. Consorta, a ...
The 100-year itch; If you want to live for a century, you must read this book.(Dare to be 100)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Charles S. Lauer Why can't we all live to 100?With all of the advances medical science has made, there seems to be little reason not to expect to live a far longer and more vital life than those of generations past, longer even than current actuarial data suggest are ...
Healthcare Opinion Leaders Survey.(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Byline: Todd Sloane With this report, Modern Healthcare joins the Commonwealth Fund in an expanded version of the fund's ongoing Healthcare Opinion Leaders Survey. This online poll is designed to highlight perspectives on the most timely health policy issues from a ...
AMBITIOUS AGENDA; Dems promise to push hard on healthcare, but Washington realities stand in the way of bold progress.(Special Report: Agenda)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Matthew DoBias For the first time in more than a decade, Democratic lawmakers have the votes-and the bullhorn-to make revamping healthcare a top-shelf objective of their federal domestic agenda. But budgetary realities, the next round of politicking and even the ...
Bipartisan progress is possible; GOP, Democrats will work on a full range of health policy issues.(Healthcare Opinion Leaders Survey)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Byline: Sen. Mike Enzi As we prepare for the 110th Congress, healthcare reforms undoubtedly will continue to dominate the agenda of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Following two years of milestone achievements in healthcare policy, I am confident that ...
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS.
Jan 08, 2007 ... A story in the Dec. 18/25, 2006 issue (p. 6) overstated the estimated number of health savings accounts. There were about 1.4 million employees enrolled in ...
By the Numbers: Online poll.(The Week in Healthcare)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Some 60% of respondents to a Modern Healthcare Web poll agree with recent criticism of pay-for-performance plans by Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), who said providers should be booted from Medicare if they don't provide top-quality care -- not be rewarded if they do. ...
Other voices.(implications of mental health insurance parity law)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... "The breakthrough mental health insurance parity law that went into effect (Jan. 1) moves Oregon farther down the path toward a more modern and humane system of mental health treatment. The long fight to break down the stigma of mental illness is far from over, but Oregon law now sees and ...
Chart: Top 20 pharmaceutical companies; Ranked by U.S. sales, December 2005 to November 2006.(Brief article)(Company rankings)
Jan 08, 2007 ... 1. Pfizer 2. GlaxoSmithKline 3. Merck & Co. 4. Johnson & Johnson 5. AstraZeneca 6. Amgen Corp. 7. Novartis 8. Sanofi-Aventis 9. Hoffmann-La Roche 10. Eli Lilly and Co. 11 ....
United Surgical starts things off.(The Week in Healthcare)(UNCN Acquisition Corp acquires United Surgical Partners International)
Jan 15, 2007; ... Byline: Jessica Zigmond Other mergers, acquisitions could be on the horizon The $1.8 billion agreement by United Surgical Partners International to sell itself to a private equity firm last week adds to an already active mergers and acquisitions market. ...
Late News.(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality statistics)(negotiation on presciption drugs)(resignation of Ronald Hollander from Massachusetts Hospital Association)
Jan 15, 2007 ... AHRQ: Quality could be better The quality of U.S. healthcare could be much better despite recent improvements, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Nevertheless, providers have made improvements at a steady rate in recent years on 42 key performance ...
Numbers that count; Disease-management industry is taking steps to deliver more reliability, consistency in data on program outcomes.(Payers and Purchasers)
Jan 15, 2007; ... Byline: Laura B. Benko For more than a decade, the disease-management industry's approach to evaluating and reporting outcomes has been about as comprehensible as baseball legend Casey Stengel famously directing a group of rookie players to "line up alphabetically according to ...
Doc-owned ASCs drop: survey.(The Week in Healthcare)(Ambulatory Surgery Centers)(Survey)(Brief article)
Jan 15, 2007 ... Byline: Michael Romano About 47% of the nation's estimated 5,000 ambulatory surgery centers were owned entirely by physicians in 2006-down about 1 percentage point from 2004, according to a survey by the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. But the ...
The essence of healthcare; Charity, generosity and loving care should be fundamental for hospitals.(Lauer's Letter)
Jan 15, 2007; ... Byline: Charles S. Lauer History is a great teacher, but too few people these days spend much energy pondering the past. The current generation of young people seems particularly disinterested in anything that happened longer ago than last year. They seem to adopt the attitude ...
Links to quality; Studies look at effects of workload, pay.(Physician Affairs)
Jan 15, 2007; ... Byline: Michael Romano Three recently published studies demonstrated how physician compensation and workload can affect healthcare quality. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that heavier workloads for hospital residents and their supervisors can lead to ...
Asides & Insides.(Outliers)
Jan 15, 2007 ... Telemedicine will be in deep in man's bid to swim Amazon Martin Strel is a little crazy, and doctors from around the world are going to try to help him. No, they aren't seeking to deter him from his insane goal of swimming the length of the Amazon River and its ...