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October 30, 2009
Medicaid Buy-In Doubles Enrollment, Expenditures
12 New Features in the Latest House Health Reform Bill
Weeklong Event Recognizes Medical Staff Services
Telestroke Programs Link Stroke Specialists to Patients Unable to Access Care
CDC: Swine flu hit millions in spring
A Senate naysayer, spoiling for healthcare fight
Obama says health reform could save small businesses premium dollars
Allina and MinuteClinic to join forces
Seniors on front line of healthcare battle
Sumner Health tries to sell 20 properties
Drug makers face tougher measures in reform bill
Insurers: Costs would skyrocket under House reform bill
Healthcare businesses at risk in House overhaul

October 29, 2009
House's Revamped Health Reform Bill Would Cover 96% of Americans
Senators Push for More Healthcare Fraud Prevention in Health Reform
Mass. General Stabbing Shows Difficulties in Preventing Violence
House healthcare reform bill to include public option
Pelosi backs off set rates for public option
Billionaire offers $100-million guaranty to reopen King hospital in Los Angeles
Public-option liberals hold sway
Lawmakers target Medicare and Medicaid fraud
UniCare to pull out of Illinois, Texas
Business groups push hard against the Senate bill
IBM to drop co-pay for primary-care visits
In China, too, a healthcare system in disarray

October 28, 2009
Small Healthcare Entities Need Red Flags The Most
Recession Slows Charitable Giving for Healthcare
N95 Respirators are the H1N1 Prevention Winner
Democratic Leaders Say Reform Bill Will Pass, With or Without GOP
Reid's push for public option creates new barriers for bill
Centrists unsure about Reid's public option
Providence Health, Catholic Health Initiatives Form Medical Reference Lab Partnership
Schwarzenegger airs Medicaid cost concerns, but still backs healthcare action
Delicate dance for two lobbyists on health bill

October 27, 2009
Employees Are Hospitals' Greatest Commodity in Patient Access
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid says bill will include a public option
Electronic medical records not seen as a cure-all
Reid Backs Public Option, But Questions Remain About Whether it Can Pass
AARP: Reform advocate and insurance salesman

October 26, 2009
Proper Use of Emergency Kits Essential in Nursing Homes
Healthcare System Wastes $850 Billion Annually
Senate on verge of health bill
Lawmakers, lobbyists seek influence as bill gains more support
Baylor Health Care System asks Terrell, TX, to sweeten hospital deal
Smilow Cancer Hospital set to open in New Haven, CT
Tapping the brakes on health sector's growth in Massachusetts

October 23, 2009
Medicare Value-Based Formula Will Be Included in House Reform Bill
RAC Audits Under Way, But Hospital Continues to Improve Processes
Caritas' New Data Strategy Designed to Improve Care, Reduce Costs
Why are More Hospital Executives Pursuing M-degrees?
Financial Outlook for California Hospitals Improves, Despite Plummeting Investment Income
Brigham and Women's Hospital names new president
Abortion divides House Democrats in healthcare debate
CDC: 20% of children had flu-like illness this month, most of it probably swine flu
Obama won't promote Massachusetts plan during trip to state
Lawmakers warm to the public option
Vote on Medicare payment cuts divides Democrats
Senate leader takes risk pushing public insurance plan

October 22, 2009
Escalating Medicare and Medicaid Auditing on the Horizon
Going Global: Health Officials Trumpet Moving Away from Fee-for-Service System
Health Reform Brings Hope Coupled with Pessimism
Senate keeps Medicare payment formula

October 21, 2009
Senate Turns Down Effort to Repeal Medicare Payment Formula
House Democrats' desired health bill would cost $871 billion
Court rules Charity Hospital closure suit belongs in Baton Rouge, LA
California hospitals begin limiting visitors over H1N1 flu
White House relies on core healthcare team
Ill-conceived U.S. healthcare ranking makes for unhealthy debate

October 20, 2009
Five Easy Ways to Protect Staff from Violent Patients
Public Option Still Alive in Senate Discussions
Poll: Most Americans support public option
Mergers thrive in health industry

October 19, 2009
Obama Takes Aims at Insurance Industry's Antitrust Exemption
From HealthLeaders Media '09: Never-ending Quality Improvement
White House aides reaffirm public option is not mandatory
Healthcare poses stiff tests for top Democrats
White House presses on healthcare
CEOs tally health-bill score
In health debate, those numbers are just numbers
Bristol (CT) Hospital, Anthem in standoff over reimbursement rates

October 16, 2009
Judge halts mandatory flu vaccines for healthcare workers
UPMC Will Close Struggling Hospital
From HealthLeaders Media '09: Five Ways to Build the Talent of the Future
CBO estimates House health bill at $905 billion or less
Democrats address their own rifts on healthcare
From HealthLeaders Media '09: Reinventing the Patient Experience
House Panel Looks to Help Underinsured
Cedars-Sinai head expresses regret for radiation overdoses

October 15, 2009
Lack of Physician Participation is Hindering Quality Efforts
California Nursing Homes to Post Five-Star Ratings
Hospitals Question Dietitians' Right to Prescribe Diet Orders
FTC OKs Pfizer Takeover of Wyeth for Human Pharmaceuticals
Healthways Pays $14.7M for HealthHonors
Public option is next big hurdle in health debate
White House team joins talks on healthcare bill
Senate healthcare push gains momentum
Democrats fire back at health industry
California hospitals fear swine flu, bar visits by kids
Miami-based Jackson Health System turning to high-priced consultants
New Hampshire brain injury unit to close
Medicare Advantage premiums expected to rise 25% next year
VA-based Potomac Hospital signs deal to merge

October 14, 2009
Communicating with Employees Can Ease H1N1 Fears, Curb Absenteeism
Three Areas of Debate When Reform Bill Reaches Senate Floor
Republican's vote lifts Senate Finance Committee health bill, but hurdles remain
Next test in healthcare fight: Melding competing bills
Health insurers emerge as Obama's top foe in reform effort
Minneapolis-area healthcare rivals to work together
Blue Island, IL-based MetroSouth Medical Center plans no more reductions, chief says
People to watch in the healthcare debate's next phase

October 13, 2009
ED Docs Fret About H1N1 Strain on Resources
AHA RAC Program Update Answers Provider Questions
Senate Panel Meets for Vote Amid Controversy Over Costs
Mortality Rates Found Lower Among Top-Rated Hospitals
As Senate Finance panel votes on healthcare, Democrats look ahead
Mayo Clinic faulted for limiting Medicare patients
Congress is split on effort to tax costly health plans
Universal healthcare coverage appears elusive
Mixed reviews for Gov. Schwarzenegger on California healthcare bills

October 12, 2009
Can Senate Finance Bill Bend the Cost Curve?
Adding Tort Reform to Healthcare Reform Could Lower Costs
Cedars-Sinai Under Investigation for CT Radiation Overexposure to 206 Patients
NQF Honors Patient Safety and Quality Leaders
New health bill would raise rates, says insurance group
Lobbyists fight last big plans to cut healthcare costs
Insurance mandates draw flak from both sides
Health plan's effect on costs may be slight
Massachusetts plan may place limits on patients' hospital options
With hospital shot down, Spring Hill, TN, wonders: What's next?
Expansion project breaks ground at Hollywood, FL-based Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
Cedars-Sinai investigated for significant radiation overdoses of 206 patients
For Obama, selling healthcare is now an inside-outside game

October 9, 2009
Congressmen Want HIPAA Harm Threshold Eliminated
Hospital Reduces Infection Rates Quickly
House Getting Ready to Send Its Reform Bill to CBO
FDA Warns Patients Received Radiation Overdose in CT Scans
2% of Health Practitioners Are Not Licensed; 19% Have Issues with Credentials
Flu prompts South Dakota health system to enact visitor limitations
Swine flu vaccine passes safety test
Swine flu toll on Australia is bad omen for U.S. intensive-care units
Fat tax to pay for healthcare reform?
All eyes are on Olympia Snowe in healthcare debate
House eyes windfall tax on insurers for health bill
Senate health bill gains momentum
Health industry concerned about reform measures
Healthcare tug of war puts patients in the middle
Senate panel sets healthcare overhaul vote

October 8, 2009
Lawsuit Highlights Legal Issues Tied to Firing Residents
Time to Check Dangers of Social Networking
Employer-Backed Medical Benefits Will Average $10K Next Year
Senate Finance Bill Will Cost $829 Billion Over Decade
Hospital lobbyists say Baucus has not yet lived up to their deal
Healthcare bill would not raise deficit, report says
Five key numbers in CBO's score of the Senate Finance bill
Boston Medical Center reexamines doctors' speaking rules
Inquiry may alter HCA's IPO plan
Democrats face dilemma on taxes to pay for healthcare
Hospitals west of Boston ramp up amenities
Minority groups raise voices on reform

October 7, 2009
Nurse's Alleged Negligence Prompts Criminal Investigation
OIG Plans to Review Medicare, Medicaid Auditing Programs
First Round of Swine Flu Vaccinations Distributed in the U.S.
Moderate H1N1 Pandemic Could Flood Los Angeles Hospitals
Health reform gets conditional GOP support
SEC probing Hospital Corporation of America
Four Senators' concerns reflect healthcare challenge
Swine flu vaccinations start as officials attack myths
California hospitals want to pay new fees but may not get the chance
Norwood (MA) Hospital staffers vote yes on union

October 6, 2009
As Proposed, Tax on Cadillac Plans May Be A Non-Starter
More than 50% of Americans Don't See H1N1 As A Serious Public Health Threat
Obama Reviews Reform Goals With Physician Audience
Vote on key health bill delayed for cost report
In debate on health, it is coverage vs. cost
Hospitals find way to make care cheaper: Make it better
Hospitals, insurers fight bid to ease penalties in health bill
Health insurance exchanges: Will they work?
Court asks for Obama's stance on Healthy San Francisco
Some Grady dialysis outpatients run into early snags
Facility fees are taking many patients by surprise

October 5, 2009
Healthcare Costs Could Jump 35% Without Reform Passage
OIG Gets Proactive in 2010 Work Plan
Health overhaul is drawing close to floor debate
States resist Medicaid growth
Healthcare job growth continues
Obama quietly tries to shore up Senate support for public option
Hospitals attack Massachusetts pay proposal
General Electric chief sees India helping cut costs of U.S. healthcare
Flu prompts Virginia hospitals to limit visits

October 2, 2009
Six Hospitals Pay $8.3 Million in Medicare Spine Surgery Case
Document Disruptive Behavior
Five hospital secrets
Five Last-Minute Tips to Prepare for RACs
Health and Human Services OIG releases 2010 Work Plan
Senate Finance Committee Finishes Reform Bill Hearings
Finance Committee stays late to finish work on healthcare bill
Senate Republicans criticize taxes in healthcare bill
Pharmaceutical executive donates $100 million to CA-based St. John's Health Center
Insurers drop some Medicare plans as rules tighten
Miami-based Leon Medical Centers wins high praise for healthcare plan
Mayo Clinic chief finds healthcare debate heartbreaking

October 1, 2009
EDs Are Seeing More Elderly Patients, Repeat Users
H1N1 Outbreak Could Cause Hospital Bed Shortages
Former Clinton Advisor: Healthcare Reform Will Pass
Joint Commission's 2010 Patient Safety Goals Reduce Requirements
Senate Finance Gives OK to Raise Limits on Employee Healthy Behavior Rewards
Senate Finance panel has votes to pass health bill, Baucus says
What makes a health plan a Cadillac?
Study looks at deaths after surgery
Rate of enrollment in Medicaid rose rapidly, report says
Report paints dark picture of healthcare costs in 2019
Swiss healthcare thrives without public option