Loose Lips

"We simply can't have a one-sided, take-it-or-leave-it bargaining agreement."
-Cindy Ehnes, director of the Department of Managed Health Care, on Blue Cross of California's efforts to require hospitals, physicians and labs to sign a confidentiality agreement that would prevent them from publicly discussing fee negotiations.

"They stalk one another geographically."
-Alan Sager, a professor of health policy and management at Boston University School of Public Health, referring to the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, which are expanding their services into Cleveland's suburbs in pursuit of a more affluent and well-insured patient base.

"It's not rocket science. It's actually harder than rocket science, because you're dealing with people."
-Michael J. Paruta, director of work force development at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, RI, on the difficulty in training enough nurses and other healthcare workers to meet demand.