HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly

HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly - June 24, 2009


Doctor Says New Yorker Used Slanted Stats Against McAllen, TX Cheryl Clark, Editor, Community Hospitals James Stewart is an internist in McAllen, TX, a rapidly growing city just a few miles from Mexico, far south of where the border lies in most of the rest of the U.S. But when he woke up one morning a few weeks ago, his life and that of many other health providers with whom he works had changed. Suddenly they were in the national spotlight of the health reform debate. [Read More]
		June 24, 2009

Editor's Picks

Texas Doctors Say New Yorker magazine Accusation Got It All Wrong
Doctors practicing in the Southern tip of Texas, just a click from the Mexican border, go to Washington, DC, to tell Congress and the White House that they aren't overutilizing healthcare. Their patients are just poorer and sicker than anywhere else, they say. [Read More]

Providers Still Cause Far Too Many Injuries to Mom and Newborn During Childbirth
While the number of forceps and other injuries during the birthing process to both mother and newborn have gone down, this federal report says far too many continue to occur and are avoidable. One medical malpractice attorney tells CEOs what he would do to reduce mishaps. [Read More]

Lots of Reasons Keep Insurers From Paying Fast Enough, but Medicaid Remains a Problem
Health insurers are paying physicians 5% faster and denying 9% fewer medical claims than last year, but some payers still have a ways to go, according to athenahealth's fourth annual PayerView Rankings. For some, varied policies and procedures among different payers, inadequate call center staff in providers' offices, and outdated coding manuals might be part of the problem. Humana has the best track record, and one practice found color-coding works to submit the correct forms. [Read More]

Public Supports More Funding for Emergency Departments
Emergency departments need more money, according to a Harris public opinion poll. Two thirds of those who took survey say waits for care are just too long. Too few staff and too may patients jeopardize timely care. [Read More]

Editor's Note
From all of us at HealthLeaders Media, have a great Fourth of July holiday. HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly will not publish next week, but will be back with a new issue July 8.

Leaders Forum

Gain Control of Labor Costs While Saving Jobs
HealthLeaders Media contributors Jill Schwieters and Dave Harper explain how to implement creative solutions in reducing labor expenses while preserving relationships and the brand. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

The myth of prevention
Wall Street Journal ? June 22, 2009

Primary care doctor shortage may undermine reform efforts
Washington Post ? June 22, 2009

Poll: Most want health reform but fear its side effects
Washington Post ? June 24, 2009

Co-ops gain backing as alternative to government insurer
Wall Street Journal ? June 22, 2009

Webcasts/Audio Conferences

Service Line Strategies Workshop 2009: Spine Care (Live)

HIPAA Changes: New Compliance Strategies for New Marketing Models (On Demand)

From HealthLeaders Magazine

Bundling By Decree

Can an industry addicted to payment for procedure survive episodic care? Geisinger has. [Read More]

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Service Line Management

Faster, Safer Joint Replacements

Hospitals are fine-tuning the surgical process from start to finish in order to replace joints faster and safer than ever before. [Read More]


	Community Call Discussion Board Are nonprofit health-insurance cooperatives a good way to hold down healthcare costs?



	Audio Feature Finance Help for Patients: Jerry Smith, vice president of revenue cycle at St. Vincent's Health System, discusses the successful implementation of a patient financial assistance program, live from HFMA. [Listen Now]


	Sponsor Community and Rural Hospital Contact Paul Mattioli, Sr. Director of Sales, at pmattioli@healthleadersmedia.com or call 800.639.7477.

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