Daily news & Analysis
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By: Joe Cantlupe, for HealthLeaders Media, January 21, 2010
The Nebraska senator who gave the Democrats what they wanted on health reform now doesn't want what they want to give him in return.
After waves of protest about the potential illegality of the deal in which Nebraska was allegedly promised millions of dollars in Medicaid funds, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-NE, told Democratic leadership he "reiterates" that all states should be given "the same treatment." In other words, he told his colleagues "thanks, but no thanks." So far, there has been no response from party leaders.
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By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, January 21, 2010
Forget, just for a moment, the divisive topic of abortion in the context of health reform. Embedded in the 2,409 pages of the Senate's health reform template are many other provisions that would impact women's healthcare, including breast cancer screening, ob/gyn specialty access, special tobacco cessation programs for women, and a new Office of Women's Health.
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By: Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media, January 21, 2010
A new Gallup Survey of opinion leaders from across the country found that most believe nurses should have greater influence in many healthcare areas—from reducing medical errors to improving efficiency and reducing costs—but that significant barriers continue to block them from fully achieving those goals. The survey, called "Nursing Leadership from Bedside to Boardroom: Opinion Leaders' Perceptions," was conducted on behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and released at a briefing in Washington on Wednesday.
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By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, January 21, 2010
Congress is taking aim at MEWAs, or Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements, which are cooperative-like entities in which health and other benefits are marketed to groups of small employers. And while many MEWAs are providing small employers legitimate health insurance options, other MEWAs are associated with scams, experts say. When these health plan purveyors are dishonest, or don't have the money to pay claims, the federal government wants the right to shut them down with a prompt cease and desist.
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By: Matt Phillion, for HealthLeaders Media, January 20, 2010
Relief will come to facilities waiting for their unannounced survey from The Joint Commission, as a new and more collaborative process will take place in 2010, the organization announced recently. The new process is designed to be more sensitive to the time demands on facilities and staff during the survey process.
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By: James Carroll, January 20, 2010
With Recovery Audit Contractor HealthDataInsights looking specifically at underpayments, providers should be aware of these underpayment issues—such as DRG validation-amputations and DRG validation-burns. Understanding these issues will put providers in a better situation going forward.
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By: Joe Cantlupe, for HealthLeaders Media, January 20, 2010
Although the health reform bills showcase the potential of pilot and demonstration projects as cost-cutters for the system, experts are cautious about implementing them. A key problem is the lack of a national data system.
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By: Gienna Shaw, for HealthLeaders Media, January 20, 2010
Democrat Martha Coakley's communications strategy helped her lose a seat that hasn't been held by a Republican in decades. Here's how you can avoid making the same mistakes in your marketing campaigns.
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By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, January 20, 2010
Doctors and hospitals are increasingly realizing that exposure to music and art isn't just a cosmetically pleasing, cute trinket in a healthcare setting, it can actually improve patient satisfaction and reduce costs.
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By: January 20, 2010
Jim Orchison, director of network design and programs for Blue Shield of California, talks about the insurer's new Patient Ally portal. [Sponsored by Emdeon]
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