Community Health Systems in Franklin, TN, is seeking approval to acquire Washington-based Deaconess Medical Center, Valley Hospital and Medical Center and holdings of Empire Health Services. Two hospitals and four urgent-care clinics would be bought by Cpmmunity Health for $272 million if the application is approved.
The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board postponed its decision on the proposed merger of Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital and Touchette Regional Hospital. The board said it needed to further analyze financial information submitted by the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, which owns both of the hospitals. Some administrative functions of the two hospitals, including accounting, finance and payroll, have already been integrated.
Regulatory guidelines recently issued by the Department of Labor may curtail the ability of employers to motivate workers to kick unhealthy habits. The guidelines close a legal loophole that could have allowed employers to make health insurance more expensive for unhealthy workers than for their colleagues.
Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami doubled parking rates at the beginning of 2008, and were promptly bombarded by complaints from patients and their loved ones. The hospital has now announced it will roll back the bulk of the price hikes, which administrators say were implemented due to upkeep costs and an increase in charity care.
This year, 2.8 million of the oldest baby boomers will be eligible for Social Security benefits but he won't be eligible for Medicare until they turn 65. Finding a way to bridge the gap when they eligible for Social Security but not for Medicare will be the hardest and costliest challenge for many of the boomers who want to retire early or are forced out of their jobs.
Thanks to an infusion of $325 million in federal dollars, Georgia's embattled health insurance program for working-class children is safe for another year. PeachCare will now have enough funding to cover the 254,820 children now enrolled and to grow by up to 40,000 children, said State Health Department Commissioner Dr. Rhonda Medows.