Efforts centered in Nashville are attempting to shine a spotlight on what some see as the biggest financial uncertainty facing the nation: healthcare. The latest effort in the city involves plans by healthcare entrepreneur Clayton McWhorter to launch SHOUTAmerica, a nonprofit group that aims to raise a younger generation's awareness about the need for healthcare reform. Nashville has much riding on the winning candidate's approach to tackling the nation's healthcare problems because hospitals are one of the city's key industries. The hospitals could benefit from more Americans getting health coverage under Obama's plan, while disease management and wellness companies in the city could benefit from McCain's focus on consumer choice, experts say.
A major OB/GYN group in Chicago is splitting up, as three senior partners form a new, all-gynecology practice. Obstetric and Gynecologic Specialists of Northwestern has seven female doctors who currently serve more than 25,000 patients. Its founder, Lauren Streicher, MD, initiated the shift to a gynecology-only practice. The four remaining physicians are forming a new OB/GYN group in a new location.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives has voted to seek another $89 million from the state, insurance companies and healthcare providers to support the Massachusetts universal healthcare law. Business leaders targeted by Gov. Deval Patrick for another $33 million in contributions were spared, however. House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said in a statement that "modest changes" would allow universal healthcare to continue in Massachusetts while striking the right balance between state and private-sector involvement.
Surgeons in Massachusetts have operated in the wrong location on patients 38 times since 2006, with botched spine surgeries accounting for more of the mistakes than any other type of operation, according to a review of state documents. New England Baptist accounted for four of the 11 bungled spine surgeries in the state. In three of the cases at the Baptist, surgeons discovered the error in the operating room and performed the correct procedure while the patient's spine was still exposed.
A review of West Penn Allegheny Health System finances has found that it overstated payments from vendors and patients by $73 million over the past two years. The move is expected to result in substantial operating losses for the system. President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Olivia, MD, has sent a system-wide e-mail assuring staff that the reductions "have no direct implications on the System's pension plan" and that WPAHS has "now adopted an industry 'best practice' accounting methodology to help ensure a mistake of this nature does not reoccur."
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, the state's largest health insurer, sent an estimated 202,000 benefits letters containing personal and health information to the wrong addresses in a privacy breach that also raised concerns about potential identity theft. The insurer said that the erroneous mailings were primarily Explanation of Benefits letters, which include the patient's name and ID number, the name of the medical provider delivering the service, and the amounts charged and owed. The security breach may be a violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.