Four public interest groups have unveiled a campaign to expand Texans' ability to buy private health insurance.The consumer and religious organizations said they hope to broaden a review of the Texas Department of Insurance's inner workings so lawmakers will consider several changes, such as giving mom-and-pop businesses more clout in the small-group health insurance market.
Nashville, TN-based Saint Thomas Health Services is expanding its network of chest pain centers to Kentucky. Currently, St. Thomas includes 11 hospitals accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. Accreditation is pending for the expansion to Monroe County Hospital in Tompkinsville, KY.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a proposed rule that will update payment rates for 2009 and improve quality of services provided in hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers, according to a CMS release. The proposed rule builds on efforts across Medicare to transform the program into a prudent purchaser of healthcare services, paying based on quality of care, not just quantity of services, according to the release.
Republican Presidential candidate John McCain has proposed that everyone buying health insurance get a refundable tax credit. At the same time, he would treat employer contributions toward health insurance like income, meaning workers would have to pay income, but not payroll, taxes on it. Democratic nominee Barack Obama says the plan would "shred" the employer-based system that provides health insurance to about 158 million workers. While most health analysts won't go that far, both liberals and conservatives say McCain's approach would strengthen the individual and small-group insurance market.
Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, used a national radio address to call on Republicans to back the bill to stave off a 10.6% cut in Medicare payments to doctors. Durbin accused Republicans of putting seniors and military families at risk by siding with President Bush against a measure to prevent the Medicare cuts. Democratic leaders intend to use the an deadline on the cuts to pressure Republicans to switch their votes or be accused of hurting seniors and others.
In a swirl of confusion following the abrupt termination of scores of employees with Children's Hospital Oakland, some children's surgeries were canceled then uncanceled, medical appointments were called off, and clinical staff worried about the future of their patients. County officials also blasted the hospital for the sudden announcement of the layoffs and the planned retooling of outpatient services designed to save $10 million a year at the facility.