Across the country, doctors, insurers and healthcare executives are donating much more to Democratic candidates than in past campaigns. Some say the trend is an indication that the industry is ready for major change to the healthcare system.
The Little Clinic, a Brentwood, TN-based chain of convenience care clinics, is plannning to open three locations inside Kroger grocery stores in Tennessee. The clinics are staffed by advanced nurse practioners who can diagnose, prognose and write prescriptions for treatments for common illnesses. They also offer general check-ups, physicals, back-to-school and sports exams, screenings and a number of vaccinations.
During a meeting with analysts and investors, UnitedHealth Group executives acknowledged missteps that have frustrated patients and doctors and cost it customers. The executives said the nation's second-largest health insurer is working to improve.
Massachusetts health officials say the state is in danger of losing its lead in implementing electronic medical records and needs to quickly decide how to pay for the new systems and what role government should play. The officials are scheduled to attend a conference, hosted by the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum that will explore ways to apply lessons learned from the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative.
Caritas Carney Hospital in Boston continues to lose money and its owner, the Archdiocese of Boston, can't keep injecting cash to keep it afloat. Management is considering shuttering, selling, or drastically changing the hospital--and a decision is expected by the end of 2007.
Concerned that rising costs could jeopardize Massachusetts' landmark health insurance initiative, a state panel has voted to press insurers to hold premium increases to 5 percent next year for unsubsidized plans. The panel is proposing several ways insurers can hold down prices, including steering patients to doctors and hospitals that provide lower-cost, high-quality care.