That didn't last long. About 55 million Social Security recipients will get their first increase in benefits next year since 2009 — a 3.6% raise. But higher Medicare premiums could erase part of it. For some, higher Medicare Part B premiums could wipe out as much as a fourth of their raise from Social Security, according to projections by the trustees who oversee the programs. Medicare is expected to announce 2012 Part B premiums as early as next week. The premiums, which cover doctor visits, are deducted automatically from monthly Social Security payments. The Social Security Administration announced the pay increase Wednesday, offering a measure of comfort to millions of retirees and disabled people, many who have seen their retirement accounts dwindle, home values drop and out-of-pocket medical costs rise in the years since their last raise. Starting in January, 55 million Social Security recipients will get increases averaging $39 a month, or just over $467 for the year.
Partners in the controversial merger of three Kentucky hospital systems fielded dozens of questions about reproductive and end-of-life care, health insurance for employees and other issues at a community forum Wednesday that drew hundreds of people. The forum, at Memorial Auditorium on S. Fourth St., was sponsored by the Louisville Metro Board of Health and was designed to ensure the community's voice was heard on the planned merger of University Hospital, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare and St. Joseph Health System of Lexington, which is owned by Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives.
The public governing board charged with redeveloping the Methodist Hospital campus into a community hospital for eastern New Orleans is looking for private partners who could help finance and potentially operate the facility targeted for a fall 2013 opening. The Orleans Parish Hospital Service District A Board, a state-chartered entity, voted without dissent Tuesday to solicit potential partners in a scheme that could supersede existing plans for the Baton Rouge-based Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System to run the new hospital that has become a centerpiece of Mayor Mitch Landrieu's health care agenda. Separately, the board hired New Orleans attorney Ernest Legier as the district's executive director. Gov. Bobby Jindal confirmed his support for more than $8 million in state capital financing support for the project, which is projected to exceed $100 million.
Blue Care Network, Beaumont (MI) Health System and Beaumont Physician Organization are notifying thousands of members and doctors how Beaumont's plan to stop accepting the health maintenance organization's insurance in January will affect cardholders such as expectant mothers and cancer patients. Doctors are worried about the situation, said Dr. Marc Weisman, medical director of Beaumont Physician Organization, who added that he has fielded dozens of phone calls from doctors. About 60,000 Blue Care Network patients are assigned to a doctor who works primarily with Beaumont. "I can hardly practice medicine," he said Wednesday. "There's a huge amount of consternation. They're concerned about their practice, they're concerned about their patients."
More than 1,000 people overwhelmingly in support of Hackensack University Medical Center's plan to reopen Pascack Valley Hospital turned out at a hearing that drew passionate testimony from politicians, physicians and residents. A crowd of nearly 800 — many wearing green T-shirts provided by Hackensack — packed the auditorium at Westwood Regional Junior/Senior High School in Washington Township while another 300 watched proceedings from an adjacent room. Others were turned away by fire officials when both rooms reached capacity. "Opening this hospital has overwhelming support form local officials, emergency responders, businesses, physicians and residents throughout Bergen County," Hackensack's president, Robert C. Garrett, testified.
Illinois patients can now research their doctors using an online database the state launched Wednesday. The idea is to take the guesswork out of choosing a doctor by allowing easier access to information about the state's 46,000 licensed physicians and surgeons. The database can be accessed through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's website at idfpr.com. There, patients can learn about a doctor's educational background and training, determine what type of insurance they accept and find out what languages are spoken in the office. Also included is information regarding criminal convictions, whether hospital privileges have been revoked and disciplinary action against the doctor by regulators in Illinois and other states. Sponsoring Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, said the measure will protect patients from seeking out treatment from shady doctors who put lives at risk.