Jordan is stepping up efforts to tap into the multibillion dollar medical tourism market with a campaign to lure U.S. citizens. The push includes a Web campaign and a visit by a group of U.S. healthcare specialists and insurers. Hospitals are also offering package deals, including air travel. Jordanian officials hope the medical tourism industry will give a boost to its struggling economy.
Despite President Obama's forceful urgings, congressional Democrats continued to struggle to finalize details of legislation aimed at overhauling the nation's healthcare system. House leaders wrangled with members over plans to pay for expanded insurance coverage by increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans. And at a White House session, Senate leaders came under fire for a slipping timetable that may make it difficult to meet Obama's deadline for floor action by the August recess.
Jobs in healthcare and those requiring postsecondary education will show the biggest gains by 2016, according to a report released by the president's Council of Economic Advisers. The report, titled "Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow," stated that a subsector of healthcare called "other medical services and dentists," which includes home healthcare, outpatient care and medical laboratory positions, is projected to add the most jobs.
Regina M. Benjamin, an Alabama family physician, was nominated as U.S. surgeon general by President Obama. Obama used the announcement to stress his commitment to passing healthcare reform legislation, and he said Benjamin would be a crucial voice in the debate. "For nearly two decades, Dr. Regina Benjamin has seen in a very personal way what is broken about our healthcare system," he said. "She represents what's best about healthcare in America: doctors and nurses who give and care and sacrifice for the sake of their patients."
The effort to pass a healthcare overhaul is being frustrated by divisions among Democrats over a wide range of issues, including how to pay for the measure and its impacts on small business. A House bill is expected to be released July 14, but concerns voiced by moderate Democrats prompted party leaders to delay release of details and have spurred a round of high-level meetings on Capitol Hill.
Children's Hospital and Touro Infirmary have finalized an agreement that creates a two-hospital system called the Louisiana Children's Medical Center, with Children's top administator Steve Worley serving as chief executive officer. The parent corporation's governing board, which includes members from the existing Children's and Touro boards, also announced the hiring of former Tulane Medical Center executive James Montgomery to lead the Touro campus, which has struggled financially since Hurricane Katrina.