Healthcare premiums in Florida climbed 3.6 times faster than workers' earnings over seven years, according to a report released by Families USA, a national organization for healthcare consumers. The report found that from 2000 to 2007, total premiums per worker in employer-based coverage increased 72%, from $6,812 to $11,720. The worker's share of that climbed 94%, from $1,969 to $3,821 per year. Meanwhile, a Florida worker's earnings increased only 20.2% over the seven years, according to the study.
Minnesotans are paying significantly more out-of-pocket for their healthcare, and it seems to be slowing demand for medical care. In 2007 medical spending on those enrolled in private healthcare plans rose by 5.6% to $4,095, on average, the smallest increase in a decade, according to a state report. At the same time, however, out-of-pocket costs for individuals surged by nearly 14%, the highest increase since 2002. In 2007, enrollees paid more than 15% of total healthcare costs, up from just over 10% in 2000.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has further scaled down a proposal to expand healthcare coverage to the uninsured in the hopes of winning legislative approval. Rendell described two alternative approaches to funding the initiative in a letter to key Senate Republicans who have been involved in negotiations. The insurance plan's annual cost would range from $723 million to $857 million by the 2012-13 fiscal year, according to the administration's estimates. Rendell said both options would use a combination of existing state revenue and federal money without raising taxes, and they would expand health insurance coverage to an additional 250,000 uninsured Pennsylvania adults.
In a ceremony at the State House, Gov. Carcieri signed the Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008, which was written after the quality institute held dozens of meetings with consumers, providers, insurers, academics, employers, and others. The law establishes the rules governing the state's health exchange: it gives patients control over who sees their records, puts the Health Department in charge, requires a commission to oversee the exchange, and sets civil and criminal penalties for violating the law.
With the United States facing a huge financial crisis, hospitals are putting off construction projects and paying higher interest on some existing debt. Hospitals with existing variable-rate debt have seen a big jump in the interest they’re paying—in some cases up to 10% or more, up from 3% or 4%, American Hospital Association CEO Rich Umbdenstock told the Wall Street Journal. At the same time, they're seeing more patients who are unable to pay.
Critical Health Systems of Raleigh, NC, has been purchased by a division of Sunrise, FL-based Pediatrix Medical Group for an undisclosed amount of cash. Critical Health is currently the only provider of anesthesia for hospital patients in Wake County, NC. The company has long-term contracts with medical facilities in North Carolina, but officials at WakeMed and Rex Healthcare said they don't expect to see any changes after the sale.
A seven-year, $32 million information technology plan to convert paper records into computer files is under consideration in Vermont, according to doctors and state health officials. The plan is focused on integrating electronic health records into the offices of half of the state's primary care doctors, according to Gregory Farnum, president of Vermont Information Technology Leaders. The VITL is a partnership tasked by the state General Assembly's Commission on Health Care Reform to take the lead in integrating technology into Vermont's healthcare system. The General Assembly's Commission has vowed to support a $1.2 million VITL appropriation in the state budget.
All is not right in the world of consumer-directed healthcare. Many smart people think the future of healthcare cost containment lies with these vehicles. But people don't want them. +
We hear a lot about what hospitals should do to recruit and retain key employees, perhaps by looking at success stories outside the healthcare industry. Maybe we've got it backwards. +
Is it common knowledge among your management team which service lines are the most and least profitable? Don't be too quick to answer. You might be surprised how they hold up under analysis. This article will take you through a detailed service line analysis to identify leaders and laggards in your service line portfolio. +
Francine Machisko and Aaron DeBoer, for HealthLeaders Media
Tarpon Springs, FL-based Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital is facing a $9-million budget shortfall this year, hospital administrators have announced. To offset the deficit, the hospital has discontinued its home health agency, eliminated some open positions, and is working to generate alternative revenue sources, said hospital CEO Don Evans. The hospital was taken over by Tampa's University Community Health in 2000 when it was on the verge of financial disaster, but has continued to struggle since the partnership was formed. This year's shortfall, however, is about $1-million less than last year's, Evans added.
Frank Hone, founder and CEO of Healthcentric Partners, Inc., talks about what is needed to educate a healthcare consumer and why the environment is right for consumer-driven healthcare. +
Leaders at America's rural and community hospitals frequently complain to us that they have a hard time getting so-called rent-a-nurses to buy into their hospital's mission and methodology. +
