Two of the nation’s largest group purchasing organizations with roots stretching to opposite corners of the healthcare provider world last week announced they were joining together, startling the GPO industry from a restless slumber.
For the first time in more than a decade, Democratic lawmakers have the votes—and the bullhorn—to make revamping healthcare a top-shelf objective of their federal domestic agenda. But budgetary realities, the next round of politicking and even the...
Credit ratings may fall further for healthcare companies if they give in to shareholder pressure to increase returns, with either stock buybacks or leveraged buyouts like the $33 billion deal that took HCA private last year, Standard & Poor’s said...
Two of the nation’s largest group purchasing organizations with roots stretching to opposite corners of the healthcare provider world last week announced they were joining together, startling the GPO industry from a restless slumber.
Huron Consulting Group expanded its hospital and health system practice at least fourfold with its $65 million cash deal to buy healthcare consultant Wellspring Partners.
Carilion Clinic’s $100 million overhaul took another turn last week when the seven-hospital Virginia system unveiled plans to open a medical school by 2010.
A long-awaited, CMS-mandated report that may have a financial impact on the lucrative business of providing long-term acute care could open the door to congressional action this year.
The biggest story involving HCA in 2006 was, of course, the $33 billion leveraged buyout that made it a private company again. What’s ahead for the Nashville-based giant in 2007? Modern Healthcare asked three hospital industry observers to...
Recently published findings indicating that four out of five popular heart-failure treatment performance measures don’t affect short-term patient outcomes drew criticism from a heart-care provider who helped develop those measures. The findings...
Puget Sound Health Alliance became the first organization to win an HHS designation that eventually could give the Seattle organization access to Medicare data on hospital and physician performance.
The deadline for Modern Healthcare’s 17th annual Information Technology survey has been extended until Jan. 12. The survey analyzes the opinions of senior healthcare executives to understand the benefits of implementing new IT systems and sharing...
Healthcare leaders in more than 100 communities across the U.S. are exploring ways to share patient information through regional health information organizations. One way providers in several communities have tried to achieve interoperability is by...
For the first time in more than a decade, Democratic lawmakers have the votes—and the bullhorn—to make revamping healthcare a top-shelf objective of their federal domestic agenda. But budgetary realities, the next round of politicking and even the...
The continued phase-in of a new payment system for inpatient care is likely to be the biggest regulatory issue for hospitals in the coming year, although the industry will need to be watchful for other rule changes that may affect patient...
WASHINGTON—The District of Columbia council voted unanimously to use $245 million in tobacco-settlement funds for a new healthcare complex, several new ambulatory-care centers and a host of preventive-health services. The council authorized...
SACRAMENTO, Calif.—A task force urged California’s Medicaid program to upgrade its aging computer system and convert to an all-electronic claims-payment process in an effort to clamp down on an estimated $3 billion in fraudulent payments...
MILWAUKEE—Aurora Health Care filed plans with Summit, Wis., to build a 110-bed hospital and medical office building there. The $189 million project, if approved by Summit authorities, would end the 12-hospital system’s long-running battle to...
PHILADELPHIA—Elder Health Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of Elder Health, Baltimore, will acquire 21,000 Senior Partners Medicare members from provider-owned Health Partners of Philadelphia, the companies said last week. Financial terms weren’t...
Most of the healthcare opinion leaders who responded to the Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare survey agreed that Congress should target the uninsured as a top priority in the next five years, but some are doubtful that the issue will get much...
In the 110th Congress, new leadership will bring new priorities. However, we have to be realistic: President Bush will continue to occupy the White House for two more years.
As we prepare for the 110th Congress, healthcare reforms undoubtedly will continue to dominate the agenda of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Following two years of milestone achievements in healthcare policy, I am...
How very sad it is that when Modern Healthcare finally devotes a significant amount of space to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the coverage is negative (“Baldrige, interrupted,” Jan. 1, p. 6).
Catholic Healthcare Partners, Cincinnati, named James Gravell Jr., 58, as its senior vice president and CFO effective Jan. 1. William Shuttleworth, who will retire from the position at the end of the first quarter, is working with...
