Subscribe to the monthly Top 5 Most Requested Alert.
House OKs doc-pay revamp November 19, 2009 The House voted 243-183 to approve legislation that seeks to reform the way Medicare pays physicians, aiming to prevent a scheduled 21.2% rate decrease set to take effect next year.
Former McKesson chairman convicted of fraud November 19, 2009 The former chairman of McKesson Corp. and former CEO of HBO & Co., Charles McCall, has been convicted of securities fraud after a retrial of a $9 billion accounting scandal case dating back a decade.
Senate reform bill estimated at $849 billion, aide says November 18, 2009 A sweeping Senate bill to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system will cost roughly $849 billion over the next decade and cover 94% of Americans, according to a senior aide to Senate leaders.
Republicans to offer alternative doc-pay fix November 19, 2009 House Republicans plan to offer an alternative to the Democrat-sponsored bill to reform Medicare's physician payment formula, claiming their approach solves the problem in a “fiscally responsible way.”
Privacy expert says consortium could be IT lifesaver November 19, 2009 Hospitals and physicians have a little more than 13 months to buy, implement and demonstrate that they can “meaningfully use” an electronic health-record system to be ready for the first “payment year” under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 health...
Aetna eliminates 625 jobs, consolidates offices November 19, 2009 Aetna is eliminating 625 jobs immediately and expects to lay off a similar number of workers in early 2010, the Hartford, Conn.-based insurer announced.
N.J. hospital to pay $3 million to settle whistle-blower case November 18, 2009 The U.S. Justice Department settled one whistle-blower lawsuit alleging abuse of Medicare's outlier program by a New Jersey hospital and joined another against a hospital in New York.
Bill a 'tremendous step forward,' Reid says November 18, 2009 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) raised the curtain on a 10-year $849 billion health overhaul package that melds components of two separate Senate bills that collectively have driven a wedge between Democrat and Republican lawmakers.
VIDEO: Doc practices concerned with 'bounty hunter' RAC program November 13, 2009 A controversial audit program in the process of being rolled out in all 50 states by 2010 is sparking concerns not just from the nation's largest hospitals, but the smallest physician practices as well. The Recovery Audit Contractor, or RAC, program was created by the Medicare Modernization Act of...
Hard-pressed small firms drop health insurance November 18, 2009 Empire BlueCross BlueShield is reporting a sharp increase in small businesses terminating coverage that started around the first quarter of this year.
Nominations now accepted for 2010 Health Care Hall of Fame award November 16, 2009 Nominations are now being accepted for Modern Healthcare's 2010 Health Care Hall of Fame competition. The award program, co-sponsored by the American College of Healthcare Executives, honor those who have made outstanding contributions to our industry.
OSHA workplace, illness data inadequate: GAO report November 17, 2009 Workplace injury and illness data that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration collects from employers is inadequate, according to a Tuesday report by the Government Accountability Office.
Annual construction and design survey now open November 02, 2009 Modern Healthcare's 31st annual Construction & Design Survey is now open for participation. To qualify, firms must be based in the U.S. and have 100,000 square feet or more of healthcare projects in at least one phase of construction for 2009: completed, broke ground or designed. Completed surveys...
Health savings account-linked CDHPs are No. 1: Survey November 16, 2009 Consumer-driven health plans linked to health savings accounts remain the CDHP of choice, according to a survey released by Aon Consulting and the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists.
Send nominations for 50 Most Powerful physician executives November 09, 2009 Nominations for the sixth annual ranking of the 50 Most Powerful Physician Executives in Healthcare are now being accepted. Modern Healthcare and sister publication Modern Physician co-sponsor this annual recognition program. To submit a nomination, visit ModernPhysician.com.
Why the FDA Needs to Accept PhRMA's Social Proposal November 13, 2009 The pharmaceutical industry and the FDA are in a strange position. People are discussing drugs and treatments all over net, from WebMD to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Survivors' Network.
Blue Cross pharmacy benefit contract for state employees OK’d November 13, 2009 While the Michigan Supreme Court today considers a competitor’s legal challenge, the State Administrative Board on Thursday approved two contracts worth $2.2 billion to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Maryland-based Catalyst RX.
House bill bad for NY's child health coverage November 09, 2009 A little-noticed provision in the House of Representatives healthcare reform bill would make health coverage for New York children far more expensive. The House bill that was passed on Saturday repeals the Children's Health Insurance Program by 2013. All children in CHIP would move into insurance...
Critics Say Social-Media Should Be Off Limits for DTC Drug Ads November 13, 2009 Those speaking during the second and final day of the FDA's public hearings regarding the promotion of regulated products on websites and social-media sites weren't nearly as enamored of the technology as those speaking on the first day. And they weren't inclined to give the pharmaceutical industry...
Clevelanders make investment in medical search engine developer November 13, 2009 An investment group led by local entrepreneurs aims to turn a technology the Cleveland Clinic has been using to study its own patient records into a product that will help medical researchers sift through mountains of electronic data scattered across the globe.
Key Democrat sounds confident on doc-pay fix November 18, 2009 House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) appears confident that the chamber will approve legislation to revise Medicare's physician payment formula this week.
‘Reinvention' ahead for CCHIT's Mark Leavitt November 18, 2009 What's next for Mark Leavitt? Think of lasagna.Leavitt said he'll turn 60 in mid-March and wants to be out of the job by the end of the month, and then he'll add what he describes as another layer to his career while building on what he's learned.The founding chairman of the not-for-profit...
GAO faults Defense Department contract moves November 18, 2009 The Government Accountability Office identified six flaws in how the Defense Department awarded a lucrative military health benefits contract to Aetna over Health Net, according to released GAO report.
The House's SGR dilemma November 16, 2009 In considering legislation to fix Medicare's troubled physician payment formula, House Democrats face two potential problems: lack of cooperation from the Senate if they do pass the bill and the wrath of doctors if they don't.
Ward to join Wellmont as CFO November 19, 2009 Wellmont Health System, Kingsport, Tenn., said Beth Ward will join the not-for-profit system as chief financial officer on Jan. 11, 2010. Ward is replacing Truman Esmond, who has been interim CFO since November 2008.
Healthcare makes up bulk of false claims tally November 19, 2009 The U.S. Justice Department tallied $1.6 billion in False Claims Act settlements and judgments involving healthcare in fiscal 2009, accounting for two-thirds of the government's total haul of $2.4 billion last year under the fraud-fighting statute.
This is a test November 16, 2009 Hospital board members and trustees might want to take a look in the mirror the next time they wonder why healthcare quality still needs improvement.
Judge lets HCA continue with vaccine mandate November 19, 2009 A federal judge has declined to prevent HCA from implementing a flu-vaccine policy in five hospitals in Northern California despite anecdotal evidence presented by a workers' union that the policy was exposing workers to negative public attention.
HITS Alert: Former McKesson chairman convicted of fraud November 19, 2009 The former chairman of McKesson Corp. and former CEO of HBO & Co., Charles McCall, has been convicted of securities fraud after a retrial of a $9 billion accounting scandal case dating back a decade, according to the Associated Press.
Coleman leaves Trinity Regional; Tibbitts tapped November 18, 2009 Trinity Regional Health System, Rock Island, Ill., has appointed Tom Tibbitts interim CEO of the three-hospital system following the immediate departure of President and CEO Andrea Coleman.
Use reform to tackle problem of waste November 18, 2009 While the $98 billion in government waste is outrageous, steps are being taken to address it, finally. The same budget office indicated that most of the waste was in Medicare/Medicaid and was the result of much tighter scrutiny than in the past
White House healthcare accord with drug industry may be going sour November 17, 2009 Congressional Democrats' intensifying efforts to pay for their healthcare overhaul and provide more relief for consumers are threatening to unravel a White House deal with the pharmaceutical industry and turn one of Washington's most powerful lobbies against the legislation.
FDA warns international Internet pharmacies November 19, 2009 The Food and Drug Administration has issued 22 warning letters to operators of international Internet pharmacies for the sale of misbranded or unapproved drugs to U.S. consumers, according to a news release.
Plan to reopen former King/Drew hospital moves forward November 19, 2009 A plan to reopen a South Los Angeles hospital took a step forward as the University of California regents voted unanimously to partner with Los Angeles County to run the facility.
For more detailed information on Modern Healthcare Online's access levels, please click here.
