Reader notes states are passionately opposed to reform, and more news . . .
Skip to main content
MDHC_Logotype_white
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • This Week's News
    • COVID-19
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition
    • Biden unveils $1.9T plan to stem virus and steady economy
      HHS removes some requirements for opioid treatment prescribing
      Verma: CMS tried to ‘infuse' free-market competition across healthcare during Trump era
      CMS finalizes rule to revamp ACA exchanges
    • Biden unveils $1.9T plan to stem virus and steady economy
      Nursing home staff COVID-19 vaccination: A work in progress
      California hospitals prepare ethical protocol to prioritize lifesaving care
      Expanded vaccine rollout in U.S. spawns a new set of problems
    • The Check Up: Trenda Ray
      The Check Up: Trenda Ray of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
      Trenda Ray
      Q&A: Arkansas nursing leader looking for creative staffing solutions as COVID cases surge
      Cook Lydia 4x6_i.jpg
      Northeast Ohio health systems increase community benefit values in 2019
      Vaccine rollout hits snag as health workers balk at shots
    • COVID-19 still a big uncertainty for insurers in 2021
      Health insurers' outlook boosted after Dems' Georgia win
      humana_i.jpg
      Humana supports Ohio not-for-profits with $500,000
      BlueCrossBlueShieldSign-main_i_i_i.jpg
      Michigan Blues to change pharmacy benefit manager from Express Scripts to OptumRx
    • Verma: CMS tried to ‘infuse' free-market competition across healthcare during Trump era
      CMS axes MFAR rule for good
      MedPAC votes to boost hospital payments, freeze or cut other providers
    • Operation Warp Speed to bump up McKesson's stock price
      Reporter's notebook: J.P. Morgan's 2021 health conference
      Hospitals, nursing homes get more time to file cost reports
      Hospitals' 2020 fundraising on pace to top 2019
    • 5 things to know about Google's $2.1B Fitbit acquisition
      Providence bets on machine-learning, consolidating data centers
      Mental health treatment was most common telehealth service during COVID
      Broad, Verily take Terra bioinformatics platform to Microsoft Azure cloud
    • Chance of COVID-19 triage care looms over Arizona hospitals
      U.S. ramps up vaccinations to get doses to more Americans
      367146427.jpg
      Should businesses mandate that staff get the COVID vaccine?
      71% of Americans surveyed by the Kaiser Family Foundation in December said they would definitely (41%) or probably (30%) get a vaccine if it were free and deemed safe by scientists. 27% of those surveyed said they would definitely (15%) or probably (12%) not get it.
      Data Points: Concerns linger over vaccines
    • Tower Health's finance chief resigning after years of steep losses
      AHRQ director Gopal Khanna resigns in response to Capitol riot
      Brigham president stepping down after Moderna controversy
      Dr. Kenneth Davis
      Mount Sinai CEO offers lessons from one of the nation's first COVID recovery clinics
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Insights
    • ACA 10 Years After
    • Best Practices
    • InDepth Special Reports
    • Innovations
    • The Affordable Care Act after 10 years
    • New care model helps primary-care practices treat obesity
      doctor with patient
      COVID-19 treatment protocol developed in the field helps patients recover
      Rachel Wyatt
      Project to curb pressure injuries in hospitals shows promise
      Yale New Haven's COVID-19 nurse-staffing model has long-term benefits
    • Michellene Davis
      Healthcare leadership lacks the racial diversity needed to reduce health disparities
      Dr. James Hildreth
      How medical education can help fight racism
      Modern Healthcare InDepth: Breaking the bias that impedes better healthcare
      Videos: Healthcare industry executives describe their encounters with racism
      Quotes from rebadged employees
      Outsourcing IT, revenue cycle takes toll on internal culture
    • A woman with a wearable sensor talking to her provider.
      Wearable sensors help diagnose heart rhythm problems in West Virginia
      self service station
      COVID-19 pushes patient expectations toward self-service
      Targeting high-risk cancer patients with genetics
      A nurse holds up a phone with a message to a family member saying surgery has started.
      Texting, tablets help hospitals keep family updated on patient care
  • Transformation
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Highmark Health inks six-year cloud, tech deal with Google
      Study: 1 in 5 patients report discrimination when getting healthcare
      HHS proposes changing HIPAA privacy rules
      Android health records app launches at 230 health systems
    • California hospitals prepare ethical protocol to prioritize lifesaving care
      Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway disband Haven
      Digital pathways poised to reshape healthcare continuum in 2021
      Healthcare was the hardest hit by supply shortages across all U.S. industries
    • A woman with a wearable sensor talking to her provider.
      Wearable sensors help diagnose heart rhythm problems in West Virginia
      New care model helps primary-care practices treat obesity
      How hospitals are building on COVID-19 telehealth momentum
      Researchers: Hospital price variation exacerbates health inequities
    • MedPAC votes to boost hospital payments, freeze or cut other providers
      Most Next Gen ACOs achieved bonuses in 2019
      Congress recalibrates Medicare Physician Fee Schedule after lobbying
      CMS approves rule to encourage value-based drug pricing
  • Data/Lists
    • Rankings/Lists
    • Interactive Databases
    • Data Points
    • Health Systems Financials
      Executive Compensation
      Physician Compensation
  • Op-Ed
    • Bold Moves
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Vital Signs Blog
    • From the Editor
    • Wellstar CEO calls adapting for the pandemic her bold move
      Howard P. Kern
      Recognizing the value of telehealth in its infancy
      Dr. Stephen Markovich
      A bold move helped take him from family doctor to OhioHealth CEO
      Dr. Bruce Siegel
      Why taking a hospital not-for-profit was Dr. Bruce Siegel’s boldest move
    • Barry Ostrowsky
      Ending racism is a journey taken together; the starting point must be now
      Laura Lee Hall and Gary Puckrein
      Increased flu vaccination has never been more important for communities of color
      John Daniels Jr.
      Health equity: Making the journey from buzzword to reality
      Mark C. Clement and David Cook
      We all need to 'do something' to fight inequities and get healthcare right, for every patient, every time
    • Healing healthcare: some ideas for triage by the new Congress, administration
      Dr. Sachin H. Jain
      Medicare for All? The better route to universal coverage would be Medicare Advantage for All
      Connectivity: a social determinant of health that can exacerbate all the others
      Taking my shot at building trust
    • Letters: Eliminating bias in healthcare needs to be ‘deliberate and organic’
      Letters: Maybe dropping out of ACOs is a good thing for patients
      Letters: White House and Congress share blame for lack of national COVID strategy
      Letters: VA making strides to improve state veterans home inspections
    • Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      How blockchain could ease frustration with the payment process
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Three steps to better data-sharing for payer and provider CIOs
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Reduce total cost of care: 6 reasons why providers and payers should tackle the challenge together
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Why CIOs went from back-office operators to mission-critical innovators
  • Awards
    • Award Programs
    • Nominate
    • Previous Award Programs
    • Other Award Programs
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare Logo for Navigation
      Nominations Open - Best Places to Work in Healthcare
      Nominations Open - Health Care Hall of Fame
      Nominations Open - 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
    • Top 25 Innovators
    • Top 25 Minority Leaders
    • Top 25 Women Leaders
    • Excellence in Nursing Awards
    • Design Awards
    • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
    • 100 Top Hospitals
    • ACHE Awards
  • Events
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Webinars
    • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Healthcare Transformation Summit
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Workplace of the Future Conference
    • Strategic Marketing Conference
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala (2022)
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
  • Listen
    • Podcast - Next Up
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Video Series - The Check Up
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Carter Dredge
      Next Up Podcast: Ready, set, innovate! Innovation and disruption in healthcare
      Next Up Podcast: COVID-19, social determinants highlight health inequities — what next?
      Next Up Podcast: Saving Rural Health
      Ceci Connolly
      Next Up Podcast: How to navigate the murky post-election waters
    • An older man wearing a mask receiving a vaccine.
      Beyond the Byline: Verifying information on the chaotic COVID-19 vaccine rollout
      doctor burnout
      Beyond the Byline: How healthcare supply chain struggles contribute to employee burnout
      Beyond the Byline: Covering race and diversity in the healthcare industry
      Beyond the Byline: How telehealth utilization has impacted investor-owned company earnings
    • Leading intention promote diversity and inclusion
      Introducing Healthcare Insider Podcast
    • The Check Up: Trenda Ray
      The Check Up: Trenda Ray of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
      The Check Up: Dr. Kenneth Davis
      The Check Up: Dr. Kenneth Davis of Mount Sinai Health System
      The Check Up: Dr. Thomas McGinn
      The Check Up: Dr. Thomas McGinn of CommonSpirit Health
      The Check Up: Mark Ganz
      The Check Up: Mark Ganz of Cambia Health Solutions
    • Video: Ivana Naeymi Rad of Intelligent Medical Objects
  • MORE +
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Providers
May 03, 2010 01:00 AM

Reader notes states are passionately opposed to reform, and more news . . .

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    States' affairs

    Thank you for your recent article: “The states go marching in” on Feb. 15, (p. 6). It solidifies my concern not only as a citizen but also as a healthcare provider in regards to the current healthcare reform law. As you pointed out, there are a number of states in opposition to the recommendations being offered, so much so that they are in the process of taking legal action. As Rebecca Vesely stated, “Most of these state pre-emption bills were filed just after the new year.” This further concludes, in my opinion, how passionate we have come in opposition to the reform. The ideas contained in the reform law have not even been implemented, and the states feel the need to take immediate action. Ms. Vesely also has exposed the inconsistency with the legislative programs. How can the government guarantee funding federal program mandates for one state and not another? How can one not feel their constitutional rights are being impinged upon when one is required to purchase healthcare or at risk of being fined a percentage of their income? At the same time, I am extremely concerned about the reimbursement issues that will come into play in my own community hospital. I am also concerned about the domino effect that it will have on patient care as well as staffing and job security. I do appreciate the efforts being taken by different states to effectively reform programs at the state level. These programs inherently want to support the individuals and their care without additional and extraneous strains on the taxpayers and/or business. BadgerCare Plus Basic in Wisconsin is a basic health plan that most healthy people would enjoy for a premium of $130. Oregon and Utah both want to expand the exchange programs that would encompass the work force and insurance programs. Thank you for acknowledging their efforts. I am quite sure, given the proper support, most states would be able to clean up, enhance or do away with cluttered programs that are no longer effective. This, in turn, would not only lend a hand toward the financial burdens, but also support the autonomy of individuals and the states. Ms. Vesely pointed out that “news broke that Anthem Blue Cross of California, a WellPoint subsidiary, planned to raise rates on the individual market by up to 39%, setting off a firestorm in Washington and in Sacramento.” This should send a firestorm throughout the country. This shows once again the greed and willingness to push the limits by some individuals/organizations. No matter what rules, policies or recommendations come into play, someone will always want to manipulate the system or work around the rules. I don't think that anyone with compassion or a conscience denies the fact that we need healthcare reform in this country. Unfortunately, care and caretakers come with a price. If we as a country don't seriously consider every aspect of each level of reform, we are destined for failure. Even if every intention is good, the massive change being generated through this law is setting us up for chaos and financial ruin. I would like to thank your publication for exposing positive and negative elements of this reform that we as a country are facing.

    Theresa Thetford

    Nursing studentUniversity of Texas at El Paso
    Fifty fuss?

    The union at Jackson Health System won't budge on being asked to add a $50 increase to their biweekly premium contribution (“Jackson unions say no to more pay cuts,” Daily Dose, April 22)? And as a result a birthing center will close and a bunch of this group's co-workers will lose their jobs? This is a classic example of the madness that unions are trying to force on hospitals, governments and other employers right now. At this time in America's history when double-digit millions of Americans are unemployed or severely underemployed and untold millions of Americans who are working and are not unionized have seen severe decreases in their income, the union cannot agree to pay $50 biweekly for a benefit millions of Americans would cry to have access to? I believe that union behaviors like this will lead to an end result of ever-increasing amounts of backlash against them. Good luck with that.

    Sorel Dietzler

    San Diego
    Foul shot …

    If this were a basketball game, a well-performing team would forfeit several points because they were a good team (“Inpatient payments to decline 0.1% under proposed CMS rule,” ModernHealthcare.com, April 19). The CMS made the rules, hospitals followed the rules and they are now being penalized for following the rules. Only the government can change the rules of the game just because hospitals have become good at following the rules.

    Patrick Garrett

    Battle Creek, Mich.
    … not pressing

    This is “breaking news”? A whopping 0.1% cut while doctors have the uncertain ax hanging over their heads of a 21.2% cut?

    Dave Fitzgerald

    CEOProliance SurgeonsSeattle
    Common sense, collaboration

    Certainly this is a top subject in many conversations (“ACP plans to release evidence-based recommendations,” Modern Healthcare.com, April 25). Any abatement of unnecessary costs will improve the financial burden placed upon the system. We must also be aware of cause and effect with anticipation of negativity if the delivery of details and information is not appropriately vetted or reasonable in the context to the patient and practitioner. We do recognize that this may be too little, too late based on the recent passage of healthcare reform. As the regulations have not been totally contemplated, evaluated or understood, we can only hope that the regulators may adopt some sound medically focused cost-conservation measures as expressed from this article. Society is becoming aware that unintended consequences evolve from best efforts in solutions; healthcare reform is only one of these areas that awareness is developing in society. After the last announcement of overexuberance of mammograms, let's hope that information coming from this expert group is more appropriately delivered with common sense and collaboration with medical professionals. Solid metrics for cost avoidance, risk, transparency and occurrence need to be part of this effort to establish credibility and standing.

    Tom Kaye

    Louisville, Ky.
    Putting med-mal in check

    Instituting universal medical coverage is a key step in pulling the plug on runaway medical malpractice lawsuits, and the unnecessary expense of defensive medicine that ensues (“New doc payment system needed,” ModernHealthcare.com, April 6). One key driver in keeping the medical malpractice industry going is the lack of alternative sources of funds for continuing care in many cases. Even in the absence of any malpractice whatsoever, a person or family facing a future of continuing high medical costs for a chronic illness or injury (brain damage from birth anoxia, for example), which is beyond their means of payment and is not covered by insurance is not likely to just crawl off into a hole and let things fester. They will go after the most obvious source of funding via a malpractice lawsuit. If there are any peeps from the conscience about whether the doctor is truly at fault, they will be sedated by the thought that “malpractice insurance will pay.” In contrast, in Canada where medical costs from whatever cause are entirely covered, malpractice lawsuits are rare, as is defensive medicine and superfluous testing. It is illegal to sue for pain and suffering from malpractice, so the only grounds are actual costs from lost wages, etc., stemming from the incident. And the only cases that are worth bringing under these circumstances are so obvious that it isn't worth it for the doctors to fight them for such small amounts.

    Gerald Zuckier

    Hamden, Conn.
    That was then

    It is hard to believe that people would publish data based on three years ago (“Prevention groups opposed to recent AHRQ report,” Health IT Strategist, April 20). Do the people collecting and analyzing data really think that things have not changed since 2007?

    Candy Tabb

    Registered nurse and infectioncontrol coordinatorGrady General HospitalCairo, Ga.
    Who are you?

    I would like to see biographies on each of the regional directors (“New HHS regional directors named,” ModernHealthcare.com, April 7). I hope they have a wide range of experience and knowledge, such as understanding basic claims payment to correct coding, which includes Current Procedural Terminology, ICD-9 and soon to be ICD-10 revenue codes, as well as understanding physicians and health plans and not just running a hospital system. Part of our problem is we continue to pick people who do not have an all-around knowledge of the total healthcare delivery system in America.

    Donna Baker-Miller

    Healthcare consultantPhoenix
    Unfortunate editorial

    Publicly traded companies are required to adhere to generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, which are promulgated by the federal government and administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. As a result of the loss of an employer's tax deduction for retiree prescription drug benefits, Accounting Standards Topic 740 requires publicly traded U.S. companies to adjust deferred tax assets and reduce net income to reflect the change for all future years in the period in which the healthcare reform was signed into law. Willfully not adhering to GAAP exposes companies to regulatory action and executives (not only CEOs but also chief financial officers, corporate controllers and finance staff who are oftentimes certified public accountants with their own professional obligations) to prosecution, fines and potentially jail time. It is unfortunate that Neil McLaughlin (“Condemned to repeat it,” Editorial, April 19, p. 22) characterized executives of public companies, who by and large dispatch their duties with utmost care, as having some ulterior motive with these accounting charges and even smiling while their companies recognize these charges. It is even more unfortunate that McLaughlin must extend his opinion to the compensation these executives earn for the roles and responsibilities they serve. Suggesting that they have any motivation beyond integrity and ethical leadership is unfortunate and is sensational and irresponsible journalism.

    Breht Feigh

    Executive vice president, chief financial officerAmerican Dental PartnersWakefield, Mass.
    Think thanks

    We appreciate the front-page attention given to behavioral health in your April 12 issue (“Behavioral change,” p. 6). Jessica Zigmond did an excellent job of capturing the issues related to implementation of the federal mental health parity law. Behavioral health is integral to overall health, and we welcome continuing coverage of the policy decisions in our arena that ultimately have an important impact on all of healthcare.

    Mark Covall

    President and CEONational Association of PsychiatricHealth SystemsWashington
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    The Check Up: Trenda Ray of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    The Check Up: Trenda Ray of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    Q&A: Arkansas nursing leader looking for creative staffing solutions as COVID cases surge
    Q&A: Arkansas nursing leader looking for creative staffing solutions as COVID cases surge
    Sponsored Content
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up for free enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today

    The weekly magazine, websites, research and databases provide a powerful and all-encompassing industry presence. We help you make informed business decisions and lead your organizations to success.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Instagram

    Stay Connected

    Join the conversation with Modern Healthcare through our social media pages

    MDHC_Logotype_white
    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • This Week's News
      • COVID-19
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition
    • Insights
      • ACA 10 Years After
      • Best Practices
      • InDepth Special Reports
      • Innovations
    • Transformation
      • Patients
      • Operations
      • Care Delivery
      • Payment
    • Data/Lists
      • Rankings/Lists
      • Interactive Databases
      • Data Points
    • Op-Ed
      • Bold Moves
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • Vital Signs Blog
      • From the Editor
    • Awards
      • Award Programs
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top 25 Innovators
        • Top 25 Minority Leaders
        • Top 25 Women Leaders
      • Nominate
      • Previous Award Programs
        • Excellence in Nursing Awards
        • Design Awards
        • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
      • Other Award Programs
        • 100 Top Hospitals
        • ACHE Awards
    • Events
      • Conferences
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Healthcare Transformation Summit
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
        • Workplace of the Future Conference
        • Strategic Marketing Conference
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala (2022)
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Webinars
      • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • Listen
      • Podcast - Next Up
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Video Series - The Check Up
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • MORE +
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Newsletters
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing