Oregon works through Medicaid application backlog | (Bend, Ore.) Bulletin
The Oregon Health Authority has delayed launching a new public website that promises to give first-time Medicaid applicants instant feedback on eligibility and enrollment. The launch had been set for Saturday, and the delay means that applicants will continue to face a time-consuming application process that is often followed by weeks of waiting.
St. Louis hospital opens new wing to test new care models | St. Louis Post-Dispatch
On the 11th floor of Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a bold experiment in patient care is underway. A new 21-bed unit, focused on treating neurological patients, is testing methods of providing care and preparing patients for their return home.
Boston hospitals phasing out nurseries in maternity wards | Boston Globe
The idyllic scene of rows of newborn babies behind the glass of a hospital nursery window is already becoming rare in Boston, and could become a thing of the past. Hospitals across the country—including Mass. General and Boston Medical Center—are phasing out access to nurseries, instead adopting “rooming-in” policies, in which healthy newborns stay in the mother's room,
Maryland governor announces $55 million in bridge funding for hospital | BayNet.com
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan introduced a supplemental budget for fiscal 2017 that will provide $15 million in operating funds for the Prince George's Hospital System as part of a long-term partnership with the University of Maryland Medical System to address the chronic financial challenges associated with the county's health care infrastructure.
VA secretary unveils telehealth pilot program for Mississippi | Mississippi News Now
A new pilot program announced Friday by the nation's secretary of Veterans Affairs aims to help veterans in some of the most rural parts of Mississippi. Federal officials also hope the new initiatives—including a systematic overhaul of the department's scheduling and management systems—will show positive change in the wake of that 2014 scandal involving wait times nationwide.
Vermont mental health service agencies warn of threats to their future | VTdigger.org
The private agencies that provide regional mental health, substance abuse and disability-related services in Vermont haven't seen an increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rates in several years. The not-for-profit groups say those low payments are undermining their ability to help Vermonters now and in the future.
