Health IT Firm Athenahealth To Bring More Than 700 Jobs To Midtown by Urvaksh Karkaria. The Atlanta Business Chronicle. February 28, 2013.
The article provides context to this addition to Atlanta's extensive medical IT community. In addition to location and real estate considerations, it outlines the services and products of Athenahealth which includes medical records and practice management software.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Georgia Doctors And Hospitals Square Off Over Outpatient Surgical Centers
Surgery Center Battle Brews by Misty Williams and Aaron Gould Sheinin. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. March 2, 2013. Print and online subscription
Legislation has been introduced in the Georgia legislature to allow multispecialty physician practices to establish centers offer diverse surgical services. Hospitals oppose the legislation because, they say, it would constitute an unfair competitive advantage with hospital surgical facilities since the doctor owned facilities would not be faced with the requirement to serve poor patients to the extent that hospitals are. The article has background on the Certificate Of Need process and the potential impact on rural areas
Legislation has been introduced in the Georgia legislature to allow multispecialty physician practices to establish centers offer diverse surgical services. Hospitals oppose the legislation because, they say, it would constitute an unfair competitive advantage with hospital surgical facilities since the doctor owned facilities would not be faced with the requirement to serve poor patients to the extent that hospitals are. The article has background on the Certificate Of Need process and the potential impact on rural areas
Friday, March 1, 2013
Sequester Not Likely To Slow Rollout Of Obamacare
Friends And Foes Expect Obamacare Rollout Amid Sequestration by Brett Norman. Politico. March 1, 2013.
While sequestration will impact set-up funds, other parts of the program, such as Medicaid expansion, are not impacted by the sequester. The unexpected expenses involve in setting up 25 exchanges is significant but will probably not be an insurmountable obstacle. The major thrust here: Where there is a will there will be a way.
While sequestration will impact set-up funds, other parts of the program, such as Medicaid expansion, are not impacted by the sequester. The unexpected expenses involve in setting up 25 exchanges is significant but will probably not be an insurmountable obstacle. The major thrust here: Where there is a will there will be a way.
Facebook "Likes"--A Measure Of Hospital Quality?
Facebook 'Likes' A Good Indicator Of Quality Hospital Care. Science Daily. February 28, 2013.
A study of 40 hospitals published in the American Journal Of Medical Quality found a positive association between patient recommendations and "likes" on the hospital Facebook page. The Science Daily summary raises the possibility of Facebook "likes" can be a proxy for quality and satisfaction. There are some interesting observations about teaching hospitals in the summary.
A study of 40 hospitals published in the American Journal Of Medical Quality found a positive association between patient recommendations and "likes" on the hospital Facebook page. The Science Daily summary raises the possibility of Facebook "likes" can be a proxy for quality and satisfaction. There are some interesting observations about teaching hospitals in the summary.
Premium Costs Versus Provider Options Shapes Insurer/Hospital Exchange Negotiations
Another Big Step In Reshaping Health Care by Anna Wilde and Jon Kamp. The Wall Street Journal. February 28, 2013.
Insurers are under pressure to bring down premiums for health insurance policies to be sold on the Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) exchanges. In exchange, they are creating smaller networks of providers to help the hospitals obtain more patients to offset the lower rates they will receive. The article mentions the high stakes for insurers and providers: possibly 11 to 13 million enrollees and $50 to $60 billion in premiums.
Insurers are under pressure to bring down premiums for health insurance policies to be sold on the Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) exchanges. In exchange, they are creating smaller networks of providers to help the hospitals obtain more patients to offset the lower rates they will receive. The article mentions the high stakes for insurers and providers: possibly 11 to 13 million enrollees and $50 to $60 billion in premiums.
Drugstores Attempt Transition To Health Care Provider
Pharmacy Chains Push Into Health Care by Timothy W. Martin. The Wall Street Journal. February 28, 2013.
Key players (Rite Aid, CVS Caremark, Walgreen) are using a variety of means (walk-in clinics, virtual doctor visits, accountable care organizations, assisting in hospital readmission prevention) to recast themselves as health care providers in order to confront a variety of trends (Obamacare, slower drug sales, trend toward low-cost generics).
Key players (Rite Aid, CVS Caremark, Walgreen) are using a variety of means (walk-in clinics, virtual doctor visits, accountable care organizations, assisting in hospital readmission prevention) to recast themselves as health care providers in order to confront a variety of trends (Obamacare, slower drug sales, trend toward low-cost generics).
Healthcare, Medical Research Hit By Sequester
Sequester Cuts To Hit Healthcare Hard by Noam N.Levey. The Los Angeles Times. February 27, 2013.
The 2% reduction in Medicare payment to doctors is smaller than cuts faced by public health and research programs. Layoffs at university research laboratories are already taking place in anticipation of the cuts. Nationally as many as 46,000 public health jobs have been eliminated in the last five years with more cuts due in the sequester. The National Institutes of Health is looking to lose $l.6 billion by the end of the year.
The 2% reduction in Medicare payment to doctors is smaller than cuts faced by public health and research programs. Layoffs at university research laboratories are already taking place in anticipation of the cuts. Nationally as many as 46,000 public health jobs have been eliminated in the last five years with more cuts due in the sequester. The National Institutes of Health is looking to lose $l.6 billion by the end of the year.
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