Health Care Reform Articles - December 20, 2011

Medicare Penalties For Readmissions Could Be A Tough Hit On Hospitals Serving The Poor

TOPICS: HOSPITALS, MEDICARE

By JORDAN RAU

KHN Staff Writer

DEC 19, 2011

This story was produced in collaboration with 

James Breedin cannot keep track of how often he has been admitted to Howard University Hospital for heart problems. "It's been so many," said Breedin, a 75-year-old disabled former truck driver from Northeast Washington.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/December/20/Medicare-Penalties-Readmissions-Hospitals-Serving-Poor.aspx?p=1

Massachusetts to debut Medicare pay plan

Partners, Steward doctors to be paid for total care, rather than piecemeal

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2011/12/20/massachusetts-debut-medicare-pay-plan/I5cMM045KHlaTsNkKWZhZI/story.html

EMHS joins Medicare experiment to improve care

The Associated Press

Posted Dec. 19, 2011, at 5:40 p.m.

WASHINGTON — Medicare says it’s launching a national experiment to improve care for seniors, and hopefully save taxpayers money as well.

Officials announced Monday that 32 networks of doctors and hospitals around the country, including Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, are becoming Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations, or ACOs.

Behind the acronym is a coordinated approach to medicine so that risks like high blood pressure and elevated blood sugars are managed better and patients get help leading a more healthful lifestyle.

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/12/19/news/bangor/emhs-joins-medicare-experiment-to-improve-care/print/

LePage’s taxpayer versus welfare recipient numbers mostly right

By Eric Russell, BDN Staff

Posted Dec. 19, 2011, at 4:28 p.m.

AUGUSTA, Maine — To make his case for welfare reform and cuts to MaineCare, Gov. Paul LePage said recently that the state has more welfare recipients than income tax payers, a trend he wants to reverse. Democrats immediately criticized the data he used to make his case.

Turns out, LePage was mostly right.

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/12/19/politics/lepages-taxpayer-versus-welfare-recipient-numbers-mostly-right/print/

DHHS budget woes lie with department

Posted Dec. 17, 2011, at 1:59 p.m

The more information that comes out about the Department of Health and Human Services budget, the more it becomes obvious that a lot more work needs to be done before any decisions about budget cuts can be made.
http://bangordailynews.com/2011/12/17/opinion/editorials/dhhs-budget-woes-lie-with-department/