Finances: Page 138


  • New app gives hospitals instant access to pricing info

    Premier Inc.'s mobile tool aggregates huge amounts of data, and gives its members access to real-time pricing information.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 25, 2014
  • Deep Dive

    How one hospital is enforcing - and improving - employee health

    A regional health system based in Annapolis worried that its anti-smoking policies didn't go far enough.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 25, 2014
  • House panel wants to put information in consumer hands

    Advancing digital and personalized care means proper, but not stifling, regulatory controls.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 25, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Dollar Photo Club
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: Healthcare spending to rise in 2015

    The uptick comes after a five-year deceleration. Research firm PwC offers a few specific reasons for the increase. 

    By June 24, 2014
  • Medical records left in doctor's driveway cost hospital $800,000

    Much of the recent focus on HIPAA compliance has been on electronic records. But paper files are equally protected — and more problematic in terms of sheer volume.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 24, 2014
  • PA 'private option' Medicaid expansion moves ahead

    The governor is optimistic that the alternative to Medicaid expansion will get a waiver from CMS. The state's hospitals and health systems are banking on it.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 24, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Dollar Photo Club
    Image attribution tooltip

    GA hospitals launch primary care residency programs

    Like many states across the country, Georgia badly needs primary care doctors. Some hospitals are finding new ways to tackle the shortage head on.  

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 24, 2014
  • $3.8B merger creates largest Detroit health system

    The deal highlights the importance of physician culture in a successful merger: Last year's $6.6B merger fell through in the final stages of due diligence. 

    By June 23, 2014
  • Teaching hospitals most likely to face new Medicare penalties

    In October, the third pay-for-performance program will come on board, and various kinds of hospitals are likely to be impacted very differently.

    By June 23, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Dollar Photo Club
    Image attribution tooltip

    To make ACOs work: Act on data, shift fast to global payments

    The recommendations from a former CMS administrator come amidst a flurry of ACO formation across the U.S.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 23, 2014
  • Reports: VA underperforms on women's health, overpays senior execs

    The VA says it will "adjust quickly" to improve care to hundreds of thousands of female vets. Meanwhile, execs accrued almost $3M in bonuses last year.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 23, 2014
  • Improving patients' experience by looking beyond hospitals

    How should hospitals create a good experience for patients? By looking to Starbucks and the Ritz-Carlton as models?

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 23, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    Communitywide screenings: Good for public health or a referral grab?

    Public Citizen has sent a letter to 20 hospitals urging them to back out of partnerships with community screening company HealthFair. Find out how some hospitals are responding. 

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 23, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    UPDATED: Two hospital antitrust cases you should be watching

    With courts and the FTC paying close attention, what M&A deals may be seen as pushing the envelope too far — and what are the latest developments in those two cases? 

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 20, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip

    Survey: Many hospitals to begin ACOs, risk contracts in next year

    The trend towards risk-based initiatives isn't slowing down any time soon. In fact, expect to see even more hospitals taking on this kind of arrangement next year. 

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 20, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why Parkland's decision to raise minimum wage is good for business

    Parkland Health in Dallas is using exec bonuses to raise its system-wide minimum wage almost $2 an hour next month — a move that just makes good business sense. 

    By June 20, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip

    'A Tale of Two Cities': Where hospitals are investing capital

    A new survey shows stark differences between what ailing and prospering hospitals prioritize. Hint: Coding and collections are big ones. 

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 20, 2014
  • VT health system rebrands amid a growing national trend

    What's in a name? Increasingly, hospitals trying to position themselves in the market are seeking a competitive edge by rebranding themselves.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 20, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip

    Mass. nurses fighting hospitals at the ballot box

    State nurses have tried for years to change staffing ratios and publicize CEO finances. Lawmakers failed to act, so nurses are trying a new tactic.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 19, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip

    Aggressive enforcement of privacy breaches on the horizon

    HHS has recovered more than $10 million in connection with alleged HIPAA violations since mid-2013 alone, and that number is only going to rise. 

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 19, 2014
  • Fla. hospitals finding ways to handle ER 'super users'

    Using caseworkers to connect frequent fliers to primary care doctors has improved access to care — but is it enough to create meaningful savings? 

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip

    What do women want? High quality care, it turns out

    Hospitals take heed: The best way to attract and keep women as patients is to talk about the high quality of your services, a new report says.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014
  • Deep Dive

    The 4 hospitals that are saving money by 'going green'

    Eco-friendly efforts — from recycling tons of scrap metal to replacing inefficient toilets — are helping hospitals cut costs.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Fotolia
    Image attribution tooltip

    Letter to CMS: Readmission penalties unfair

    Is the responsibility for reducing readmissions solely the hospital's? A June 10 letter from a group of House members says "no" and calls for relaxed sanctions.

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014
  • New Chicago system is second-largest in state

    Two area hospitals have joined to create a nine-hospital system, but the partnership is not a true merger. 

    By Judy Packer-Tursman • June 18, 2014