Bigger hospitals, mergers drive higher prices

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May 9, 2012 | By Alicia Caramenico Fierce Healthcare   Large hospital systems are using their size and market clout to boost prices, a trend that started long before the health reform law passed, according to a study in this month’s Health Affairs. It’s the “must-have” hospital systems and large physician groups–providers that health plans… Read more »

Hospitals to see more bad debt without health reform

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June 8, 2012 | By Alicia Caramenico Fierce Health Finance   While the industry awaits the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling later this month, a new report from Moody’s Investors Service warns that a full or partial repeal of the health reform law will hurt for-profit hospitals. If the Supreme Court strikes down the entire Patient… Read more »

Hospitals Add Palliative Teams at Feverish Pace

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 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: June 4, 2012   FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Fighting stage-four ovarian cancer, Carol Delzatto has more doctor appointments than she cares to count. But this day, she is beaming as Dr. Pamela Sutton comes into sight, greeting her patient and calling her beautiful. Delzatto looks forward to her monthly… Read more »

Are You Ready for an ACO?

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This article appears in the May 2012 issue of HealthLeaders magazine. It seems like each week brings yet another announcement about some combination of physicians, hospitals, and even health plans that are forming collaborations or partnerships, and calling them accountable care organizations. The ACO moniker carries a lot of weight these days. It signals that… Read more »

Financial stress pushes hospitals to partnerships

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Kansas City Business Journal by David Twiddy, Reporter Date: Friday, June 1, 2012   Carondelet Health has confirmed that it is investigating a potential merger, joint venture or other partnership to continue operating its two Kansas City-area hospitals. In a released statement, Carondelet CEO Fleury Yelvington said the health care provider “like most health systems in… Read more »

St. Louis Children’s Hospital emphasizes social media tools to drive referrals

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May 30, 2012 by John DeGaspari, Healthcare Informatics The use of social media to engage patients and their caregivers has become a top priority at St. Louis (Mo.) Children’s Hospital, which, according to marketing manager Kay Franks, has helped the organization track its referrals and increased the active participation of patients’ parents and caregivers.  … Read more »