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LINCOLN—Four H1N1 deaths have been reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Because of state statutes, names and other details about the patients can’t be released. So far, there have been a total of seven H1N1 flu deaths in Nebraska.
“This is a sad situation, and our thoughts are with the families,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). “It’s important to remember that H1N1 can be a severe illness for those with chronic underlying health conditions or compromised immunity.”
H1N1 flu activity is widespread across the state. DHHS no longer keeps track of individual cases and follows the CDC’s policy for reporting levels of flu. DHHS will continue to track deaths from H1N1.
Read more.
— Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services, October 23, 2009
New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced the details of a new national database that would help determine how much insurance companies should reimburse patients who go out of network to see a doctor. Consumers would also be able to check a new Web site to see what an insurer was likely to pay before they went to an out-of-network doctor. The announcement is part of a settlement reached with more than a dozen insurance companies concerning the industry's controversial payment of out-of-network claims.
Read more.
— New York Times, October 28, 2009
A new monograph from the Center for Healthcare Governance offers a guide for effective board participation in resource allocation decisions. “Strategic Resource Allocation: The Board’s Role” discusses sources of strategic funds, survey data that indicate how boards are participating in resource allocation, and how boards can work with hospital leadership to improve resource allocation decisions. The monograph includes tools and tips to avoid common missteps in assigning resources. To order any Center monograph,
click here. The Center for Healthcare Governance is the AHA's resource for governance information, tools and counsel to promote excellence in health care governance.
— AHA News Now, October 27, 2009
 BEATRICE—Approximately 200 people gathered Monday at the Holiday Inn Express in Beatrice for the official groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate construction of a new hospital.
Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center plans to build a 133,000 square foot facility, about 40,000 square feet larger than its current structure.
Read more.
— Beatrice Daily Sun, October 27, 2009
OMAHA—The Nebraska Medical Center is the only hospital in Omaha to offer
breast cancer radiation therapy. MammoSite therapy was developed to make it easier for more women to consider lumpectomy or breast conservation. Despite comparable long-term recurrence and survival rates of breast conservation therapy, the National Institutes of Health reports more than 40 percent of patients with early stage breast cancer still get a mastectomy.
Read more.
—
The Nebraska Medical Center press release, October 27, 2009
OMAHA—Creighton University will hold its Eighth Annual Women’s Health in the 21st Century on Monday, November 9, at the Omaha Marriott Hotel, 10220 Regency Circle.
Subjects to be covered include hypertension, vitamin D, postmenopausal women and hormone replacement, substance abuse, depression in elderly women, cancer prevention and screening, and holistic health.
Conference sponsors are the Department of Psychiatry and the Continuing Medical Education Division at Creighton University School of Medicine. Registration is required and cost varies according to the health profession of the attendee. For more information call
(402) 280-1830 or (800) 548-CMED or visit http://cme.creighton.edu.
—
Creighton University Medical Center press release, October 21, 2009
GRAND ISLAND—The launch of Project SEARCH in Grand Island will be celebrated at an open house from 2-5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Conference Room 6.
Project SEARCH is a partnership among business, education and vocational rehabilitation organizations to provide on-site internship experiences for high school students ages 18 to 21 with disabilities, leading to competitive employment.
Read more.
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Saint Francis Medical Center press release, October 28, 2009
WASHINGTON—The push by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for a public health-insurance option is creating new obstacles for health care legislation in the Senate, despite new poll data suggesting a plurality of Americans support the idea. Connecticut independent Senator Joe Lieberman said that he would vote to block passage of the Senate health care bill in its current form, dealing an initial blow to Reid's effort to gather 60 votes. But a
Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll suggested the public option is gaining support: 48
percent of respondents supported the idea; 42 percent were opposed, and 10
percent weren't sure. In a September poll, 46 percent of respondents supported it, 48
percent opposed it and 6 percent were undecided.
Read more.
— Wall Street Journal, October 28, 2009
WASHINGTON—Joe Lieberman has once again rolled a political hand grenade into the Democrats’ tent.
The Connecticut independent obliterated any illusion that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) can quickly ram through health care reform with a public option, telling reporters on Tuesday that he would join Republicans in a filibuster to prevent a vote on Reid’s plan if it isn’t changed first.
Read more.
— Politico, October 28, 2009
LINCOLN—Nebraska lawmakers and Governor Dave Heineman will have to slash $335 million from the two-year state budget during a special legislative session intended to deal with state government's worst fiscal crisis in recent memory.
After the budget-cutting target was set Tuesday by an economic forecasting board, Heineman was mum on how he intended to address it, instead pleading for patience as his administration scurries to craft a proposal for lawmakers early next week. The special session is scheduled to begin November 4.
"Everything is on the table now," Heineman said about potential cuts. As governor, Heineman can dictate what is considered during a special session and said he will not include tax increases as an option for lawmakers.
Read more.
— Omaha World-Herald, October 28, 2009
Secretary Sebelius has notified Congress of the intent to waive a number of regulatory requirements under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act. These include Medicare Conditions of Participation; certification requirements, program participation requirements; physician state licensure requirements (as they relate to payment under Medicare/Medicaid); actions under EMTALA; sanctions under the Stark Self-Referral regulations; payment limitations for out of network services under Medicare+Choice; HIPAA privacy sanctions and penalties;
and deadlines and timetables.
Hospitals can now petition their state survey agency or their Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Office for these waivers.
Click here for more information.
Ethical Dimensions and Strategies for Communicating with the "Impossible Patient and Family" Webinar
October 29, 2009 – Webinar
Reducing Interpersonal Conflict in Futility of Care Cases: Ethical Dimensions Webinar
November 3, 2009 – Webinar
Advance Directive Update: Complying with CMS and The Joint Commission Webinar
November 4, 2009 – Webinar
2010 National Patient Safety Goals (CL)
November 10, 2009 – Webinar
Shaping the Retention Culture: A New Look at RN Retention
November 12, 2009 – Webinar
Federal Grant Management Class
Offered
November 19-20, 2009 – Lincoln
SAVE THE DATE:
NHA Advocacy Day
March 9, 2010 – Lincoln
SAVE THE DATE:
2010 Lifespan Health Services Conference
May 11-12, 2010 – Kearney
Click here
for a list
of upcoming NHA audioconferences and Webinars.
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Hospital Association, 3255 Salt Creek Circle, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68504-4778.
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