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LINCOLN—The Nebraska Hospital Association's latest community benefit survey
shows Nebraska hospitals provided community benefits in fiscal year 2008 valued
at more than $828 million. Community benefits are activities designed to improve
health status and provide greater access to health care. Along with
uncompensated care (which is made up of both charity care and bad debt),
community benefits include community health education and outreach, health
professions education, research, subsidized health services and community
activities.
The impact of hospitals on our communities may be felt in other ways.
Nebraska hospitals contribute to the economy by creating jobs and generating
business. According to the report, Nebraska hospitals employ nearly 42,000
individuals, leading to a total employment impact of nearly 125,000 jobs in the
state. The labor income in the state totaled $5.7 billion and the output in
Nebraska's economy almost reached $14 billion.
In 2008, total uncompensated care (which is health care services provided to
the uninsured and underinsured) was valued at nearly $310 million. In Nebraska
alone, 1 in 8 people lack health insurance.
Meanwhile, Medicare and Medicaid, created approximately $513 million in
losses for the state's hospitals. Because more than 50 percent of all hospital
stays in Nebraska are paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, hospitals are
vulnerable to changes in public policy and payment inadequacy.
Click here
to view the 2009 Nebraska Hospitals Community Benefits Report.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, March 31, 2010
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working with Congress, health care providers and the beneficiary community to avoid disruption in the delivery of health care services and payment of claims for physicians, non-physician practitioners and other providers of services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS).
The Temporary Extension Act of 2010, enacted on March 2, 2010, extended the zero percent update to the 2010 MPFS through March 31, 2010.
CMS believes Congress is working to avert the negative update that will take effect April 1. Consequently, CMS has instructed its contractors to hold claims containing services paid under the MPFS (including anesthesia services) for the first 10 business days of April. This hold will only affect claims with dates of service April 1, 2010, and forward. In addition, the hold should have minimum impact on provider cash flow because, under the current law, clean electronic claims are not paid any sooner than 14 calendar days (29 for paper claims) after the date of receipt.
Be on the alert for more information about the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Update.
— CMS news release, March 29, 2010
WASHINGTON—Due to the overwhelming response to March's RACTrac Webinar, the American Hospital Association (AHA) has scheduled a second RACTrac
Webinar and is inviting all hospital representatives that missed the first
Webinar to sign up today to reserve their spot for the April 6 Webinar. The American Hospital Association's (AHA) RACTrac survey is now collecting hospital data nationwide and is providing the free Webinar for those who were unable to attend the March Webinar. During the Webinar AHA will provide information on the RAC program and demonstrate how to use RACTrac.
AHA developed RACTrac in response to the lack of data and information provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and its Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) on the impact that the RAC program is having on America's hospitals. RACTrac findings will be used to help hospitals pinpoint areas of RAC vulnerability and to support our advocacy efforts on behalf of the hospital field.
RACTrac is asking hospitals nationwide to report on a quarterly basis their interactions with the RACs.
Read more.
— AHA news release, March 30, 2010
SCOTTSBLUFF—More than a few area residents took a second look as a Blackhawk helicopter set down Monday morning on the Air Link helipad at Regional West Medical Center
(RWMC).
The Medevac UH-60A Blackhawk carried members of the Nebraska Army National Guard, who were conducting a site visit and test landing in preparation for upcoming training exercises at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, that will involve Regional West.
In May, Regional West Medical Center will serve as the primary trauma facility during training for critical patient air transport by the Nebraska National Guard Medevac Company. Air Link will provide backup support during the training exercises.
—
RWMC news release, March 23, 2010
OMAHA—The University of Nebraska Medical Center has received a five-year, $1 million federal grant to study ways to improve the heart health of rural residents.
Rural residents have higher rates of heart disease, stroke and similar problems, said Carol Pullen, a professor in the UNMC College of Nursing who will direct the research.
The grant money will be used to create a center that will emphasize research on heart health. Pullen, who will direct the center, said the grant will fund studies aimed at finding ways to reduce risk factors for heart disease such as bad diets and lack of exercise.
Read more.
—
Omaha World-Herald, March 31, 2010
OMAHA—Anyone with a sore back knows that a soak in a warm bath can make pains fade away.
That's the idea behind warm-water therapy pools, which are increasingly becoming a tool for helping everyone from injured athletes to accident victims.
A new therapy pool is a key part of the $12.2 million Outpatient Rehabilitation Center that opened recently at Immanuel Medical Center. The 39,000-square-foot center is twice the size of the old center.
Read more.
—
Omaha World-Herald, March 15, 2010
LINCOLN—Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood pulled
LB 999 from the legislative agenda
last Monday, requesting a discussion between Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney
and the physician investors planning to create Kearney Regional Medical Center. The bill would place a two-year freeze on issuing new hospital licenses in the state. Eighteen amendments had been filed to the bill as of Monday afternoon.
Flood arranged for these conversations to take place and will assist in the
negotiation. If the conversation does not lead to a resolution, the Speaker said
the bill
will be placed back on the agenda.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, April 1, 2010
LINCOLN—Lawmakers gave final approval March 26 to a bill that adopts the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.
LB 1036, sponsored by Omaha Senator Brenda Council, makes existing Nebraska law governing anatomical gifts consistent with federal law and new technologies and practices regarding organ, tissue and eye donation.
Read more.
— Unicameral Update, March 26, 2010
LINCOLN—Lawmakers gave final approval March 26 to adjustments to the 2009-11 state budget, decreasing general fund appropriations by 1.1 percent over the biennium.
LB935, the mainline budget bill, passed on a 49-0 vote. It provides an additional 2 percent cut totaling $7.1 million from the same operations and aid programs that received a 5 percent across-the-board cut during the 2009 special session. The bill also calls for transfers of $16.7 million from cash funds and $3 million from the state’s cash reserve.
Read
more.
— Unicameral Update, March 26, 2010
WASHINGTON—President Obama Tuesday signed the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872), “sidecar” health care reform legislation approved by Congress
last Thursday. The bill makes changes sought by the president and House of Representatives to the Senate health care reform bill (H.R. 3590) signed by the president March 23. Together, H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872 extend health coverage to 32 million people, 95
percent of legal residents and 92 percent of all U.S. residents.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, March 31, 2010
RACTrac Webinar
April 6, 2010 – Webinar
NSCLS, CLMA and ASCP
2010
SPRING MEETING
April 7-9, 2010 – LaVista
Grant Writing Workshop
April 8-9, 2010 – Lincoln
National Healthcare Decisions Day
April 16, 2010
Social Media Workshop for Rural Health Organizations
April 21, 2010 – Kearney
9th Annual ASHE Region 6 Education Conference
April 22 & 23, 2010 – Mankato, MN
Crucial Conversations Training
April 27-28, 2010 –
Lincoln
SAVE THE DATE:
2010 Lifespan Health Services Conference
May 11-12, 2010 – Kearney
SAVE THE DATE:
NHA Mid-Year Meeting & Golf Tournament
June 2-4, 2010 – Kearney
Click here
for a list
of upcoming NHA audio-conferences and Webinars.
Visit the
Events page on the NHA Web site for more information on any of the events.
If you have an event you would like listed in Newslink or on the NHA Web site,
submit it to Heather Bullock, Marketing and Events Coordinator, at
hbullock@nhanet.org. Send news items to Kelley Porter, Director of
Communications, kporter@nhanet.org.
NHA Newslink is published by the Nebraska
Hospital Association, 3255 Salt Creek Circle, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68504-4778.
Phone 402/742-8140, Fax 402/742-8191. Contact Kelley Porter, Director of
Communications, at 402/742-8151, or email,
kporter@nhanet.org.
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