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LINCOLN—The official launch of the Nebraska Hospital Association Political
Action Committee, or NHA PAC, is Thursday, June 3, 2010. State and federal governments pay for well over
half of Nebraska hospital care and regulate 100 percent of our activities. Those
are the main reasons why the work of the NHA PAC is so important.
The goals and objectives of NHA PAC are fairly simple: to raise money to help support political candidates who share our belief that state and federal health policy should maximize our ability to improve health care in the communities we serve.
With early focus on NHA leadership, the NHA PAC has currently raised over
$11,000. The official campaign, starting June 3 during the NHA 2010 Mid-Year
Meeting in Kearney, will continue through the summer so that contributions to candidates supporting our position can be made prior to the November general election.
Political advocacy has never been as important as it is today. State and federal
budgets are being stretched to the breaking point, and as usual, health care is
in the crosshairs to help offset these problems. More information can be found
on the NHA PAC Web page.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, May 19, 2010
WASHINGTON—Overall hospital prices increased 0.1 percent in April and were 3.7
percent higher than a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for the subgroup of general medical and surgical hospitals also increased 0.1
percent and were 3.7 percent higher than in April 2009, according to the BLS' Producer Price Indices, which measure average changes in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output. For hospitals, this translates into actual or expected reimbursement for a sample of treatments or services. The PPI for hospitals measure changes in actual or expected reimbursement received for services across the full range of payer types. This includes the negotiated contract rate from the payer plus any portion expected to be paid by the patient.
— AHA News Now, May 18, 2010
BELLEVUE—At last, the much anticipated Bellevue Medical Center is now open and providing services to the residents of Bellevue, Sarpy County and the surrounding areas.
“The idea was not just to build a hospital in Bellevue, a city that really did need one,” said Roy Holeyfield, Jr., MD, vice-chairman of the board of directors for Bellevue Medical Center. “But to build a hospital that was first and foremost centered on the patient; to provide our patients with the best and most modern care right here in Bellevue.”
To provide that care Bellevue Medical Center combines its state-of-the-art equipment with a staff averaging
nine years of experience. The nursing staff alone boasts a 13 year average.
“Bellevue Medical Center has so much to offer the people of Bellevue,” says Richard Osterholm, MD, chairman of the board of directors for Bellevue Medical Center. “It’s a hospital that was built for the people of Bellevue and its primary focus will always be to provide for their health and well-being. I think it will become a source of pride for the Bellevue community, and for many, it already is.”
—
Bellevue Medical Center Web site, May 19, 2010
KEARNEY—The Good Samaritan Hospital (GSH) Board of Directors has named Michael H. Schnieders as the new president and chief executive officer of Good Samaritan Hospital, GSH
officials announced Tuesday. Schnieders will assume his new leadership post later in June. A 25-year health care management executive, Schnieders has a strong background in strategic development, finance and physician relations. He has extensive experience in non-profit Catholic health care in addition to the for-profit health sector, said Dale Pohlmann, Good Samaritan Hospital board chair.
Read
more.
—
Good Samaritan news release, May 7, 2010
GRAND ISLAND—Saint Francis Medical Center has been honored with a “Partner for
Change Award” from Practice Greenhealth, a national membership organization for
health care facilities committed to environmentally responsible operations. The award is one of the organization’s seven Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in health care sector.
Read more.
—
Saint Francis Medical Center news release, May 17, 2010
WASHINGTON—Over the past several days, health care groups—ranging from the American Hospital Association to the American Health Care Association—have been urging Congress to quickly approve a six-month extension of the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage.
More than a year ago, the economic stimulus package provided a nearly $87 billion increase in additional Medicaid matching funds to the states. The current funding is due to expire January 1, 2011, which has proven problematic to cash-strapped states that are now preparing and finalizing their fiscal 2011 budgets.
With at least 47 states facing "massive budget shortfalls" in the coming fiscal year, extending FMAP funding will be "critical to ensuring Medicaid patients have access to care at America's hospitals and other health care providers," said the letter from the hospital groups that include AHA, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Federation of American Hospitals, National Association of Children's Hospitals, and National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems.
Read more.
— HealthLeaders Media, May 19, 2010
WASHINGTON—Governor Dave Heineman provided some insight into his attitude about issues from the budget to employee layoffs during a recent interview.
In a nutshell, Heineman:
- Believes the $679 billion projected two-year budget gap may be too high.
- Hopes the modified hiring freeze will mean fewer layoffs in the future.
- Is looking at the possibility of cutting Medicaid benefits.
- Warns that public schools should not expect the state to be able to make up all federal funds that went into state aid this biennium.
- Says the state likely will not consider a four-day workweek among money-saving options.
- Says the state won't recommend an end to the property tax refund.
Read more.
— Lincoln Journal Star, May 15, 2010
WASHINGTON—Touting the nearly $3 billion federal anti-fraud efforts brought into federal coffers last year, government officials say the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will do even more to assist in fighting additional fraud and waste.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled the results of the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC), outlining how both agencies work to prevent fraud and recover billions of dollars for taxpayers.
Read more.
— IFA Web News, May 14, 2010
 LINCOLN—During this year's NHA Mid-Year Meeting to be held Jun 3-4, 2010
at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Kearney,
Ron Galloway will present Walmart and the Future of Health Care.
From in-store health care clinics to eyeglasses, from flu shots to urgent care, Walmart has
its designs on leveraging its 4,000 stores into the largest force in American health care.
How does this affect you and your industry? What are their motivations? In 10 short years,
Walmart became the second largest force in optometry. Their $4 prescription plan changed
the face of the prescription industry.
Will Walmart become the largest referral source in medicine through their 2,000 planned
retail health clinics? Will Walmart "mom and pop" certain specialties into economic
hardship? How will Walmart's plans for Electronic Health Records (EHRs) affect physician
providers? This presentation, “Walmart and the Future of Health Care" addresses these
questions and more, as you are compelled to face a new competitive force on the horizon.
Ron Galloway has a unique perspective on business, technology and the financial markets.
After graduating from Georgia Tech in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management, he spent 20 years on Wall
Street as an analyst and then as a trader. He managed private investment accounts for 10 years, focusing on technology
and commodities.
In 2003, Mr. Galloway began a study on Walmart and spent a year as an unpaid “face” of the company to the press.
The experience culminated in 2006 with his acclaimed business documentary on the company,
Why Walmart Works
and Why That Makes Some People Crazy, which he produced and directed. The film premiered inside the U.S. Capitol
building in Washington, D.C. and received global attention. He spent a full year deep inside Walmart, gaining access to
cutting edge logistics and IT systems. He is a widely recognized expert on Walmart and their business practices.
Click here
for more information on the 2010 NHA Mid-Year Meeting.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, May 19, 2010
NHA Mid-Year Meeting & Golf Tournament
June 2-4, 2010 – Kearney
People Management Skills - The Business of the Future (CL)
May 20, 2010
– Webinar
The Joint Commission Tracers 2010: Preparing for Unannounced Surveys
May 20, 2010
– Webinar
Lasting Hope Recovery Center
- Third Annual Conference
June 9, 2010
– Omaha
Second Annual Foundation for Annie Jeffrey Golf Tournament
June 25, 2010 – Osceola
York General Health Care Services Auxiliary Charity Golf Tournament
July 30, 2010 – York
Charity Golf Tournament
to benefit
Jefferson Community Health Center
August 6, 2010 – Fairbury
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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