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Archive Subscribe to NHA Newslink December 22, 2011 |
ACROSS THE STATE Nelson: Create exchanges or turn down federal funds
Panel: Increasing health care availability doesn't
necessarily mean improved health HHS to give states more flexibility to implement health reform States retaining more physicians Berwick blasts limited hospital stays, healthcare rationing
NHA 2012 Trustee Certification released Winter 2011 Healthier Nebraska published State Chamber announces 2012 legislative priorities, elected leaders | |
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ACROSS THE STATE Nelson: Create exchanges or turn down federal funds OMAHA—U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said that Nebraska should either move
forward with creating a state health insurance exchange or turn down a new $5.5
million federal grant. Nelson questioned why Republican Gov. Dave Heineman asked
for the grant when he is on record saying Nebraska should hold off on setting up
its exchange.
Read more»
NEBRASKA—A series of statewide
health care dialogues concluded Dec. 1 in Lincoln with a five-person panel
discussion about the overall health of Americans in general and Nebraskans in
particular. Among the key points was the distinction between leading healthy
lives and health care.
HHS to give states more flexibility to implement health reform WASHINGTON, D.C.—The
Department of Health and Human Services today released a bulletin outlining
proposed policies that will give states more flexibility and freedom to
implement the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act ensures all Americans
have access to quality, affordable health insurance. To achieve this goal, the
law ensures that health insurance plans offered in the individual and small
group markets, both inside and outside of the Affordable Insurance Exchanges
(Exchanges), offer a comprehensive package of items and services, known as
“essential health benefits.”
Read more» Even though the looming doctor shortage may not be as bad as people feared, healthcare organizations in California can rest even easier knowing the state had the highest physician retention for 2010, according to a new report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). For all states, the median retention from undergraduate medical education grew by two percentage points and retention from graduate medical education rose by almost a half a percentage point, according to the report. The AAMC report also found that more than a quarter of the nation's active physicians are more than 60 years old, reinforcing recent claims that older physicians with more experience may be an untapped solution to meet the growing demand for healthcare providers. To keep physicians in-state, healthcare organizations could try offering multi-year physicians contracts, flexible scheduling or mentoring programs. For more information: - here's the AAMC report. Check out the Kaiser State Health Facts. — FierceHealthcare, Dec.
21,
2011 Berwick blasts limited hospital stays, healthcare rationing To help rein in escalating Medicaid costs, several states are severely restricting hospital stays. However, that move has been stirring up some opposition, especially from former CMS Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick, who deemed such caps on care "nonsensical" in a recent interview with Kaiser Health News. Berwick expressed concern over the lack of accountability and transparency in the way Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers decide what (and what not) to cover. Rationing Medicare and Medicaid care may not be the answer to delivering high-quality, cost-effective care. According to Berwick, those programs aren't broken; the overall healthcare delivery system needs fixing. Read more» — Kaiser Health News, Dec. 12, 2011
RED CLOUD—Marianna Harris might never have returned the voice mail.
Fortunately, Harris, who's the administrator of the Webster County Community
Hospital in Red Cloud, Neb., had been tipped off: Someone from the Helmsley
Charitable Trust would be calling to offer her hospital a chance to apply for a
sizable grant. After receiving a nearly half-million-dollar grant, the hospital
now has a state-of-the-art digital mammography machine, along with a "spalike"
waiting room with plush chairs instead of a cold, sterile setting.
Read more»
LINCOLN—The Nebraska Hospital Association has released its 2012 Hospital Trustee Community Accountability Education Certification Program. This certification is a process of verifying an individual trustee’s initiative to improve personal health care knowledge, leadership effectiveness and compliance with a variety of governance best practices. Certification is a viable way of assuring various stakeholders such as community members, lawmakers, regulators, physicians, employees and other businesses that Nebraska’s hospitals hold themselves to high standards and are accountable for their governing performance. Learn more» — NHA, Dec. 22, 2011 Winter 2011 Healthier Nebraska published LINCOLN—This edition of Healthier Nebraska reports on how the Boone County Health Center (BCHC) in Albion has undergone a series of construction and renovation projects since 2000. Four projects spanning 10 years have transformed an outdated facility into a progressive acute care facility highly valued by the six rural counties it serves. Read more» — NHA, Dec. 22, 2011
Member changes CHI Nebraska, Lincoln Select Specialty Hospital, Omaha Rural Comprehensive Care Network (RCCN) which is a part of the South East Rural Physicians Alliance (SERPA), Crete will be going through an internet upgrade as of Jan. 1, 2012. Executive Director Joleen T. Huneke’s email address will change to jthserpa@rccn.info. Other staff affected are Nikki Gohring: ngohring@rccn.info; Renee Bauer: rbauer@rccn.info; Stewart Huneke: shuneke@rccn.info and Joy Maly: jmaly@rccn.info.
State Chamber announces 2012 legislative priorities, elected leaders LINCOLN—As Nebraska lawmakers prepare to reconvene on Jan. 4, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has announced its top state legislative priorities for 2012. Among the Chamber's major legislative priorities are: Growing the state economy by encouraging investment in job-creating businesses; reducing the overall tax burden for all Nebraska taxpayers; making government more efficient by restraining or reducing government spending; supporting performance-based economic development incentives; supporting efforts to improve Nebraska's workforce and skilled labor pool; opposing new mandates on employer-provided health insurance plans; and supporting efforts to allow Nebraska to control its own health care insurance future via a state-run insurance exchange. In addition to approving the Chamber's major legislative objectives, the
State Chamber Board also confirmed the election of the association's leadership
for 2012. Steve Ford, CEO of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. in Lincoln, will serve as
chairman. Ford will officially begin his duties on Feb. 2 at the State Chamber's
Annual Meeting in Lincoln. He succeeds Jeff Scherer, CFO of Smeal Fire Apparatus
Co. in Snyder, as the Chamber's top elected officer.
Nebraska's 2012 election calendar NEBRASKA—Next year, 26 of 49 state legislative districts in Nebraska (odd-numbered districts and District 2) will be up for election. The statewide primary election will be held May 15, 2012. Some of the key dates for next year's election cycle and for candidates running for the Nebraska Legislature include:
In preparation for a busy election year, here is the 2012 election calendar for Nebraska. On this site, you can also find county election officials, check your voter registration/location, get a provisional ballot and download election forms. Read more»
NHA e vents:
CMS hospital CoP telemedicine regulations:
ensuring
compliance Other events: Forensic nurse examiner pediatric training Memorial Health Center (MHC) in Sydney, Neb. is offering Forensic Nurse Examiner Pediatric Training, Feb. 6-10, 2012 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Ray Cruise Conference Room at MHC. This training is recommended for emergency service providers, health care providers and law enforcement agents. To register» 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 Jessica Kennedy, director of communications, at jkennedy@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.
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