Richard Pizzi

The emergence of new payment types, the growth of electronic payments and the declining economy in 2008 have created new opportunities for payment fraud, according to a survey by the Association of Financial Professionals.

Missouri's safety net healthcare providers are seeing increased numbers of uninsured patients and incurring new financial strains as a result of changes made to Missouri's Medicaid system in 2005.

Failed healthcare reform efforts in California can provide important lessons for future efforts in state and federal healthcare reform, according to new papers in the journal Health Affairs.

The AARP has posted the results of a national survey in which physicians gave their top choices for "out-of-town" hospitals based on specialty.

U.S. hospitals are beginning to embrace Lean and Six Sigma business management strategies to reduce costs and improve productivity, according to a new benchmarking study by the American Society for Quality.

The Temple University Health System has confirmed that it will close Northeastern Hospital by July 1, 2009.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has named a 15-member Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research to help coordinate research and guide investments in comparative effectiveness research funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Resurrection Health Care, which operates eight hospitals in Chicago and its adjacent suburbs, is eliminating 125 management, ambulatory services and system support positions.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed a $45 million financial order Tuesday to pay a portion of the state's obligation to hospitals under an October 2006 settlement agreement.

The University of California, San Francisco has received one of the largest donations in its history to build a hospital complex on its newest campus.