News

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed a Critical Access Hospitals Bill into law this week that ensures the 59 communities that are served by Critical Access Hospitals can leverage additional state resources and federal funding.

Common habits such as forgetfulness and procrastination cost the United States an estimated $163 billion in pharmacy-related waste each year, according to the Express Scripts’ 2009 Drug Trend Report.

Recruiters took 180 days to fill positions for internal medicine and family practice physicians in 2008, according to the Medical Group Management Association.

Children's Hospital Oakland has initiated its restructuring plan, laying off 17 staff members this week in the first phase of a program to reduce a projected loss of $26 million.

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report critical of federal efforts to improve poorly performing nursing homes.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week issued a hospital inpatient and long-term care prospective payment system proposed rule for fiscal year 2011 that would decrease average inpatient payments by 0.1 percent.

A federal jury in Houston has convicted Helen Etinfoh and Paula Whitfield for their roles in a Medicare fraud conspiracy involving fraudulent claims of hurricane damage to power wheelchairs.

Medical leaders say President Barack Obama's nomination of Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is the right choice for implementing the cost-cutting reforms that the two government programs face.

Healthcare IT leaders are hailing President Obama's nomination of Donald Berwick, MD, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a signal of the administration's commitment to quality.

St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan filed for bankruptcy last week and laid off more than 1,000 employees this week as it prepared to close its doors for good by the end of the month.