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Quality and Safety

By Molly Merrill | 10:04 am | September 26, 2011
The awards were announced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as part of its initiative to extend health information technology in healthcare settings that serve people with mental and substance use disorders.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 04:59 pm | September 23, 2011
Complaints about nursing homes are rampant and general opinion about them is poor. It's well known that employees aren't happy at these facilities and turnover is high. Right? Maybe not so much, according to results of a customer and employee satisfaction survey from My InnerView, a division of the National Research Corporation.
By Rene Letourneau | 11:13 am | September 23, 2011
Physicians estimate the cost of defensive medicine to be between 26 and 34 percent of total annual healthcare costs, according to a new report by Jackson Healthcare. At an estimated $2.5 trillion in annual spending, this means $650-$850 billion is spent each year on medical orders intended to avoid lawsuits rather than treat patients.
By Diana Manos | 12:30 pm | September 22, 2011
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HMO/POS) tops the list of America's best health plans named by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for the eighth year in a row.
By Rene Letourneau | 11:47 am | September 22, 2011
Use of generic prescription drugs in the United States has saved consumers and the healthcare system $931 billion over the last 10 years, according to a new report from the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA).
By Stephanie Bouchard | 11:41 am | September 22, 2011
A collection of more than 50 patient advocates, including doctors, lawyers and chief executive officers, are asking Congress to allow public access to hospital accreditation surveys.
By Mary Mosquera | 04:47 pm | September 20, 2011
Health plans Aetna, Humana, Kaiser Permanente and United Healthcare will furnish de-identified claims data to new Health Care Cost Institute to analyze cost and use drivers.
By Mary Mosquera | 10:14 am | September 19, 2011
CMS will use the claims and provider data to support policy activities and reimbursement for the Medicare Shared Savings and Pioneer ACO Model programs.
By James Ellis and Aaron Razavi | 09:06 am | September 19, 2011
How can hospitals decrease patient medical charges while promoting patient autonomy? Switch to a patient-centered care approach.
By David Harlow | 10:16 am | September 16, 2011
The Health Care Compliance Association's New England Regional Conference was held recently, and I'd like to highlight the final session of the day, which featured Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Trusiak, from the Western District of New York, and Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.