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The AMA has finally come out with a guideline to strengthen the physician hospital relationship. The problem is that it is a guideline and holds no sway with hospitals or employed medical staffs. It tells how the medical staff should work and be a part of the hospital, yet and most importantly, an independent structure. Top
Pennsylvania has halted admissions to Commonwealth Medical Center in Aliquippa. The private hospital with 208 beds has had multiple complaints regarding its lack of supplies and equipment.
The John Dempsey Hospital in Connecticut, affiliated with the University of Connecticut, has been disciplined by the state for the third time in two years. This time it was put on probation for quality of care issues. The hospital agreed to bring in a consultant to recommend changes to most parts of the hospital. The description sounded like a "snake pit".
Anaheim General Hospital, owned by Pacific Health, had its JC accreditation removed. The hospital is a threat to patients. The hospital is also submitting a correction plan to CMS in order to not lose its funding for state and federal patients. They were previously fined $50,000 for two patient incidents likely to cause serious injury or death.
The Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, has been fined $228,000 by the Nevada Health Department for problems with quality of care and mammography. Ninety two patients had to be notified to take additional screenings. The hospital will be monitored for the next year for their compliance with quality health. Top
A Sacramento, California, judge has ruled on a case where the California Hospital Assn. and the California Medical Assn. sued the State over its order that there could be no balanced billing of HMO emergency room patients by hospitals or physicians who are not contracted with the HMO. The State will act as an arbitor of the amount of money that can or can not be charged to these patients. The Medical Assn. will appeal the decision.
CMS is attempting to resolve all the screw-ups by their new West Coast claims processing unit and by CMS's own poor processing of the new NPIs. Providers who are in dire straits for not receiving the money can ask for an interest free advance on the money owed. Top
Michigan voters passed a medical marijuana law last month. It is now in effect but of course the state regs have not yet been written or passed so patients can still be arrested. They can use the medical marijuana defense at trial. Top
The physicians of Oklahoma are asking the state legislature to call a special session to overturn a state supreme court decision stating that the state malpractice law was an unconstitutional special law. Top
DISCLAIMER: Although this
article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the
time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers
should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the
information presented.