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The University of Arizona Network, the largest network in Tucson and enviorns has a new problem. They are $30 million in the hole due to installing EPIC. The cost of installation was $132 million including $32 million in unbudgeted costs. Some of the loss was due to implementation delays, additional training and planned schedule reductions. The other problem is Obamacare not covering the uninsured as quickly as thought. They had gotten money from other sources that stopped when Obamacare started. The University gets about $1 million per year in incentive payments but spends that in upkeep.
Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, gave an ultimatum to its ER physicians. The are currently a private corporation and must join the contracted EmCare or they will lose their jobs. All the physicians in the current corporation have been offered a position in EmCare. Top
Georgia has a problem with uninsured physicians. About 8% of the physicians are uninsured. I assume they do not have hospital privileges and are all office based individuals.
The feds have raided physician's homes and offices in Massachusetts for prescribing medical marijuana. The prescribing is legal in the state but not under federal law. Obama had said he was not going to push fed enforcement but his word is not his bond. The feds threatened the physicians with termination of their ability to prescribe if they did not sever their ties with dispensaries. The agents apparently were cordial but firm in their ultimatums. One physician did relinquish his DEA license since he does not need it at the VA.
United Health has continued its assault on physicians and the public choice by cutting more Massachusetts physicians from the Medicare Advantage plans. The 700 physicians removed means seniors will need to find other physicians or different plans. This is effective on September 1. No hospitals are being cut. To date United has cut about 10% of its national physician workforce. This mid year cut really screws the patients. However, those with ongoing chemo, PT or rehab post op may apply for a limited time continuation with their physician. The feds have a policy that allows all members in an Advantage plan to switch plans if their provider is removed mid year. This does not go into effect until next year. There is also a law suit against United in Connecticut for this practice. The other Advantage plans in Massachusetts are not cutting physicians. Top
I did not know that the feds and states have laws stating that rape victims do not pay for "rape kits" or other diagnostic tests. Some states also have restrictions on billing insurance but in no case can the patient be charged anything. Also some states pay for preventative HIV treatment and others as well.
In something I bet the Dems never thought would happen, Michigan has said to those on Obamacare Medicaid if you take personal responsibility for your health we will charge you less. They have to agree to have an annual risk assessment and quit smoking, lose weight or other measures to reduce their health risks.
The Pacific Business group on Health CEO admits they can not measure value. The IT platforms are not set up to measure whether or not someone with a joint replacement is better six months later than they were before surgery. They are attempting at several California hospitals to get the information on hip replacement patients.
The VA is really a terrible organization. It fosters lying and cheating in the way the bonuses are paid and how each clinic or hospital is funded. An audit has shown that about 5000 are awaiting an initial VA appointment and an additional 64,000 have never seen a VA physician. The audit also showed that about 13% of the schedulers have been ordered to falsify reports. The FBI is looking into criminal charges in these cases. Remember this entire VA fiasco was started by one individual who blew the whistle on the long waits and vets dying while on the false lists. He was severely chastised by the VA for speaking out.
The VA administration found out hospitals had the separate waiting lists in 2010. They did nothing. They were know as handwritten wait lists and not secret lists on which the media finally picked up. 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.