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Iowa has turned down four proposals to build small hospitals in Des Moines, Coralville and Ames to care for long term patients that need significant care. Is it any wonder that the hospitals who were the competitors of those wanting to build the new hospitals all lobbied against the idea of something new. They are considering the proposal of one hospital to use one wing of its building as a long term care facility. This may be illegal in the corn state but is legal in most other states.
The AMA has lauded the MedPAC report that stated specialty hospitals have had no economic impact on community hospital's margin or total revenue. They also agreed with the potential revision of the payment system to hospitals so hospitals would not need to cost shift from high payment procedures to fund lower paying ones. Top
The People's Republic of Massachusetts are stingy with who they allow to have any imaging tools, except the teaching hospitals. They have just deemed it okay to put in three PET/CT scanners in the state. It is interesting that the People's Blue Cross does not cover this modality for breast cancer patients if they have regular insurance but does if they are HMO patients. There is almost no tumor board that I attend on a weekly basis that does not address the PET/CT of a presented breast cancer patient. Wake up People. You are being cheated out of your health. Top
The California Assembly has passed out of committee a bill that would prohibit physicians from participating in lethal injections in any manner. This bill is probably illegal and if it can be for this procedure, why not for any procedure, such as abortion. The better way is to not force physician to participate but if they wish, they may. As mentioned in the past the AMA guidelines regarding this have no power or weight of law. Top
California Democrats are even dumber than those of the People's Republic. They now know the same type health coverage as in the Republic would cost over $9 Billion more than the Republic. The Democrats, who have never cared about how much they spend, now have a bill out of committee in the Assembly. The bill would force all in the Left State to buy health insurance as they do with auto insurance. This goes against the California voters wishes in the past to force individuals or business to purchase health insurance. This bill would make a fund from the employers who do not give their employees health insurance. It would drive many small businesses out of business and not effect larger ones who already pay for insurance. The state will lose taxes and will still have to fund the fund. This bill as written will never get to the floor of the Assembly.
The People's Republic also is smarter than the Left Coast of California in their approach to nurse staffing. The People's plan is to have the staffing determined by the nurses on a unit by unit basis. They don't believe like the CNA that nursing needs to be a full service occupation. The Oregon and Massachusetts plans are much more sensible than California's and will not close down sections of hospitals like the CNA plan did and does.
Who's right? President Bush's VA budget for the coming year is $3.2 billion more than the prior year. Senator Schumer of NY believes this is too little since the people coming back from Iraq will, in his estimation, need $5.7 billion more in care. The VA said the amount is sufficient. The Senator also wants the entitlement of those who can afford to pay and have no service connected disabilities to pay nothing for their care. He is a true entitlement Democrat. Once something is given, never take anything away. The answer is still to disband the entire system and put all veterans into the mainstream by giving them Medicare and allowing them to go to any hospital, physician or pharmacy in the country. This would get rid of the pork that is now associated with the VA system. 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.