President Obama's speech yesterday was "hitting the reset button" for health care reform.
First impressions - the numbers do not add up.
And every President since Nixon has promised to reduce "waste, fraud and abuse" from Medicare and Medicaid.
Game on!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
HIPAA Security Social Nightmares
Facebook ™, Myspace ™, Twitter ™ and millions of web logs (“blogs”) are connecting people worldwide, and that includes your employees.
Some business organizations are using these social networks, some not, but either way it is a good bet your employees are using these sites to connect with and expand their social networks.
That can be a huge problem!
Employees used to flashing every aspect of their lives on-line are very likely to discuss work on-line as well.
Social networks sites create a huge risk for HIPAA violations, and also for employee problems (some of the comments posted can be incredibly vicious),
HIPAA is 24/7!
No, you cannot control your employees lives, EXCEPT as it relates to work.
Every health care organization should develop policies and procedures on the use of social networking sites for the broadcast of work related information. Soon.
Some business organizations are using these social networks, some not, but either way it is a good bet your employees are using these sites to connect with and expand their social networks.
That can be a huge problem!
Employees used to flashing every aspect of their lives on-line are very likely to discuss work on-line as well.
Social networks sites create a huge risk for HIPAA violations, and also for employee problems (some of the comments posted can be incredibly vicious),
HIPAA is 24/7!
No, you cannot control your employees lives, EXCEPT as it relates to work.
Every health care organization should develop policies and procedures on the use of social networking sites for the broadcast of work related information. Soon.
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Arbitration Battle Continues
Many long-term care providers require a new resident to sign an arbitration agreement at admission.
Providers feel this is necessary to cope with the medical malpractice atmosphere.
Many consumer groups and politicians feel this is an abuse, essentially barring the court house door for neglected and abused residents.
A federal bill introduced in Congress in 2008 was not passed, but has been reintroduced. Some state legislatures have gotten involved in the issue.
Provider representatives are lobbying heavily against the bill, for obvious reasons.
Providers feel this is necessary to cope with the medical malpractice atmosphere.
Many consumer groups and politicians feel this is an abuse, essentially barring the court house door for neglected and abused residents.
A federal bill introduced in Congress in 2008 was not passed, but has been reintroduced. Some state legislatures have gotten involved in the issue.
Provider representatives are lobbying heavily against the bill, for obvious reasons.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Current Issues
What are the hot issues in long-term care?
Financing (short-term) - state budgets are in serious trouble, and that puts serious pressure on Medicaid.
Financing (long-term) - what will health care reform do to long-term care?
Post-acute bundling of payment - see previous post.
Nursing - good news, the lousy economy may be pushing more nurses back into the workforce. Bad news, are these the quality nurses we want?
Transparency - should ownership of facilities be more transparent to the public?
Home and community based services for the disabled
Financing (short-term) - state budgets are in serious trouble, and that puts serious pressure on Medicaid.
Financing (long-term) - what will health care reform do to long-term care?
Post-acute bundling of payment - see previous post.
Nursing - good news, the lousy economy may be pushing more nurses back into the workforce. Bad news, are these the quality nurses we want?
Transparency - should ownership of facilities be more transparent to the public?
Home and community based services for the disabled
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Hospital Discharge and Re-Admit Cycle
The federal government has major issues with the cost of health care programs, at the same time the reform movement is trying to expand insurance coverage.
One of the targets is the discharge / re-admit issue with Medicare patients.
Hospitals have incentives to discharge elderly patients to home or an ltcf, but re-admissions are quite common, driving up cost.
Physician judgments and family wishes play into this, and these factors may be difficult to change.
One proposal is "payment bundling," the hospital would get a single payment and then must reimburse the ltcf. This could be difficult for ltcfs, but could also provide incentives for better cooperation and coordination of services.
One of the targets is the discharge / re-admit issue with Medicare patients.
Hospitals have incentives to discharge elderly patients to home or an ltcf, but re-admissions are quite common, driving up cost.
Physician judgments and family wishes play into this, and these factors may be difficult to change.
One proposal is "payment bundling," the hospital would get a single payment and then must reimburse the ltcf. This could be difficult for ltcfs, but could also provide incentives for better cooperation and coordination of services.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Briefing Paper: Email and electronic communications
The first in a series of briefing papers on administrative topics:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16018098/Email-Briefing-Paper-Health-Care
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16018098/Email-Briefing-Paper-Health-Care
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Selling Health Care Reform
President Obama is selling health care reform with the argument that we need to fix health care in order to fix the overall economy.
Economic advisor Christina Romer distributed an op-ed piece today explaining how health care reform would 1) improve family incomes, 2) enhanced GDP, 3) lower budget deficits, 4) lower unemployment, 5) provide greater health care coverage (of course) and a 6) better labor market.
Wow, this is quite a claim.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_report.pdf
Economic advisor Christina Romer distributed an op-ed piece today explaining how health care reform would 1) improve family incomes, 2) enhanced GDP, 3) lower budget deficits, 4) lower unemployment, 5) provide greater health care coverage (of course) and a 6) better labor market.
Wow, this is quite a claim.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_report.pdf
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