Hospitals

March 09, 2009 -- (Oklahoma City) -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today approved legislation that will help preserve the Oklahoma State University medical program and the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. Both had been facing an uncertain future because of financial difficulties and other challenges.

House Bill 1127 by House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee appropriates $5 million to the OSU Medical Authority to keep the facility in operation. It is the first installment of five such annual appropriations.

The funding is part of an agreement hammered out last December by Gov. Henry, Speaker Benge, Pro Tem Coffee, OSU officials and Tulsa leaders.    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- ST. LOUIS - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon is visiting community health centers across Missouri this week to announce a landmark agreement with the Missouri Hospital Association to provide quality health care to nearly 35,000 additional parents - at no increased cost to the state's taxpayers.    » read more »

New York, NY, January 26, 2009—A study published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine, finds that when physicians in hospitals use health information technology (health IT) to its full potential there are fewer deaths, fewer complications, and lower health care costs.

The study, supported by The Commonwealth Fund and led by Ruben Amarasingham M.D., M.B.A., Associate Chief of Medicine at Parkland Health & Hospital System and Assistant Professor of Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical School and Neil Powe, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, surveyed physicians from 41 hospitals in Texas treating a diverse group of patients across a variety of conditions including heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia.    » read more »

Hurricane Katrina: GAO Study Results

July 17, 2008 -- New Orleans faces many challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina including the challenge of reestablishing the health care system and hospitals within the system. Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on August 29, 2005, and the subsequent flooding caused by the failure of the New Orleans levee systems, resulted in the sudden closure, damage, or disruption in services at many of the New Orleans hospitals.    » read more »

Joins local leaders and hospital staff to celebrate state-of-the-art research and treatment facility

April 21, 2008 -- CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today helped break ground on the construction of the new Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to treating children worldwide and accommodating the needs of their families.    » read more »

April 21, 2008 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in formal testimony today, called again for a prohibition against drug company gifts and other benefits provided to doctors that may improperly influence health care decisions.

Pharmaceutical drug companies spend more than $11 billion annually to market prescription drugs - most of it directed at health care providers.

Pills: Photo by e-magic (CC)

Research has repeatedly found that such gifts influence health care provider decisions.    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- FORT MYERS – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today visited Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers to discuss proposed legislation that will provide affordable health insurance for Florida’s uninsured. Senate Bill 2534, sponsored by Senator Durell Peaden of Crestview, would allow state government to negotiate with health insurers to develop affordable coverage for Florida’s 3.8 million uninsured individuals. Private health insurers have indicated that benefits packages would cost about $150 or less per month.    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has released $1,660,000 for improvements to Kula Hospital and Maui Memorial Medical Center, which are public health facilities overseen by the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

“Ensuring Maui residents have access to affordable and quality health care continues to be a priority for my Administration,” said Governor Lingle.

Hawaii surfers: Photo by Michael Bina (CC)

“These projects will help maintain a safe and healthy environment for Maui patients and staff and equip the hospitals to remain operational during emergencies, including extended power outages.”    » read more »

Cash Infusion will Alleviate short-term Cash Shortage and Ensure Quality Health Care for Staten Island Residents

April 4, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson, Staten Island legislators, and Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., today announced that New York State will provide $5 million to the Richmond University Medical Center. The infusion of $5 million will help Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) cope with an immediate short-term cash crunch.

New York Governor David Paterson: Photo by New York Governor's office    » read more »

CMS Web Site Features Updated and More Robust Information to Help Consumers with Their Health Care Choices

Friday, March 28, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today posted new survey information at the Hospital Compare consumer Web site offering consumers more insight about the hospitals in their communities.    » read more »

Senate-Passed Medicare Bill Extends Wage Index Reclassification Program and Provides $45 million in Medicare Reimbursements

Washington, D.C. -- December 19, 2007 - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey today announced an important Medicare fix for northeastern Pennsylvania hospitals. The provision is included the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 that that was passed late last night by the Senate’s unanimous consent. The Medicare provision corrects what would have been a disastrous gap in Medicare reimbursements to 12 northeastern Pennsylvania hospitals.    » read more »

December 19, 2007 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil announced today that the New Mexico Department of Health has designated three hospitals as new trauma centers in the state -- Gerald Champion Medical Center in Alamogordo, Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales and Carlsbad Medical Center in Carlsbad. With the addition of these hospitals, there are now six trauma centers in New Mexico.    » read more »

Schumer Fought for Section 508, which Provides Millions of Dollars to Hospitals in Dutchess and Orange Counties

December 18, 2007 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Senate has approved over $12 million for seven hospitals across Dutchess and Orange counties, which will go towards hiring more nurses and improving quality of patient care. The funding is included in the Senate Medicare package that passed the Senate today. The hospitals in Dutchess and Orange counties qualify for the funding due to their status as New York Section 508 hospitals.    » read more »

Governor's Proposal Will Stop Hospitals From Closing Down, Provide Billions to Health Care System

12/14/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today highlighted how health care reform ensures financial stability to our state's ailing hospital system by providing billions of dollars from the federal government so services are less vulnerable.    » read more »

Says deal will enhance health care system in Mahoning Valley

November 26, 2007 -- After nearly two months of careful examination and consideration by the Antitrust and Charitable Law Sections of his office, Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann today announced that he will approve the sale of Forum Health’s Beeghly Medical Park facility in Boardman, Ohio to Akron Children’s Hospital.    » read more »