August, 2014

The independent, private physician practice model will be largely, though not uniformly, replaced.

Ever wonder how the ACA became law or how it remains law despite how the American public feels? Healthcare leaders almost without exception support Universal Healthcare. Their only criticism of the ACA law is that it didn't go far enough - they want a single payer system. When Harry Reid makes the list of most influential voices in healthcare you know there is serious liberal leaning. Shameful really. Instead of honest debate and genuine reform we get a game rigged by partisanship.

Agfa HealthCare has received a large digital radiography (DR) order from Summa Health System in Ohio. The vendor will deliver its DX-D Retrofit and mobile DX-D 100 DR systems, as well as its DX-M and CR 30-X computed radiography (CR) systems

Are service providers and in-house programs at war?

The attorneys general from 16 states have filed an amicus brief backing the Federal Trade Commission in its closely watched bid to undo an Idaho health system's acquisition of a physician practice. A U.S. district judge in Boise this year ordered St. Luke's Health System to divest Saltzer Medical Group. As providers across the country buy up physician practices to meet the goals of population health management, St. Luke's had tried to argue that the deal is necessary for it to meet the imperatives of healthcare reform.

Almost $700 million in hospital spending – are you a good enough salesperson to earn some of that money?
1. Billings Clinic plans $1.4M inpatient pediatric unit
2. Alegent Creighton Health plans $35M medical complex
3. Norton Healthcare opens pediatric, emergency services units
4. Baystate Franklin Medical Center plans $23M construction project
5. University of Pennsylvania Health System plans $1.5B tower
6. Ukiah Valley Medical Center plans $41M expansion
7. Great Falls Clinic begins construction on $23.5M center
8. Cleveland Clinic plans $276M cancer care building
9. Ocean Springs Hospital completes $16.5M renovation
10. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville builds $14M ED
11. Cole Memorial Hospital begins $8.3M expansion, renovation
12. Children's Hospital at Dartmouth plans $1.8M renovation
13. Midtown Medical Center begins $5.25M renovation
14. Covenant Health Plainview to undergo $40M remodel
15. Lawrence General Hospital to begin $56M surgical construction
16. Spearfish Regional Hospital to complete $6.2M expansion, remodel
17. Memorial Hospital of Carbondale begins $52M upgrade, expansion
18. Cooper University Hospital unveils $30M new patient wing
19. Memorial Health Care Systems to undergo $9M expansion, renovation
20. St. Joseph Hospital breaks ground on new Milford facility

The medical imaging technology industry supports an estimated 12,000 jobs and generates approximately $3.1 billion in total economic activity in the state of Washington.

Medicare has a 2 night stay rule for patients in a hospital in order for the provider to get a higher level of reimbursement. This rule has dramatically reduced hospital admission and bed days. However it is hated by hospitals and one of the most contentious rules implemented to drive down Federal costs of healthcare. Known as the "two-midnight rule" hospitals may get regulatory relief although they want repeal.