AHA News Reports: Tennessee Hospitals Announce Payment Policy for Certain Adverse Events
The Tennessee Hospital Association has approved a policy recommending hospitals in the state not to seek payment for care related to certain serious adverse events- if the hospital deems the event was preventable.
From Modern Healthcare News: California’s health insurers trade group is supporting the prohibition on reimbursing providers on “never events”.
The board for the California Association of Health Plans unanimously passed a decision in favor of no longer paying for eight never events.
The California Association is also endorsing a bill that would prohibit providers from billing payers for adverse events that cause the death or injury of a patient.
From the Modern Healthcare News: Massachusetts will no longer pay for care related to serious hospital errors (“never-events”).
They will end reimbursement for care related to 28 serious reportable events, defined by the National Quality Forum (NQF).
More on Article: Massachusetts to halt payment for ‘never events’
Giorgi Lomsadze reports on Georgia’s healthcare system.
Georgia has launched the "100 Hospital Bill", where Private companies, such as pharmaceutical firms, are taking over public hospitals –aiming to improve quality services of facilities.
Read More on Giorgi Lomsadze’s Article: GEORGIA SAYS FAREWELL TO PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
Alescia Teel, from Politcker NJ News reports on a new bill to improve transparency:
New Jersey’s Assembly passed two measures that are part of a multi-bill legislative package to stabilize the long-term financial health of the state’s hospital industry.
The legislative package will enhance the fiscal transparency, accountability, and efficiency at general New Jersey hospitals.
Rell signs bill to expand health care registry, helping patients learn about providers
In the Stamford News: Governor M. Jodi Rell signed a Public Act 08-109 law. This act extends the state physician profile to other Health Care Providers.
North Country Gazette: The State of New York has released new legislation to fight fraud in the home health care industry.
The New York Certified Aide Registry and Employment Search Act (NY-CARES) developed a central registry of home health and personal care aides. They are currently working on a public internet-based registry that would include health care employment history, along with results of criminal background checks for aides employed.
Fierce Healthcare: A new bill is currently being reviewed by California’s state Senate to allow pharmacies to sell patients prescription information to third-party marketing firms working for pharmaceutical companies.
Once approved, the legislation would let pharmacies send mailings directly to patients. This can help to remind patients to take their medication and when to order a refill of their prescription.
ihealthbeat: Utah's Health System Reform Task is reviewing legislation to create a Web site that would provide consumers with information regarding healthcare, in a user-friendly manner. This information would include benefits of health insurance plans, costs, reimbursement, as well as a list of physicians and hospitals in the network. If the legislation is approved, all health plan data will be submitted electronically to the state Insurance Department by July, 2009.
iHealthBeat: Minnesota’s Legislature approved a bill requiring electronic prescribing. Their goal is to link provider payments to care coordination and performance.
Beginning in 2011 pharmacists, physicians and others who prescribe/dispense medication in Minnesota will have to use the electronic systems.
In July 2010, the bill will require the state to publish comparative prices and quality information for groups of services.
Governor David A. Paterson announced that he has proposed legislation to limit the influence of pharmaceutical manufacturers over prescription decisions. The Governor’s bill would ban gifts and payments from drug companies to physicians and other prescribers in excess of $50 per year.
Bill Offers More Transparency for Patients and Tougher Discipline for Physicians: Governor David A. Paterson announced that he has proposed legislation that will dramatically improve patient safety, enhance the state’s authority in medical investigation and help to prevent future infection control violations.
Government Health IT: The Massachusetts Public Health Council voted to require hospitals to report rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) for an online report card to be posted on a state government Web site. Consumers will be able to view the infection rate of their local hospital and also compare it with the rates of other hospitals in the state.
The Florida Senate is expected to consider a bill that would require hospitals to post the pricing information of 150 commonly performed medical procedures on a state Web site, iHealthBeat reports.
iHealthBeat: The Senate's Finance Committee in Louisiana passed a legislation to create a state-run Web site intended to let consumers compare the cost and quality of health care facilities in the state.
The Web site is expected to cost an estimated $500,000 annually, according to health and hospitals secretary Alan Levine.
According to Levine, the Web site would include information on:
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