NATIONAL
- US health care spending hits $3.5 trillion in 2017, but rate of growth slows
- CMS finalizes risk adjustment rule for benefit year 2018
- 4 health systems raising their minimum wage
- Demand for both physicians and nurse practitioners driving up compensation, study finds
- Report predicts shortage of nearly 30,000 doctors in geriatrics
- American Hospital Association among those suing HHS over site neutral payments
- 10 cities with the biggest physician pay growth
- Jefferson Health, Boston Medical Center + 5 systems join Medicaid project
- Effort to modernize HIPAA focuses on easier patient data access
- 12 AGs sue medical records company for HIPAA data breach
- Demand for physicians surges 7% in 2018
- 30% of hospitals have violated EMTALA, investigation finds
- Physician fee schedule update could solve primary care shortage
- Private equity pushes into healthcare: 9 latest deals
- Can Telehealth Slow the Traffic Between Nursing Homes, Emergency Departments?
- Apple has quietly hired dozens of physicians: 5 things to know
- Investment income bolstered standalone hospitals’ finances, analysis finds
- 3 ways ASCs can increase profits through managed care contracts
- Adverse events affect 21% of Medicare long-term hospital patients, OIG finds
- Why are freestanding EDs popping up across US? Millennials
- House passes drug-pricing bill targeting ‘big pharma’s games’
- HHS, OCR Seek Industry Feedback on HIPAA Update for Data Sharing
- PwC names 6 healthcare issues to watch in 2019
NORTHEAST
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont)
CONNECTICUT
- Hospitals reduce ER visits with proactive community support
- L+M Healthcare say outlook for Westerly Hospital ‘very bright’ despite continued financial losses
- CT health care industry sees reasons for optimism, says WCHN chief
- Future of Southington’s Bradley Hospital campus remains unclear
- MMH one step closer in effort to expand cardiac services
- Saint Francis Hospital now Hartford’s third Level I trauma center
- Staffing levels, culture challenge quality of nursing home care in Connecticut
- How Connecticut Children’s cut arrival-to-triage time by 80%
- Yale New Haven-affiliated hospital posts 3rd consecutive operating loss
MAINE
- Maine boosts reimbursement rates for opioid use treatment
- State OKs application for new rehab center at York Hospital
MASSACHUSETTS
- Partners HealthCare plans new outpatient clinics
- Massachusetts hospital alleges voter fraud in November union vote
- Massachusetts General Hospital to Launch Blockchain Solution to Store Patients’ Data
- Partners ready to take on BI Lahey competition after strong fiscal year
- Brigham Health physicians fight proposed changes to federal immigration policy
- Involving patients in hospital ‘rounds’ can curb medical errors, researchers find
- Partners HealthCare considers opening clinic with surgery center
- Report: Massachusetts General Hospital Targeting Various Blockchain Use Cases
- Massachusetts hospital to pay $2.3M for Medicare overpayments
- Hospital will pay fine, repayment for Medicare overbilling
- Anna Jaques nurses sue hospital
- Partners HealthCare reports 489% jump in FY18 operating income
- Steward Health Care Network workflow automation yields 161% increase in care coordination
- Feds OK Care New England-Partners merger
- Target to pay $3M after allegedly refilling prescriptions without patient OK
NEW HAMPSHIRE
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Announces $130 Million Expansion
- ‘Internet of Things’ is transforming health care, Geneia president says
- Officials Mull DHMC Plan, City Services
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Researcher to Study Disappearing Maternity Wards in N.H. Hospitals
NEW YORK
- Oneida Healthcare receives $250,000 for new cancer center
- Officials deny rigging Utica hospital site study
- Long Island Hospital to Roll Out Mobile Telestroke Units Next Spring
- NYC Health + Hospitals could lose $362M in first year of public charge rule
- Pharmaceutical company files for bankruptcy, receives $200M takeover bid
- New York providers were overpaid nearly $33M for giving free vaccinations, audit finds
RHODE ISLAND
- Settlements and motions to dismiss filed in St. Joseph’s pension fund challenges
- Feds OK Care New England-Partners merger
- Yale New Haven-affiliated hospital posts 3rd consecutive operating loss
VERMONT
- Money, Employee Morale Put Springfield Hospital’s Health in Question
- UVM Medical Center ramps up trauma training course
- Nurses Fight Home Health Care Cuts
- NEFCU donates $1 million to UVM Children’s Hospital NICU renovation
- Springfield Hospital can’t pay its bills. ‘It’s very unnerving.’
- CEO of cash-strapped Vermont hospital resigns 1 week after CFO
MID-ATLANTIC / EAST
(Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia)
DELAWARE
- Christiana Care enters into outcomes-based agreement with Medicaid insurer
- Health care company increasing minimum wage to $15 per hour
- Christiana Care ups its minimum wage to $15 per hour
- Atlantic General plans Ocean Pines medical center
- Doctor will pay $3M for improper billing of Medicaid and Medicare
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
- Deal For New GWU Hospital At St. Elizabeths Campus At Risk Of Collapsing
- George Washington University Hospital Walks Away From a Deal to Run a New Hospital in Ward 8
- Nurses Rally To Keep Providence Hospital Open As Services Wind Down
MARYLAND
- Ross retires ‘effective immediately’ as CEO of Meritus Health
- ChoiceOne, St. Joe’s hospital opening new urgent care center at Belvedere Square Friday
- Baltimore Ranked One Of The Top Cities For Doctor Job Growth
- UMD Medical System restores computer systems after malware attack
- Doctor to pay $3 million to resolve improper Medicaid billing in Maryland
- Atlantic General Hospital announces plans for new Ocean Pines facility
- Leaders at Hopkins children’s hospital in Florida resign amid report of high injury, death rates
- U of Maryland Medical System CMO resigns after 28 years
NEW JERSEY
- CompleteCare gets $8 million in support for South Jersey health care
- Hackensack Meridian hospital nurses close to resolving bitter contract dispute
- New Jersey hospitals rank high in Leapfrog Group’s performance rating
- Embattled University Hospital CEO resigning amid criticism
- Report: University Hospital lacking vision, leadership
- Newark Hospital Gave CEO Raise As Finances, Ratings Sank: Report
- Troubled New Jersey hospital awaits vote on interim CEO
- New Jersey hits health insurer with penalty over privacy breach
PENNSYLVANIA
- Is Scranton’s ‘super hospital’ plan dead?
- Philly-area hospital reduces C-Section rate by implementing simple changes
- Tower Health hospital reaches deal with Pennsylvania workers
- Pittsburgh Mercy Health System selects new CEO
- Jefferson Health announces minimum wage increase
- LVHN highlights accomplishments, expansion plans at annual meeting
- Pennsylvania Health Care Association president and CEO highlights state’s skilled nursing facilities
- Coordinated Health and CEO to pay $12.5 million to settle fraudulent billing claims
- Christiana Care ups its minimum wage to $15 per hour
- UPMC Pinnacle to close Lancaster hospital formerly known as St. Joseph’s
- W-B General nurses vote to authorize strike notice
VIRGINIA
- Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia leaders meet with Ballad Health on changes ahead
- Sentara Healthcare puts the last steel beam on its new cancer center
- Virginia hospital installs 2nd robotic spine surgery system
WEST VIRGINIA
- Council members to decide on resolution supporting St. Mary’s Hospital union
- HealthSouth Western Hills Regional Rehabilitation Hospital to rebrand
- Council members seek more info on hospital board deal
- HealthSouth hospital in Huntington to be renamed in 2019
CENTRAL
(Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota)
IOWA
- Projected physician assistants shortage may hit rural Iowa
- Court of Appeals to hear University of Iowa Children’s Hospital case
- Iowa let major Medicaid provider keep $2.4M in overpayments
- Projected physician assistants shortage may hit rural Iowa
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics complete emergency biocontainment drill
KANSAS
- KU Health’s partner in Topeka venture files to go public
- Francis majority owner Ardent Health files to go public
- Value-based care drives KC physician practices to merge
MINNESOTA
- Lawsuit by health care worker who refused vaccine dismissed
- U of M building first-in-the-world cancer surgical suite
- Assisted living facility in Hill City temporarily suspended due to ‘serious’ allegations
MISSOURI
- Separately owned hospitals in Missouri capital ‘not sustainable,’ St. Mary’s president says
- Mosaic Life Care purchases St. Francis Hospital in Maryville
- Opioid prescribing guidelines for physicians updated
- MU Health Care, SSM St. Mary’s defend merger
- Bankrupt Promise Healthcare lines up private sale of St. Louis hospital
- CoxHealth to build new $42M hospital in Monett
- MU Health Care, SSM Health hold second open forum about potential merger
- MU Health CEO promises to sustain Audrain hospital
NEBRASKA
- State dumps two major computer projects after spending $12 million on them
- Children’s Hospital pharmacy director investigated for embezzlement
- Fairbury doctor honored by hospital association
- Hospitals in Two States Go Live With Epic EHR Implementations
- Hackers’ ransom plot exploits Omaha hospital and others, costs victims $30 million, feds say
NORTH DAKOTA
- North Dakota nursing homes seek more state funding
- Burgum’s budget would build new State Hospital near current location
- Cobalt Rehabilitation Hospital prepares for opening in Fargo
SOUTH DAKOTA
- Demonstrators want the federal government to remain in charge of Sioux San Hospital
- Rapid City to consider writing off $1.7M ambulance bills
MIDWEST
(Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin)
ILLINOIS
- Mercyhealth’s new $505 million Rockford hospital will impact Rock County patients
- Jury finds for OSF in trial spurred by alleged wrong-side surgery
- Ribbon cut at $505 million hospital in Rockford
- Trinity Health’s Illinois hospital purchase helps drive revenues
- Neighborhood Health Center Breaks Ground In Pullman
- IL seeing shortage of behavioral health workers
- Fitch upgrades Rush University Medical Center rating to ‘AA-‘
- Chicago medical center owner pleads guilty to illegally prescribing 785K opioid pills
INDIANA
- Riley Hospital for Children sets $175M fundraising goal
- Vincent Names Manas Regional President
- Franciscan about to open new $243 million hospital in Michigan City
- Work Begins on 16 Tech’s First Building
- Dupont Hospital to Showcase Renovations
- Hammond Clinic Called ‘First in Indiana’
- IU Health Releases Community Health Grants
- Reid Health Auxiliary Makes Record Contribution
KENTUCKY
- Kentucky podiatry practice allegedly submitted false Medicare claims
- Lawsuit holds up Baptist Health-Hardin Memorial deal
- Norton Healthcare leads the way in heart care for adults and children
- All Louisville hospitals to face penalty from Medicare
- Med Center lawsuit in ambulance battle will continue
- Kentucky hospital files for bankruptcy
- Owensboro Health touts growth in report
- Baptist Health Paducah Wins State Marketing Award
- Two major Louisville health care companies to merge
MICHIGAN
- New data show benefits of Michigan’s Medicaid expansion
- Six Michigan Doctors Charged in $464 Million Insurance and Opioid Scheme
- Trinity Health gets $86M revenue boost from new hospital
- DHCS looking for short-term financial support from County Board
- Michigan hospital asks county for $7M backing as it seeks federal financing
- Trinity Health’s Illinois hospital purchase helps drive revenues
- Michigan hospital CEO will take pay cut to boost facility’s finances
- UM approves another $16M toward potential new inpatient facility
- Trinity CEO Gilfillan to step down in June
OHIO
- Miami Valley Hospital South celebrates $60 million expansion project
- Mount Carmel to unveil new name, brand
- Monroe’s medical center adds to Premier’s footprint
- $60M hospital project part of health care construction surge
- Cleveland Clinic raising minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020
- New leaders named for Dayton-area hospitals
- Greater Cincinnati hospitals shuffle top leaders
- Ohio hospital opens $60M spine-focused expansion
- Kettering Health Network building $60M hospital with surgery center
- Miami Valley Hospital names new president
WISCONSIN
- Aurora to pay $12 million to settle allegations of improper compensation
- NHI to provide $25.35 mln for Wisconsin nursing facility development
- Tennessee REIT backs $25.4 million nursing home development in Oak Creek
- Vincent Lyles heads to Advocate Aurora Health
- Mercyhealth unveils $505M hospital
SOUTH / SOUTHEAST
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)
ALABAMA
- North Alabama Medical Center opens in Florence
- First ER patient arrive at North Alabama Medical Center
- ECM Hospital makes the move to the new North Alabama Medical Center
- Huntsville Hospital and University of North Alabama team up for partnership
FLORIDA
- Lee Health faced with federal whistleblower lawsuit for alleged Medicare fraud
- Hospital merger started rough, ended quickly
- Jack Minge joined Coastal Behavioral Healthcare in 2013.
- Boca Regional, Baptist Health Agree On Letter Of Intent
- No hospital, just an emergency ‘department’. They’re popping up all over.
- Health organization announces CEO’s retirement
- BayCare gets OK to build new hospital in Pasco County
- Report: Officials missed warning signs about hospital
- BayCare names new C-level leader to oversee physician network
- Florida hospital hit hard during Hurricane Michael to lay off 800
- Florida, California lead Leapfrog’s Top Hospitals list
- Hospitalist practice gets $500K fine for HIPAA violations
- Metro Orlando to get 3 new hospitals
- Leaders at Hopkins children’s hospital in Florida resign amid report of high injury, death rates
- Bonita Springs NCH to open soon
- Florida surgeon’s daughters sue hospital where he worked
- Broward Health names new CEO
- Florida hospital increases safety measures in the wake of mass shootings
- Florida hospital CEO: ‘Misunderstanding’ led to outcry over new policy
- Florida ASC society leader to sit on new governor’s healthcare panel
- Controversial hospital plan prompts county leaders to ask NCH to reconsider policy change
- Lee Health opens new Babcock Ranch facility
GEORGIA
- Phoebe Putney Health System releases 2017 community report
- Evans Memorial Hospital receives $750k grant
- What Gainesville, hospital officials say drove $10 million land deal
- Georgia AG signs off on Atrium-Navicent deal
- Atrium Health Details Expansion Plans, Gets Approval For Georgia Hospital Acquisition
- Health care costs higher in Georgia
MISSISSIPPI
- Mississippi sues opioid distributors over crisis
- Mississippi County Hospital System begins service agreement with St. Bernards Healthcare
- Mississippi health system, Humana MA plans to split
- Medicare cuts payments to 85 percent of Miss. nursing homes for hospital readmissions
NORTH CAROLINA
- New urgent care center coming to Columbus
- State medical commission plans to issue $314M in bonds for Wake Forest Baptist
- Georgia AG signs off on Atrium-Navicent deal
- Hospital named primary stroke care center
- Navicent Health now one step closer to deal with out-of-state hospital system
- UNC Health Care boosts the pay of 9,000 employees as it raises minimum wage
- North Carolina hospital launches Excelsius GPS robotic surgery system
- UNC Health Care to raise minimum pay rate for employees to $15/hour
- Atrium Health Details Expansion Plans, Gets Approval For Georgia Hospital Acquisition
- Commission OKs $314M bond package; State medical commission plans to issue $314M in bonds for Wake Forest Baptist
- Hospital names medical officer
- Belmont physician named president of state association
- Cone Health Opens New LeBauer HealthCare Medical Office at Grandover Village
- Novant Health Gives Patients New Way to Access Health Information in Hospital
- ECU, UNC-Pembroke officials sign public health partnership agreement
- Local health clinic invests in cutting-edge technology
- Thomasville obstetrics clinic joins Novant Health
- Cone Health employs teleneurology at MedCenter High Point
SOUTH CAROLINA
- Charleston County hoping for a $33 million offer to buy former Naval Hospital
- Amid nursing shortage, SC graduating more nurses with bachelor’s degrees
- MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital on track for 2019 opening
TENNESSEE
- VUMC operating income flat in fiscal Q1
- TriStar Health plans ASC, MOB in Brentwood
- Ardent Health Partners Files For $100 Million IPO
- Envision Healthcare taps Teresa Sparks for leadership roles
- Nashville hospital company prepares to go public on the NYSE
- Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia leaders meet with Ballad Health on changes ahead
- LifePoint, partner buying home health agencies
SOUTH-CENTRAL / SOUTHWEST
(Arkansas, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)
ARKANSAS
- Baptist Health CEO says Sparks acquisition will lead to stability
- Vincent eliminating its Little Rock birth programs
- Rutledge files complaint against health record company for HIPAA violations
- Arkansas Children’s wage increase sets pace among other healthcare organizations
- Plans to change Medicaid set off provider alarms in Arkansas
ARIZONA
- Company: Closed hospital in south-central Arizona to reopen
- HonorHealth breaks ground on 6th hospital
- Dallas-based company says it will reopen Florence Hospital next year
- Mayo Clinic Arizona CEO departs for exec role at Optum
- Multiple Arizona hospitals recognized as leaders in healthcare IT
- Healthcare Startup Provides Mobile Treatment Services
LOUISIANA
- First hospital-based food pantry opens at University Medical Center in New Orleans
- Ochsner hikes minimum wage by $4 an hour to $12
- Ochsner Health System raising minimum wage by nearly $4 in January
- LSU Supervisors approve Shreveport medical education center plan
- Tulane Surgery Clinic Northshore to open in early 2019
NEW MEXICO
- Lovelace Medical Center names new COO
- New year, new name for one Albuquerque hospital
- Lovelace Health System parent prepares to go public
OKLAHOMA
- Oklahoma surgical hospital closes without paying employees
- Reports: Medical clinics may soon open in Pauls Valley after hospital closure
- Oklahoma hospital offered $23 million loan to buy itself
- Employees Concerned About Future Of Prague Hospital
- Elk City’s Hospital Lands $23M USDA Loan For Revitalization
TEXAS
- Here’s how Fort Worth and Texas plan to chip away at the doctor shortage
- Jason Rounds becomes Christus St. Michael Health System’s permanent president
- Texas startup brings in $1.7M for telehealth job marketplace
- Boomtown: Central Texas’ increasing population is impacting health care
- Christus St. Michael gets new president
- Cash-strapped rural hospitals accuse BCBS of Texas of ‘strongarm’ tactics
- Texas Workforce Commission says about 300 people to lose job after hospital closure
- Financial troubles force Texas health system to shut down
- Texas’ biggest nursing home operator seeks bankruptcy protection
- Methodist Richardson first hospital in US to receive the Joint Commission’s gold seal for pancreatic, liver and bile duct cancer care
- CC Medical Center using smartphone to help with patient care
- Parent company of Southeast Texas nursing homes files for bankruptcy
- Parkland names permanent CIO
- David’s Round Rock Medical Center appoints COO
- Local hospital, clinic closings leave employees out in the cold
- Dallas-based company says it will reopen Florence Hospital next year
- California orthopedic device maker DJO to move headquarters, 200 jobs to Lewisville
- Temple Surgery Center shutters after Little River Healthcare files for bankruptcy
- North Texas hospital breach exposes payment info on $47,000
- Texas county to sell hospital
- ‘Staffing situation’ forces Baylor Scott & White hospital to suspend labor, delivery services
- $3B Med Tech Company Takes its Global Headquarters to Dallas
NORTHWEST
(Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming)
ALASKA
- Petersburg hospital to train for shooting emergency
- After misdiagnosis and amputation, Anchorage woman wins $21M
- Alaska hospital nurses did something unique after lift broke down in earthquake
- Southcentral Foundation helping lead study on precision medicine
IDAHO
- Luke’s preps to hoist new skybridge
- New clinic offering ‘one-stop-shop’ healthcare opens this month in Idaho Falls
- Luke’s Health System to undergo restructuring
- 2 moms and 3,000 doctors jump into the fight over Idaho’s Medicaid expansion
MONTANA
- Kalispell Regional Healthcare Disputes Allegations Of Worker Rights Violations
- Montana Nurses File Charges Against Kalispell Regional Healthcare
- Advocates push for statewide behavioral health plan
OREGON
- OHSU heart transplant review set to begin
- Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s proposed budget reforms OHP funding
- End of year brings max capacity to Rogue Valley hospitals
- New complaint highlights legal woes at Legacy’s Unity Center
WASHINGTON
- Seattle Children’s spin-out MDmetrix adds operating room capabilities, looks to expand
- Report: More than 1 Million WA patients received unnecessary tests, procedures, treatments
- Seattle EMTs vote to strike without pay increase
- With contract talks still stalled, Seattle EMTs set strike deadline of Dec. 21
- CHI slows work on Harrison Silverdale hospital
WYOMING
- Sheridan Memorial to Launch TeleStroke Next Month
- $4.5 million may be available for upgrades at Rock Springs hospital
- Lawmakers To Plan A Comprehensive Look At Hospital Costs
- Two Wyoming Hospitals Receive USDA Funding
WEST
(California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah)
CALIFORNIA
- California drugmaker resolves anti-kickback allegations for $360M
- New hospital tower rises in East Hollywood
- Santa Clara County buys two financially struggling hospitals for $235 million
- Florida, California lead Leapfrog’s Top Hospitals list
- Hospital Destroyed By Fire In Paradise Will Not Reopen Until 2020
- 23K patients received ineffective vaccines from California health clinic
- Massive merger involving St. John’s hospitals sows nurses’ anxiety about staffing, budgets
- Adventist Health’s 2 Mendocino County hospitals to be overseen by one president
- Hospital employees face job uncertainty after California wildfire
- California county buys 2 hospitals for $235M
- California nurse claims she lost job due to racial discrimination
- California orthopedic device maker DJO to move headquarters, 200 jobs to Lewisville
- Hospital chain Dignity Health buys naming rights to Carson’s StubHub Center
- UCI Health names Chad T. Lefteris chief operating officer
- 16K patients affected in Redwood Eye Center data breach
COLORADO
- No bones about it: Rocky Mountain Orthopaedics joins St. Mary’s medical group
- New West Physicians to use HIE to see ‘big picture’ in patient care
- With record profits the past few years, why doesn’t Vail Health lower its prices? (letter)
- Northwest Colorado Health among 29 nonprofits to receive portion of $3.4 million in support of dental programs
- OCR Fines Colorado Provider $111,000 for HIPAA Violations
- Sabin named president of southern region for Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Northstar Sells 114 KSF Medical Building in Colorado
- Colorado hospital failed to terminate former employee’s access to electronic protected health information
- Pueblo hospitals de-emphasizing use of opioids
- UCHealth tool shows patients what they’ll pay, but some say it’s not enough
HAWAII
- Kona Community Hospital off-limits to visitors due to scabies outbreak
- WHT editorial: Hospital’s timing seems suspicious
- Hawaii healthcare leadership heading into 2019
NEVADA
- There’s a possible shortage of OB-GYN doctors in Las Vegas’ future
- Sunrise Hospital celebrates 60 years in Las Vegas
- Sunrise highlights neonatal care in campaign to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates
UTAH
