Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Health Informatics News

Health Informatics News


WellCare was clever at cheating, suits say

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6/30/2010 © St. Petersburg Times Guess how WellCare shaved its handling time on calls from doctors? Employees called the line and hung up as soon as it was answered. This and more ways that  Florida's largest Medicaid plan allegedly cheated taxpayers are described in two newly unsealed whistleblower suits.

Hospital charges remain mystery

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6/30/2010 © Kaiser Health News More than 30 states, including Florida, make hospital prices public. But that doesn't mean patients can figure out what a procedure will cost ahead of time, let alone get a binding estimate.

Senate overhauls Medicaid

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By Jim Saunders  4/1/2010 © Health News Florida Senate Republicans tossed a bomb into the debate about overhauling Medicaid on Wednesday, approving program caps, vouchers and a 19-county expansion.  In the House, a committee took action that irked insurers and pleased doctors.

ER relief bill on 'life support'

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By Christine Jordan Sexton 3/25/2010 © Florida Tribune A bill that would have provided sovereign immunity protections to health care providers who treat patients in emergency situations is “on life support,” with a poor prognosis, according to its supporters. Tampa General lobbyist Jan Gorrie said, "We didn't expect to run into this buzz-saw."

Bill protects ER against lawsuits

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By Jim Saunders 3/4/2010 © Health News Florida Reopening a political battle about medical malpractice, a Florida Senate committee today passed a bill that would limit the liability of hospitals, doctors and other workers for emergency-room errors. Will it go all the way this time? 

3-day pill limit sparks fight

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By Jim Saunders  3/2/2010 © Health News Florida Limiting clinics that dispense their own drugs to 3 days' worth would strike a blow at pill mills, but the proposal has alarmed some doctors who use dispensing as a lucrative sideline. See a related Sun-Sentinel story on middle-school lobbyists.

Pain-doctor limits set

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 By Carol Gentry 3/1/2010 © Health News Florida Doctors who haven’t passed certification exams in pain management will be able to keep working in pain clinics as long as they have hospital privileges and a qualified supervising physician, under a rule adopted by a state board this weekend.

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