State Highlights: Conn. Hospitals Show Weaker Financial Performance In 2015; Ohio OKs Bill To Address Infant Mortality Rate
Outlets report on health news from Connecticut, Ohio, Arkansas, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, Texas, Maryland and Georgia.
The CT Mirror:
CT Hospital Finances Weakened In 2015
The finances of Connecticut hospitals weakened during the 2015 fiscal year, with a drop in the average margin and fewer hospitals turning a profit. Even so, the majority of hospitals in the state remained profitable, and the cost of uncompensated care fell by 15.6 percent, according to a report by the state Office of Health Care Access. Seventeen of the state’s 28 hospitals had positive margins during the 2015 fiscal year, down from 24 in 2014. The average total margin – which takes into account both operating revenues and non-operating revenues that include investments, endowments and donations – fell from 6.22 percent in 2014 to 3.89 percent in 2015. (Levin Becker, 9/29)
Cleveland Plain-Dealer:
Ohio Senate Passes Infant Mortality Bill
The Ohio Senate Wednesday passed a bill that aims to decrease the state's high infant mortality rate by improving data access and reporting and by making sure providers are using only the best, evidence-based practices. Senate Bill 332 also attempts to address some of the complex social contributors to infant mortality in Ohio by creating a community group to review relevant state policies and programs and by requiring state agencies to include pregnancy as a priority in housing and emergency shelter programs. (Zeltner, 9/29)
The Associated Press:
Federal Judge Blocks Arkansas Planned Parenthood Defunding
A federal judge on Thursday temporarily prohibited Arkansas from blocking Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood, expanding her order requiring the state to continue paying for services for three patients who had sued over the move. U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker issued a preliminary injunction preventing Arkansas from suspending payments to Planned Parenthood for any services to Medicaid patients in the state. (9/29)
California Healthline:
UnitedHealth And University Of California To Forge Unique Alliance
The nation’s largest health insurer and the University of California Health system are joining forces to create a new health plan option for employers and expand research into patient data. Under the 10-year partnership unveiled Thursday, UnitedHealth Group Inc. and the UC system will form an accountable care organization that will be offered to large, self-funded employers statewide. In accountable care organizations, or ACOs, physicians, hospitals and an insurer work together to coordinate care, control spending and share savings. (Terhune, 9/29)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Northwestern Mutual To Cut 'Hundreds' Of Jobs
The company said earlier this month that it expected to eliminate some jobs as it dealt with lingering low interest rates that have made it harder to increase profits. Low interest rates make it more difficult for insurers to grow earnings because insurance companies invest premiums from policy owners mostly in relatively safe investments tied to rates. (Gores, 9/29)
Pioneer Press:
Allina Nurses Strike: MN Union Logs Patient Concerns
United is one of five Twin Cities Allina facilities where nurses are on strike. The nurse Banovetz dealt with was one of 1,500 replacement workers. “I worry about patients in vulnerable health who can’t advocate for themselves or ask the right questions,” Banovetz said. Minneapolis-based Allina Health says its hospitals continue to operate at normal volumes during the strike and that there is no risk to patient care. Meanwhile, the union, the Minnesota Nurses Association, says it has taken steps to document patient complaints through its website and direct the complaints to the appropriate agencies. (Cooney, 9/29)
Orlando Sentinel:
Shepherd's Hope Building 1st Permanent Home In West Orange
After more than two decades of sharing space with other organizations to provide free medical care to Central Florida's uninsured population, Shepherd's Hope is getting its own building. The nonprofit free clinic is collaborating with West Orange Healthcare District and the City of Winter Garden to build a 10,000-square-foot facility, which will house a medical clinic and Shepherd's Hope's administrative offices. (Miller, 9/29)
Houston Chronicle:
Empower Pharmacy Opens $4.7M Compounding Facility
A Houston compounding pharmacy has relocated to a $4.7 million facility built to meet higher standards of quality and safety in an industry that has faced increased federal scrutiny in recent years. Empower Pharmacy on Thursday debuted its new lab and service center near Beltway 8 and U.S. 290 on the city's northwest side, a 15,000-square-foot space that took more than two years to prepare. It's one of a relatively small number of facilities registered with the Food and Drug Administration to provide sterile, customized prescriptions to patients and physicians across the U.S. (Blunt, 9/29)
The Baltimore Sun:
Tissue Analytics Wins Beta City's Pitch Competition
Tissue Analytics, a Baltimore mobile health company, took home top honors — and $50,000 — Thursday at Beta City's startup pitch competition. Tissue Analytics, which developed a mobile application for tracking wound healing, was among eight startups that presented their business plans to a panel of judges during the Venture Capital Pitch Day at Sagamore Ventures' City Garage in Port Covington. (Gantz, 9/29)
Georgia Health News:
Mental Health Center Expanding To Serve More Young Adults
Skyland Trail, a nonprofit mental health treatment organization, will open a new Atlanta campus in October that will serve young adults like Ziggy. The expansion, funded by $19 million in philanthropic donations or grants, will add a residence and treatment facility with 32 beds for young adults ages 18 to 26. The new area will be called the Rollins Campus, recognizing a gift from the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation. Currently, Skyland Trail operates 48 beds between two Atlanta campuses, and 60 percent of patients are in that young adult age range. (Miller, 9/29)