Recent News
CDC head: flu shots look like 'a very good match' for this year's strains
December 12, 2022
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters on Monday that the updated flu shots generated this year seem to be “a very good match” for the most prevalent strains of influenza.
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Nebraska hospitals say it's getting harder to get insurers to pay them
December 12, 2022
The most recent data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners showed a slight uptick in denials last year, reaching 15% compared with 14.5% in 2020. However, that was still lower than in 2018 and 2019, when denial rates were 16.9% and 15.3%, respectively. But a study from consulting firm Kaufman Hall shows that denials likely have increased this year. The study reported that two-thirds of hospitals reported an increased rate of claims denials in 2022. Ivan Mitchell, CEO of Great Plains Health in North Platte, agreed, saying insurers' tactics are leading to "a bureaucratic mess in making it more difficult to get paid."
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Five million in grants available for nursing students
November 23, 2022
Lincoln – Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been granted $5,000,000 to award $2,500 per semester scholarships to Nebraska Nursing Students.
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4 key predictions for health care in 2023 and how to respond
November 21, 2022
Health care prediction season for 2023 is upon us and thought leaders, futurists and analysts are already reading the tea leaves. Based on some of the forecasts, provider organizations can expect significant evolutionary changes in how to optimize patient engagement, the ever-expanding role that retail clinics will play in care delivery and some upheaval in venture capital funding for health care startups.
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Nebraska hospitals facing increasing cost pressures
November 21, 2022
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Faith Regional Medical Center spent about $2.5 million to $3 million annually on contract labor for traveling nurses and other personnel working short-term stints. This year, that cost is likely to hit $11.5 million, said Janna Cline, chief financial officer for the Norfolk hospital. That's on top of a 9.5% increase in salaries for regular staff members since January 2021, Cline said, as well as a 5% increase in utilities costs and various other cost increases.
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Listening session on protecting the safety of patients and health care workers
November 7, 2022
Join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including leaders from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Food and Drug Administration, on November 14 as they recommit to the advancement of patient and healthcare worker safety.
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AHA - Addressing commercial health plan challenges to ensure fair coverage for patients and providers
November 7, 2022
Hospitals and health systems are committed to ensuring timely patient access to medically necessary health care services. Comprehensive health care coverage is a critical tool to help individuals and patients access and finance their care. This is why hospitals and health systems have long advocated for a robust system for universal coverage rooted in our long-standing public-private model that relies on a strong commercial health insurance market alongside the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
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HHS releases video on documenting recognized HIPAA security practices
November 7, 2022
OCR has designed this video presentation for HIPAA regulated entities on “recognized security practices,” as set forth in the HITECH Act. The video is intended to educate HIPAA regulated entities on the categories of recognized security practices and how entities may demonstrate implementation.
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Census: uninsured rate falls to 8.3% in 2021
September 18, 2022
This report presents statistics on health insurance coverage in the United States based on information collected in the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC).
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Columbus Community Hospital hip fracture care among nation's best
September 11, 2022
(COLUMBUS, Neb.) – Columbus Community Hospital is among an elite 36% of hospitals nationwide to earn an award from the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals list. Of the more than 6,000 adult hospitals in the U.S., fewer than 2,200 qualified for an award. The award was for excellence in orthopedics, specifically in hip fracture care. The score is based on multiple data categories, including patient outcomes, readmission prevention and more.
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