|
|
Trying to find a story from a past AHA NewsNow? Use the button below to search the NewsNow archives by date or key word.
|
|
IRS releases final instructions for Form 990, Schedule H 08/19/2008
The Internal Revenue Service today released final instructions for the new Form 990 and related schedules, including Schedule H for hospitals. As reported here on Aug. 5, the final instructions incorporate significant changes urged by the AHA. In addition to releasing the final forms and instructions, IRS included three new background documents explaining the new form and instructions. Among the highlights in Schedule H for hospitals, IRS removed specific limitations on what could be reported as subsidized services, including expenses related to physician clinics and skilled nursing facilities; and revised the definition of “facility” to include “each hospital or other facility that is licensed, certified or similarly recognized by a state as a ‘health care facility,’ including facilities other than hospitals.” IRS also placed a cap of 20 on the number of “key employees” to be reported, and increased the management threshold from 5% to 10% of the organization’s activities. Schedule K, the form for reporting on tax exempt bonds, was improved by eliminating the requirement for filers to complete Part III of the schedule, “Private Business Use,” for post-2002 refundings of bonds issued prior to 2003. The final instructions are available on the IRS Web site. AHA later this week will send a legal advisory to members with more information on the important changes in the instructions.
|
Harry and Louise return to promote health reform in new ad campaign 08/19/2008
The AHA, American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network, Catholic Health Association, Families USA and National Federation of Independent Business today launched a television ad campaign to communicate the urgency of national health care reform. The ad features the iconic couple Harry and Louise, who first appeared in ads to defeat the Clinton health plan in the 1990’s. This time they urge the next president and Congress to make health care reform a top priority, while not promoting a specific proposal. The ad will air on national television and during local news programs in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul throughout the Democratic and Republican conventions, beginning this Sunday. “Everyday, hospital caregivers see firsthand both the benefits and the shortfalls of the American health care system,” said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock at a press event. “Despite the great innovations and capabilities, in too many ways and for too many people, the system is broken. So we must keep the need for reform, starting with increased access and coverage, at the top of our national priority list.”
|
Study: Adult obesity climbs in 37 states 08/19/2008
Adult obesity rates increased in 37 states last year, according to a report released today by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. More than one in four adults were obese in 28 states, up from 19 states in 2006, based on a three-year average of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. The report calls for a national strategy to combat obesity that includes investing in community-based disease-prevention programs, encouraging workplace wellness programs, and requiring insurers to cover obesity-prevention services. “We must work together, governments, schools and communities, to improve nutrition and increase physical activity for all ages,” said RWJF President and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D. “We must ensure that strong policies are implemented and enforced in every state, not only to help reverse existing obesity rates, but to prevent obesity among our nation’s children – and generations to come.”
|
NIOSH brochure offers tips for reducing occupational stress in hospitals 08/19/2008
A new brochure from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health examines potential causes and health effects of occupational stress in hospitals, and suggests work practices that can help reduce it. A combination of organizational change and stress management “is often the most successful approach for reducing stress at work,” the authors note.
|
Survey: Consumer-driven health plans, wellness programs on rise 08/19/2008
More employers are sponsoring consumer-driven health plans and employee wellness programs to control rising health care costs, according to a new survey by United Benefit Advisors. CDHPs, high-deductible health plans with a health reimbursement or health savings account, comprised nearly 13% of employer-sponsored health plans in 2008, up from 9% in 2007. The proportion of employees enrolled in CDHPs rose to 11% from 6% in 2007, while enrollment in health maintenance organizations slipped to 13%. Preferred provider organizations continued to dominate the market, representing 54% of employer-sponsored health plans and 63% of enrollees. About one in 10 employers offered wellness programs, up from 7% in 2007. The findings are based on responses from 18,019 health plans sponsored by 12,860 U.S. employers.
|
VA to open rural health resource centers 08/19/2008
The Department of Veterans Affairs on Oct. 1 will open three rural health resource centers, which will identify disparities in health care for rural veterans and formulate practices or programs to enhance care delivery. Located at the White River Junction (VT) VA Medical Center, Iowa City (IA) VA Medical Center and Salt Lake City (UT) VA Medical Center, the centers will serve as satellite offices for VA’s Office of Rural Health. “These centers will allow us to better identify and meet the unique needs of our rural veterans as their population continues to grow,” said Michael Kussman, VA under secretary for health.
|
Hospital prices increase 0.2% in July 08/19/2008
Overall hospital prices increased 0.2% in July, and were 3.2% higher than a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices at general medical and surgical hospitals increased 0.2%, and were 3.4% higher than in July 2007, according to the BLS' Producer Price Indices, which measure average changes in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output. For hospitals, this translates into actual or expected reimbursement for a sample of treatments or services. The PPI for hospitals measure changes in actual or expected reimbursement received for services across the full range of payer types. This includes the negotiated contract rate from the payer plus any portion expected to be paid by the patient.
|
AHA report: Administrative demands overburden hospitals 08/18/2008
Administrative requirements could be streamlined or reduced to lower health care spending without sacrificing the quality of patient care, according to an AHA TrendWatch report released today. Many administrative requirements are duplicative or conflict with each other, diverting precious resources away from patient care and making health care less affordable, the report notes. Payers and regulators could streamline or align requirements and processes to reduce the administrative burden on hospitals and other health care providers, the report states. For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could reduce the number and type of contractors performing Medicare and Medicaid oversight, while payers could standardize benefit packages, claims processing procedures and business practices.
|
Hospital Compare update set for tomorrow 08/18/2008
The Hospital Quality Alliance tomorrow will update the Hospital Compare Web site to include the first 30-day mortality data for pneumonia patients and updated data on 30-day heart attack and heart failure mortality rates. For some hospitals, the update also will include two clinical measures on pediatric asthma. The data update was originally scheduled for July 17 but was postponed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which maintains the Hospital Compare Web site. CMS will host an Aug. 20 conference call for news media on the update. Participants will include AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock, who chairs the HQA.
|
Campaign 2008 brochure mailed to AHA members 08/18/2008
The AHA today sent members materials intended to urge their participation in the 2008 congressional elections. The “Ask the Candidates” brochure contains four questions to help hospitals and others gauge where the candidates stand on health care-related issues, and a summary of hospitals’ health reform framework, Health for Life: Better Health. Better Health Care (www.healthforlifeamerica.net). The “Get-Out-the-Vote” bookmark provides information on voting procedures from Helping Americans Vote. For more information, visit the AHA’s online Election Center.
|
|
|
|
![]()
![]()
|
|
|
