As vaccine rates drop across the state, Rural Health Clinics have a unique opportunity to upend entrenched health care skeptics and restore vaccine confidence. Vaccination rates for kindergarten- and 7th grade-age children have declined 3% to 5% over the last couple of years, according to the state's public health agency. For one, the MMR
This country doesn’t like conversations about death. We created the term ‘death panels’ to avoid a much-needed national conversation about what our public health care programs should pay for. And, we would rather ration care indirectly by having a certain number of individuals without health insurance instead of thoughtful and transparent analysis in the
Many in health care have known for some time the massive challenges surrounding behavioral health access and the pressure on providers — especially in hospital ERs as families and patients reach points of desperation.The pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges. Nationally, ER wait times for people seeking behavioral health treatment are increasing as are the
This week, the Florida Hospital Association took a big step forward with a hefty financial investment to encourage patients to prioritize important health care decisions. As we all know, state hospital associations -- especially large ones like FHA -- have plenty of concerns and issues to balance with their various hospital members. Rural. Large public
Unintended consequences can be just another part of the territory when it comes to lawmaking. But you can really see those unintended consequences in the aftermath of a major government investments like the one made over the last decade in electronic medical records and health information technology. In 2009, the federal government began funding
Price transparency in health care seems pretty straight forward. Bring attention to pricing. Allow patients and competitors to more clearly see pricing. Drive down prices. It usually works. Industries that are largely based on retail sales or driven by commodity markets have a quick consumer response time. These are considered elastic markets. If a product
Several years ago, we met Andy Davidson when he was CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. We quickly took to his wit and insight as an industry leader. He since retired and launched Hummingbird Hill Advisors, providing counsel and insight to boards and executive leaders to ensure fulfillment of their stated
Politics is a science. You can demonstrate that you are right and that others are wrong. Jean Paul Sartre But, even with science, there are skeptics and nonbelievers. (See vaccines, the moon landing and flat earth). And in the case of complex political and policy issues like all of those governing health care, you can’t
Yesterday’s announcement from CMS that it intends to subject hospitals’ Medicaid supplemental payments to increased scrutiny should raise alarm bells in hospitals of all sizes across the country. And, for hospitals in Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and New Hampshire where Medicaid supplemental payments constitute more than three-quarters of total Medicaid payments, the level of concern
The 2020 General Election is less than a year away. That means that shortly thereafter, bill filing will begin for the 87th Texas Legislature, and legislators will be busy tending to promises made during campaigns. Is your organization doing everything it needs to in this critical year to maximize advocacy efforts and ensure legislative successes
