Thursday, September 6, 2012
Health Care Rahn: Expanded Medicaid important
Posted by Leslie Newell Peacock on Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 4:51 PM
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Chancellor Dan Rahn told the joint hospital committee of the UA Board of Trustees today that UAMS strongly supports the Medicaid expansion that the Affordable Care Act would allow. The new dollars the federal government would provide for coverage of currently uninsured Arkansans who meet the new Medicaid criteria would increase reimbursements to the hospital, by moving accounts off charity and into the "Medicaid bucket."
If Arkansas chooses not to participate in the expansion, UAMS could lose an estimated $21 million dollars in 2014 because of the end of partial payment reimbursements from the federal government for indigent care, Rahn said.
Rahn also said the hospital stands to lose $12 million in federal research and other dollars if Congress doesn't act before Jan. 1, 2013, to prevent budget sequestration.
Rahn also assured the committee that UAMS' exploration with St. Vincent Health on ways the hospitals can collaborate to save money would not change women's reproductive health services offered by UAMS — such as tubal ligations and abortion. He did not address insurance issues.
In an interview afterward, Rahn noted the state's efforts to reshape health care delivery (see earlier post on the New York Times article on the Arkansas plan), which includes bundling of services and payments, and the potential collaboration with St. Vincent was to create a "system across time and space" to make the delivery of health care more affordable without losing value.
The committee also learned that University Hospital, which was operating at a loss of $3.7 million half way through the 2012 fiscal year, ended in the $1.4 million in the black at the end of the year. Not included in that plus category were extraordinary expenses for opening West Little Rock clinics, medical home formation and Navigant Consulting expenses carried over from 2011.
Speaking of...
-
UAMS' poses alternative to St. Vincent collaboration
June 13, 2013The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has reworked its proposal for an affiliation with St. Vincent Infirmary that would create a new entity for shared services but drop the single management structure. /more/
-
Arkansas Supreme Court dismisses lottery trademark suit
May 30, 2013The Arkansas Supreme Court today issued a couple of rulings of note: * ARKANSAS LOTTERY: The Supreme Court ruled that the Arkansas Lottery Commission was entitled to soverign immunity from a lawsuit by Alpha Marketing, owned by Ed Dozier, that the state had infringed its trademark for the words Arkansas Lottery, Lottery Arkansas and Arkansas Lotto. /more/
-
Catholic hospitals limit women's health services
May 27, 2013The New York Times wrote about this earlier and now Daily Kos has expanded on the theme. /more/
-
Stormy morning: Shoffner, hospitals, abortion
May 21, 2013A morning report as Arkansas watches the stormy skies: * THE STATE TREASURER WATCH: Can Martha Shoffner really return to work today as state treasurer, overseeing billions in state investments, after admitting to FBI agents that she wrongfully accepted a pie stuffed with a cash kickback from a securities salesman she inordinately favored with state business? /more/
-
UAMS art show reception today
May 15, 2013Works to hang at the Psychiatric Research Unit. /more/
-
State gets $5.1 million for Medicaid in settlement over adulterated drugs
May 14, 2013Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has announced that Arkansas will get $5.1 million, including federal matching funds, for its Medicaid program as part of the $500 million settlement of a lawsuit against Ranbaxy, a drug manufacturer in India that provided subpar generic drugs. /more/
-
Catholic Diocese aims to strengthen religious identity of hospitals
May 14, 2013A friend notes a news article in the Arkansas Catholic and the coincidence of timing with discussions about a merger of clinical operations of the public University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and St. Vincent Infirmary. /more/
-
Morning report: Prescription drug watch
May 13, 2013The morning again begins slowly. But among others: * MONITORING DOCTORS' PRESCRIPTION PRACTICES: Pro Publica has published with the Washington Post a deep look at doctors' prescription practices under Medicare. /more/
-
Huge differences in hospital charges, CMS finds: UPDATE 2
May 10, 2013How is it possible that major and small bowel procedures at National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs cost $333,470, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but only $19,740 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro? /more/
-
Former UAMS CFO reportedly out at new job
May 9, 2013Melony Goodhand, who left as chief financial officer and vice chancellor after nine years at UAMS, is apparently no longer chief operating officer at Bristol (Tenn.) Regional Medical Center, a job she took in early March. /more/
- More »
Comments (2)
Showing 1-2 of 2
More by Leslie Newell Peacock
-
4 no votes for women from Arkansas delegation
Motion would have given victims of sexual abuse an optional route to justice.
- Jun 14, 2013
-
The Thea Arts Festival is tomorrow in Argenta.
Forty-eight artists, 12 musical groups, ballet, kids activities, street food ...
- Apr 26, 2013
- More »
Readers also liked…
-
Arkansas elections the morning after
I quit early Tuesday, preferring not to peak through my fingers at the conclusion of the horror show.
- May 23, 2012
-
Education reform includes the Loch Ness monster
A horror story for believers in quality public education is unfolding in Louisiana — and ALEC allies and other fellow travelers are spoiling to do the same thing in Arkansas.
- Jun 26, 2012
-
Protest planned at state police and fire pension office
If you note a little commotion in the 600 block of West Third Street this morning, here's the explanation in advance: A former Fayetteville firefighter is protesting his inability to get disability payments for cancer he says is linked to his job.
- Sep 6, 2012
Event Calendar
-
Re: Anarchists at the gate: the rising Republicans of Arkansas
When these psychopaths show their contempt for the Office or Oath to which they aspire,…
- on June 19, 2013
-
Re: Anarchists at the gate: the rising Republicans of Arkansas
I would like verification of the quote. Sounds to be a misquote even if Yang…
- on June 19, 2013
-
Re: Anarchists at the gate: the rising Republicans of Arkansas
I would think that checks to pay state vendors would come from some area in…
- on June 19, 2013
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
