Scott Becker and I recently co-authored a white paper titled “Strategies for Hospital Leadership – Identifying Strengths, Allocating Hospital Resources and Focusing on Profitable Niche Leadership.” The article explores several traditional business strategy models and applies them to recent challenges in the hospital industry. I. DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. II. UNDERSTAND YOUR [...]

Three of my colleagues just published the piece below summarizing the recent ESRD PPS Final Rule. This is the second piece of rulemaking to directly affect dialysis/ESRD providers in the last month. Taken together, they make some significant changes to the way ESRD is reimbursed and provide additional details on previously announced changes. Please feel [...]

On July 13, 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule that would make several changes to the current composite rate system of reimbursement for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities. Some changes were also made to the Monthly Capitation Payment for physician services to ESRD patients. The changes were contained [...]

According to a press release issued on July 22, NC DHHS Secretary Lanier Cansler has named Drexdal Pratt the new Director of the Division of Health Services Regulation, effective August 1, 2010. For the past 12 years, Pratt has been the chief of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). Jeff Hortonhas been the acting [...]

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the outstanding Power Breakfast program presented by the Wilmington Business Journal on healthcare. Rob Kaiser, Publisher of WBJ did a tremendous job in planning and promoting this event. It was a packed house and one of the better panel discussions I’ve seen recently on healthcare. The panelists [...]

The Asheville Citizen-Times is reporting that Ronald Paulus has been named the new CEO of Mission Health System, effective September 1. Paulus comes from Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania where we was executive vice president of clinical operations and chief innovation officer. You can read the full article here. document.getElementById(“post-928-blankimage”).onload();

The Wall Street Journal today published a report that home health companies  Amedisys Inc. and Almost Family Inc. are now under investigation by the SEC following a month and a half of Congressional inquiries. You can read the full article here. Although not typically on this scale, these types of investigations and inquiries into billing [...]

Complimentary Webinar Post-Acute Care Investments: Key Business, Deal Structure & Diligence Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (ET) | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (CT) | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (PT) Please join us for the second in a series of informative webinars where we will delve into investing in different healthcare [...]

Here is a link to some interesting remarks prepared by Assistant Attorney General Christine A. Varney for the American Bar Association/American Health Lawyers Association Antitrust in Healthcare Conference on May 24, 2010. This is a nice piece on enforcement and competition, which some mention of the development of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO’s). http://www.justice.gov/atr/public/speeches/258898.htm I usually [...]

The May 2010 newsletter has now been posted. You can access it here. In this issue: 1. North Carolina Healthcare Leaders Reception 2. Four Trends for Hospitals and Physicians – Management Arrangements, HOPD vs. ASC, Call Coverage and Mergers 3. Upcoming Events 4. Recent White Papers document.getElementById(“post-880-blankimage”).onload();

The State of Healthcare in North Carolina: Hospitals & Surgery Centers Complimentary Seminar Space is Limited May 26, 2010 3 – 6 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte 201 East Trade Street Charlotte McGuireWoods invites you to join us for a limited-attendance event covering some of the top issues impacting ASC and hospital revenue streams as well [...]

The Winston-Salem Journal is reporting that it appears the state is no longer considering cutting about $10 million from the Medicaid dental budget. Sen. Linda Garrou, D-Forsyth, the Senate’s head budget writer, said yesterday that the proposal, which was in Gov. Bev Perdue’s budget, is no longer being pursued. “The cuts will not be taken,” [...]

With the recent passage of a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. health care system, many businesses, consumers, providers and insurers find themselves scratching their heads and asking the question: “What happens next?” This half-day event will educate and inform attendees on what to expect with a timeline of implication and details on regulation changes.  Legal [...]

As you may know, the 2010 State Medical Facilities Plan for North Carolina included a new Single Specialty Ambulatory Surgery Facility Demonstration Project.  The State Medical Facilities Plan essentially allows for three new single-specialty ambulatory surgery facilities in specific areas, each with two operating rooms.  The three eligible areas and their respective application deadlines and [...]

Several of our colleagues have collaborated to draft a short piece on the impact of healthcare reform on hospitals and health systems. Their contact information is at the bottom of this post. You can see a full length copy of the article here. Also, a brief summary of the article is below: On March 23, [...]

The Denver Post is reporting that Dean Swindle, CFO of Novant Health will be joining Catholic Health Initiatives as Chief Financial Office effective May 17. Catholic Health Initiatives is based in Denver and is the second largest Catholic healthcare provider in the country. document.getElementById(“post-858-blankimage”).onload();

An Associated Press article published in the Winston-Salem Journal today raises the possibility that when the General Assembly returns to Raleigh this week, they will consider imposing a new tax on healthcare providers (both hospitals and physicians). There are two key reasons this type of tax is attractive right now: First, the State is facing [...]

Following is a brief summary of this recent court decision that was written by two of our colleagues, Jim Riley and Julie Ann Sullivan: On March 24, 2010, as a result of a whistleblower lawsuit filed in 2005, a federal district court judge in the Middle District of Tennessee found that Renal Care Group (RCG), [...]

A nursing home in Boulder City, NV, (about 30 minutes southwest of Las Vegas) is seeking a buyer.  The facility has 90 beds, 90%+ occupancy and is profitable. If you would like additional information or if you know of any interested potential buyers, please let me know and we will put you in touch with [...]

On March 29, the jury reached its long-awaited verdict in the case of U.S. ex. rel. Drakeford v. Tuomey Healthcare System. The jury decided that Tuomey did violate the Stark Law, but did not violate the False Claims Act. Now Judge Matthew Perry, Sr. must decide the damages no earlier than April 15. Although the [...]