Date: 12/28/2008 12:02 AM
By The Associated Press
U.S. hospitals are beset by financial pressures from all sides. Issues cited by hospital executives, industry consultants and other experts include:
—More patients aren’t paying their bills or are taking longer to do so. Reasons include increases in people who are unemployed and have lost their health insurance, employers increasing workers’s copayments and premiums, and more people getting insurance plans that carry very high deductibles.
—More patients are putting off care until illnesses are very serious, then showing up at emergency departments, unable to pay.
—Patients are delaying diagnostic procedures and elective surgery such as joint replacements, which generally are moneymakers.
—Overall admissions are down at many hospitals, also cutting revenues.
—Government subsidies for uncompensated, or charity, care have been cut in some states due to their budget problems, and some states are starting or expected to cut reimbursements for Medicaid programs, typically one of their biggest budget items.
—Credit has become tighter, increasing borrowing costs at best and leaving hospitals unable to borrow in some cases.
—Hospital endowments and other funds invested for later use have been hurt by the stock market’s plunge, with many hospitals seeing considerable losses.
—Wealthy hospital patrons, some of whom also have suffered big investment losses, have started cutting back on donations.
—Many individual doctors and small group practices are pressuring hospitals with which they are affiliated to buy their practices because they can’t afford expensive technology upgrades, particularly computerized patient record systems.
In addition, some experts fear expected health care reforms under the new Obama administration could include cuts in the levels of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, a crucial issue because hospitals on average get about 55 percent of all patient revenues from those two government programs, which already don’t cover full costs of care.
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Source: American Hospital Association, AP interviews.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
State Brain Injury Associations: Advocacy on the Move
The acknowledgment that brain injury is an important concern has been sparked by stories of soldiers affected by the war in Iraq. But long before 911 or our involvement in Iraq, the United States has been well served by the Brain Injury Association of America in its advocacy for brain injured individuals.
On the state level, state brain injury associations are active in all aspects of brain injury. You can find your state office by visiting http://biausa.org/stateoffices.htm Each year these associations hold state conferences to address the needs and concerns of those in the brain injury field and those affected by brain injury on a personal basis.
In Wisconsin we are represented by BIAW: http://biaw.org/site/
During this year’s conference they are hoping to address a myriad of topics and concerns.
Many have inquired about the possibility of a summer camp for TBI individuals. If you are interested in participating in a summer camp please email Terri Swanson at admin@biaw.org or write to them at BIAW, 21100 W. Capitol Dr. Ste. 5, Pewaukee, WI 53072. They are also looking for input or suggestions on topics or speakers.
In order to increase the number of Certified Brain Injury Specialists in Wisconsin they are contemplating holding a training and examination the day before the conference. This would fulfill the annual 10 hours of in-service training required of service providers.
They are also interested in any input on what program, resource or service needs should be addressed as well as seeking interested survivors, family members and professionals who might be willing to speak during the program.
The 19th Annual Wisconsin Conference on Brain Injury will take place on May 12th and 13th at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Green Bay, WI. Please check their website for updates on the schedule. http://biaw.org/site/
If brain injury touches your life in any way I strongly urge you to attend your state conferences and to become a member of your state association. It is numbers that make the difference.
On the state level, state brain injury associations are active in all aspects of brain injury. You can find your state office by visiting http://biausa.org/stateoffices.htm Each year these associations hold state conferences to address the needs and concerns of those in the brain injury field and those affected by brain injury on a personal basis.
In Wisconsin we are represented by BIAW: http://biaw.org/site/
During this year’s conference they are hoping to address a myriad of topics and concerns.
Many have inquired about the possibility of a summer camp for TBI individuals. If you are interested in participating in a summer camp please email Terri Swanson at admin@biaw.org or write to them at BIAW, 21100 W. Capitol Dr. Ste. 5, Pewaukee, WI 53072. They are also looking for input or suggestions on topics or speakers.
In order to increase the number of Certified Brain Injury Specialists in Wisconsin they are contemplating holding a training and examination the day before the conference. This would fulfill the annual 10 hours of in-service training required of service providers.
They are also interested in any input on what program, resource or service needs should be addressed as well as seeking interested survivors, family members and professionals who might be willing to speak during the program.
The 19th Annual Wisconsin Conference on Brain Injury will take place on May 12th and 13th at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Green Bay, WI. Please check their website for updates on the schedule. http://biaw.org/site/
If brain injury touches your life in any way I strongly urge you to attend your state conferences and to become a member of your state association. It is numbers that make the difference.
