Month: May 2011

A recent study by the Department of Health and Human Services found that uninsured Americans — including higher-income individuals — leave hospitals with unpaid tabs of up to $49 billion annually. “Unpaid bills do have an impact on our financial situation and therefore health care costs overall,” said Mitch Hackbarth, vice president of finance for Appleton-based ThedaCare. “We absorb over $30 million of bad debts and charity care currently, as well as the resources in our billing and collection areas.” (APPLETON POST CRESCENT, 5/20)

The Medical College of Wisconsin has received a five-year, $5.9 million grant to investigate new HIV prevention approaches for African-American men who have sex with men. The grant, from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health, will support research that compares traditional testing, treatment and individual counseling to a new, social network-level intervention approach. The approach would be used by public health service providers, health departments and community organizations concerned about AIDS. (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/19)