Month: March 2012

There has been much discussion in recent months about health care in Milwaukee's central city as a result of Aurora Health Care possibly cutting back services or closing Sinai Medical Center. In the end, Aurora decided to keep the safety-net hospital open and maintain its emergency room. But that didn't stop community leaders, including Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, from saying the possible cutbacks or closure of Sinai unveiled frailities in the city's health care system. (MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/23)

Pending rate increases by two operating units of Assurant Health were found to be unreasonably high after being reviewed by independent experts for the federal government. The proposed increases would raise premiums by as much as 24% and would affect more than 42,000 people in nine states, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/23)

Federal cash comes with strings. Now 26 states are telling the Supreme Court that President Barack Obama's health care law has stretched an old rule too far. The new law's requirements for expanding Medicaid amount, in their view, to coercion that violates the U.S. Constitution's division of power between the national government and the states… "Medicaid is no longer a partnership," said Wisconsin health secretary Dennis G. Smith, who ran the program nationwide for former President George W. Bush. "When Washington says 'You shall do this' or your entire Medicaid program is at risk ... that is flat-out coercion." (AP, 3/22)

Doctors, nurses and visitors at UW Hospital's main intensive care unit are putting on gowns and gloves when seeing all patients, in a national study of whether the precautions curb infection rates. Health care workers usually wear gowns and gloves only for patients known to have certain infections. (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, 3/22)

One year ago, Wildwood Family Clinic, 4901 Cottage Grove Road, started turning away new patients covered by Medicare, the national health insurance program for senior citizens and the disabled. The plucky little clinic, one of just three in town that has remained independent and spurned overtures from HMOs like Dean and Physician's Plus, has won plenty of admirers for the quality of its primary care. (CAPITAL TIMES, 3/21)

The state Medical Examining Board decided Tuesday to investigate 11 additional doctors for writing sick notes during Capitol protests last year. The doctors are not among the nine the state sanctioned last year. (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL. 3/21)

Most small business owners in southeastern Wisconsin know the drill all too well. Every three years or so, they contract with a broker who then negotiates on their behalf with for-profit health care insurance companies to provide coverage for their employees. And the sticker shock that happens when the price quotes come back to the small business owners is all too familiar. The costs of health care in southeastern Wisconsin have risen 113 percent over the past nine years. Three years ago, Milwaukee small business owner Bob Connolly set out to find an alternative model. (BIZ TIMES, 3/20)