The study raises concerns these price discrepancies are then passed along to Medicare.  The study, to be released today, does not say how much they believe may be overspent then passed along to Medicare.  Others within the medical device industry argue confidential price agreements are standard in many industries.  He believes transparent pricing may actually cost more money because it would result in companies being less likely to offer discounts.

The new calculation methods have drawn criticism from legal advocacy groups.  DPW argues the new method is different, but just as accurate as the old one.  Among the concerns facing the DPW is the refusal to disclose the new calculation method.  Others find the timing of the new method suspicious.

For more information, see the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A year ago, Excela said they were investigating two doctors who had implanted coronary stents in patients who may not have needed them.  In an effort to rebuild and restore public confidence following that incident, the hospital sought the accreditation.  During the accreditation announcement, the Excela Health CEO said, “We wanted to make sure we could assure the public we put the safety protocols in place.”

Neighboring hospital, Wayne Memorial, said they have planned on improving emergency room staff and the quality of care long before the Marian Community Hospital closing was announced.  Wayne Memorial has said that while the closure comes sooner than initially expected, they are prepared to take on any increase demand for services.

For more information see the Times Tribune.

All of the efforts lead up to a target date of February 2013 for the exchange to be in place, well ahead of the January 2014 date set by the federal government.  In November, Governor Corbett authorized the creation of the health insurance exchange, based on research, public comments, and health care reform regulations.

One of the risk factors they feel are a contributing factor is smoking. The WB/Scranton area was ranked 2nd among 30 cities with high smoking rates according to the Daily Beast.

Other risk factors include poor diets, lack of exercise, high levels of stress and most importantly family history. Dr. Thomas Isaacson, chief of Cardiology at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, suggest speaking with your physician to determine your risk for heart disease. More information in today’s Wilkes-Barre Citizen’s Voice.

This acquisition provides a path for upgrades to the Lackawanna County medical center and stabilize its finances. The name of the new medical center will be Geisinger Community Medical Center and they will seek to recruit additional physicians and specialists such as neuroscience.

CMC President & CEO Robert Steigmeyer welcomes the relationship with Geisinger as he is quoted in the Scranton Times-Tribune as saying, “It was important for CMC to partner with a growing health system with proven success that mirrors our own not-for-profit mission, values and standards of care, and we have certainly found that with Geisinger.”

The Urban Institute, a nonpartisan organization, explains that with states moving forward at varying rates, there is a better chance for delays and disparities of care from one state to another.

A spokesperson from HHS does not feel that disparities or delays are possible because the federal government will fill the void if states are unready to perform the tasks necessary to ensure adequate coverage.

13 states and the District of Columbia have adopted plans. 20 states have unclear or no significant progress and they include large states such as Texas, Ohio, and Florida.

There is still much debate over the future of the healthcare reform legislation among Republicans and Democrats and also a looming Supreme Court decision which may have had a significant impact on the progress states are making.

The center uses the “planetree” design method.  This method believe that calm and supportive aesthetics improve patients’ health.  This design principle was coupled with the need for a clean, maintainable, and functional work environment.

The expansion is part of a 62,000 square foot, $10 million expansion to the medical center.  Plans for this expansion started about eight years ago.  The medical center says they do not have definitive plans for future expansion, but continue to keep an eye on the area’s healthcare needs.

“While government-managed health care programs such as Medicaid pay for emergency room visits for adult enrollees seeking temporary relief from toothaches, tooth abscesses and other dental emergencies, coverage of outpatient dentist office treatment for those problems varies greatly from state to state, according to a 2011 federal Medicaid report.”

One patient from Louisiana visited the ER for a severe dental infection that was life-threatening, placed on 25 medications and scheduled for major surgery, all covered by government health care programs. The same programs did not cover the $70 it would have cost to pull the tooth – money the patient did not have – which would have eliminated the need for the ER visit, medications and major surgery.

Dental benefits for adult Medicaid patients is not federally mandated, so they vary widely from state to state.

The article notes that “those ER visits translate into higher costs for taxpayers as many patients return to the ER two or more times per dental problem to manage symptoms, according to the ADA. And, while the Affordable Care Act addresses dental care for children on Medicaid, the requirement doesn’t exist for adults, ADA spokesman Robert Raible said.”