State shortchanges nursing homes $5,000 per year per Medicaid resident
A press release issued by the Pennsylvania Health Care Association states that the gap between the cost of caring for Pennsylvania’s frail and elderly in nursing homes and what the commonwealth reimburses for that care under the Medicaid program jumped from $11.91 in 2007 to $13.92 in 2008 – a nearly 17 percent hike.
Patriot-News offers two opinions on healthcare reform
The Patriot-News published recently two individuals’ opinions on what we need to do to reform healthcare in the United States and/or Pennsylvania.
Are you feeling stressed out?
A new study by the University of Cambridge shows that as a Pennsylvania resident, it’s likely that you are.
PA is number one in the nation in biotech, ahead of CA and MA
Governor Rendell announced yesterday that Pennsylvania now leads the nation in biotechnology, according to the newest Business Facilities magazine.
Nursing shortage expected to grow
While Pennsylvania’s shortage of registered nurses is currently being kept at a minimum thanks to scholarship funding and other initiatives; sources such as Cynthia Mailloux, Ph.D., R.N., chairwoman of Misericordia University’s nursing program, and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services estimate that the shortage will grow much worse in coming years.
PA first state to spend Medicaid money on adult autism
Pennsylvania has become the first state in the nation to receive the federal government’s permission to spend federal Medicaid dollars on services that enable autistic adults to live more independently, reports the Associated Press:
PA not among states with laws to aid search for missing Alzheimer’s patients
Increased focus on Alzheimer’s has helped spread the use of devices that identify and track people with memory impairments, and spur a number of states (not including PA) to enact Amber Alert-style laws to enhance public searches for those who go missing, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement Program
Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (CURE) Program is a health research program through DoH that was established by Act 77 2001. A portion (approximately 19%) of the tobacco settlement money gets awarded through grants for clinical, health services and biomedical research.
P&T Transparency
With the increased interest by the DPW to institute a pharmacy benefit carve out from the managed care organizations; more attention has been placed on the Department’s Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee (P&T) which determines the drugs placed on the state’s PDL.
Other State Insurance Coverage
AdultBasic and CHIP are two insurance programs available for Pennsylvanians who do not have healthcare coverage.