Texas: Bigger Is Better As Children’s Population Booms
Healthy profits and assets fuel billions in spending by Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth hospitals.
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Healthy profits and assets fuel billions in spending by Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth hospitals.
Nationally, there is one bed for every 2,500 children, but Ohio has one for every 1,400 kids.
Children's hospitals are a growing business in Pennsylvania, with two large ones in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and a third costing $207 million under construction near Harrisburg.
Trying to keep up with the rapidly rising number of children, two hospitals in the Phoenix area have bucked the recession and spent heavily on new facilities.
From its modest beginning as an eight-bed cottage hospital founded in 1882, Chicago Memorial has evolved into a huge institution with nearly $2 billion in assets.
Many of the largest children's hospitals have grown into big businesses with substantial assets and millionaire CEOs.
Hospital executives say spending on charity care is only one of many community benefits they provide as nonprofits.
Jackie Judd talks with Gil Gaul about his series, Building Ambitions, which looks at the big money world of children's hospitals in the United States. Gaul discusses his series and says big costs, amassed wealth and children's hospitals' unique place in health care in America make it a growing power player in providing health care in America.
As federal officials draw up their list of requirements for essential health benefits under the overhaul, it's not clear whether they will include treatment mandates passed by many states.
Current "one-size-fits-all" health plans, in which beneficiaries face the same out-of-pocket payment for every doctor visit, test and prescription drug, should be be replaced by plans based on the health benefit gained in the particular clinical circumstance. By using this nuance, health plans can offer more comprehensive and effective coverage while addressing the affordability of health insurance.
Leading hospital systems didn't apply for Medicare reform tailor-made by the Obama administration to reward such organizations.
Young adults, Hispanics fare better but Asians worse.
With an early expansion of health coverage this summer, former inmates in California will be covered for preventive care, prescription drugs, specialty visits and mental health and substance abuse, including at clinics like Healthy Oakland.
Critics say there is little evidence of benefit -- and considerable risk -- from common screening tests for colon, breast and prostate cancer, particularly in people older than 70, especially those with other serious health problems.
The Veterans Health Administration has long used approaches Medicare is pushing on all hospitals to cut unnecessary readmissions. But new data show VA hospital patients are just as likely to end up back in a hospital bed.
A new study investigates why American physicians are high earners.
"Insuring Your Health" columnist Michelle Andrews answers questions from readers, including someone wondering about coverage if you've been drinking, talking with your insurer about a family member's bill and preventive colonscopies.
With their budgets squeezed, states are trying to reduce unnecessary ER visits by patients in Medicaid. But officials complain that their efforts are sometimes hampered by hospitals' aggressive marketing of ERs to increase admissions and profits.
Landmark study shows annual scans reduce lung cancer deaths by 20 percent, but expert groups are not yet recommending such discounted testing because of concerns over complications and overall health costs.
Research shows they daily experience of cancer patients often includes a heavy financial burden that impacts both their quality of life and satisfaction with care. Meanwhile, other data reflects the high-stakes position of oncologists, who often are the midpoint between cancer therapies and their costs.
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