MNA Blog (Page 95)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

NOTES ON NURSING

Finally!!  U.S. News “Best Hospitals” Rating Now Includes Nurse Factor    The  magazine now considers the weight of each measure by itself in relation to  medical outcomes. “Adding more nurses, for example, leads to improved  care, no matter what relationship the nurse staffing measure does or does not  have with any of the other measures.

Weigh in Time:  New Technology of Remote RNs Claims Reduced Mortality in ICU.  Read and return here to comment on this story.

HEALTH CARE

When Public Beats Private:  Community Clinics that Keep Costs Down and Do a Better Job, Too  Federally funded health centers are at the heart of the Affordable Care Act.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 17, 2012 – U.S. News: “oh yeah, maybe nurses matter”  »

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Earlier this month MNA RNs at North Memorial met with management to discuss the surge of Concern For Safe Staffing (CFSS) forms being submitted by MNA RNs inside the hospital’s recently reorganized Family Birth Center. Our MNA nurses initiated the meeting with management and expressed serious concern over the core staffing levels scheduled for each shift.

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

HEALTH CARE

Health Care insurance industry whistleblower Wendell Potter talks about the next PR move insurers are likely to make in order to keep putting profits ahead of patients.

More from Potter: Want proof that Big Insurance has figured out how to make a lot of money off reform? Last Monday WellPoint announced it will pay nearly $5 billion to buy the country’s largest private Medicaid managed care company, AmeriGroup. Rest assured that lobbyists for WellPoint and other firms wanting to get their hands on that new Medicaid money will have a “here’s how it has to be” talk with their buddies on Capitol Hill. 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 16, 2012 – Corporate Insurance Giants Plan to Cash in on ACA  »

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HEALTH CARE

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has filed more paperwork to support her legal claims against Accretive Health Inc., this time highlighting cases of what she calls “reprehensible” collection tactics in emergency rooms while children were being treated.

Despite worries routine cases are clogging up the emergency department, most Medicaid ED patients go because they have to, seeking emergent or urgent care for serious medical problems, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC), released yesterday.

Even though patients want a say in treatment decisions, most don’t want to disagree with their doctor, according to a study published online Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 13, 2012 – Alleged Bad Behavior by Accretive, JP Morgan Wraps Up Week’s News  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

HEALTH CARE

Insurers Not Keeping a Lid on Costs   With federal healthcare reform still facing political head winds despite its validation by the Supreme Court, this probably isn’t the best time for health insurers to admit their utter incompetence in handling their most important role under the reform, which is keeping a lid on healthcare costs.

Amid Debate and Uncertainty Over Health Care, Mayo Expands   “I’ve done more merger affiliations in the last 24 months than previously done in 23 years” as a consultant, said James Berarducci, a health care consultant in Minnesota for global management firm Kurt Salmon, who has done work for Mayo.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 12, 2012: Insurers bungle; Mayo expands; Firefighters prevail  »

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HEALTH CARE

While some states are opting out of President Obama’s health care programs, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton wanted it known Tuesday that he’s all-in. “I write to reiterate the State of Minnesota’s intention to continue the planning and development” of a state-based version of the federal health care act, Dayton wrote in a letter to the U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. “We will seize the historic opportunities to improve the quality and affordability of health care afforded us by the new law, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, whose constitutionality has now been upheld by the U.S.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 11, 2012: Gov. Dayton Moving MN Toward Implementing Health Care Law  »

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HEALTH CARE

We’re #1: The Star Tribune reports that Minnesota has the nation’s best health care system, according to a new federal analysis of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other medical providers. We’d like to add the following to the headline – Minnesota is #1 in Health Care … Because of its AMAZING NURSES!

Although available health care jobs are expected to soar in lieu of the recent Supreme Court verdict regarding the Affordable Care Act, so far job growth in our industry’s hasn’t exploded, according to this story.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 10, 2012: Minnesota Ranks #1 in Health Care Nationally  »

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HEALTH CARE

Thousands of Minnesotans to Receive Health Rebates Under Franken Provision of ACA   If the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision didn’t signal that at long last it’s time to actually get to know the Affordable Care Act, then perhaps the appearance of a check in the mailbox will get John and Jane Q. Public’s attention.

Worst TB Outbreak in 20 Years Kept Secret     The CDC officer had a serious warning for Florida health officials in April: A tuberculosis outbreak in Jacksonville was one of the worst his group had investigated in 20 years. Linked to 13 deaths and 99 illnesses, including six children, it would require concerted action to stop. 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 9, 2012: FL gov. keeps TB outbreak secret; Expanding Medicare makes sense  »

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What is this? The MNA Daily NewsScan rounds up the day’s biggest nursing, health care and organized labor stories.  As news unfolds in real-time, we update the NewsScan with new links and info, so check back often!

Stories we’re scanning:

NURSING