In the midst of a soaring crisis over health care costs, the debt collection court in Coffeyville, Kansas is emblematic of a larger problem that's been getting national attention. Providers, like hospitals, are suing some of the sickest clients, who are losing everything they own because they needed care. In other industry and insurance news: stocks, Amazon employees' coverage, antitrust suits, and more.
ProPublica:Welcome To Coffeyville, Kansas, Where The Judge Has No Law Degree, Debt Collectors Get A Cut Of The Bail, And Americans Are Watching Their Lives And Liberty Disappear In The Pursuit Of Medical Debt Collection.On the last Tuesday of July, Tres Biggs stepped into the courthouse in Coffeyville, Kansas, for medical debt collection day, a monthly ritual in this quiet city of 9,000, just over the Oklahoma border. He was one of 90 people who had been summoned, sued by the local hospital, or doctors, or an ambulance service over unpaid bills. Some wore eye patches and bandages; others limped to their seats by the wood-paneled walls. Biggs, who is 41, had to take a day off from work to be there. He knew from experience that if he didnt show up, he could be put in jail. Before the mornings hearing, he listened as defendants traded stories. One woman recalled how, at four months pregnant, she had reported a money order scam to her local sheriffs office only to discover that she had a warrant; she was arrested on the spot. (Presser, 10/16)
Related KHN Coverage: UVA Has Ruined Us: Health System Sues Thousands Of Patients, Seizing Paychecks And Claiming Homes
The Star Tribune:UnitedHealth Group Shares Jump 8% On Strong Earnings, GuidanceShares of UnitedHealth Group soared on Tuesday after the company reported third-quarter results that beat expectations for profit and revenue while putting a focus on the Minnetonka-based companys expanding business running outpatient medical centers. David Wichmann, the UnitedHealth Group chief executive, told investors during a conference call that the company is trying to develop a next-generation health care system, an ambition furthered in June by the purchase of DaVita Medical Group, which added more than 200 clinics across five states. (Snowbeck, 10/15)
Bloomberg:Health Insurers May Have Bottomed As Investors Tire Of PoliticsThe worst may be past for managed-care stocks this year, barring any major surprises, as investors are growing fed up with the political rhetoric in Washington, according to Wall Street analysts. UnitedHealth Group Inc.s solid third-quarter earnings on Tuesday sparked the sectors biggest rally in a decade as it helped ease concerns about rising medical costs. While expectations were low heading into the report, the magnitude of the move illustrates just how negative sentiment has gotten. Also roiled by fears of a single-payer system, health insurers appear to have found their footing as investors turned more optimistic about the industrys business outlook, according to BMO analyst Matthew Borsch. (Darie, 10/15)
Modern Healthcare:Amazon, City Of Hope Partnership Gives Workers Access To Cancer SupportAmazon is the latest employer to contract with Duarte, Calif.-based cancer treatment center City of Hope to offer its workers an array of cancer support services. The partnership allows Amazon employees to request a review of their diagnosis and treatment plan from City of Hope specialists, who may recommend improvements to the plan if appropriate. Amazon employees may also travel to City of Hope for an in-person evaluation, according to the cancer center's announcement Tuesday. (Livingston, 10/15)
Modern Healthcare:Oscar Will Appeal Dismissal Of Florida Blue Antitrust ChallengeInsurance company Oscar Health said it will appeal a federal court's decision to dismiss its antitrust lawsuit against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. Oscar challenged Florida Blue's policy of prohibiting its brokers from selling other insurers' plans. Though New York-based Oscar had support from the U.S. Justice Department, U.S. District Judge Paul Byron in Orlando dismissed the case in September, ruling that the dominant Florida health insurer's exclusive agreements with brokers are exempt from federal antitrust law. (Livingston, 10/15)
Modern Healthcare:Hackensack Meridian Health To Merge With Englewood HealthHackensack Meridian Health and Englewood Health have signed a definitive agreement to merge, the not-for-profit New Jersey health system and hospital announced Tuesday. Hackensack pledged a $400 million capital investment in Englewood, which executives hope will further Englewood's position as a tertiary academic hub in northern New Jersey. Those investments include new operating rooms, additional ambulatory care facilities and expanded cardiac catheterization labs, among others. (Kacik, 10/15)
Modern Healthcare:Lower Reimbursements Lead Sinai Health System To Close Subacute UnitSinai Health System plans to close the subacute services unit at its North Lawndale rehabilitation hospital in Chicago due to changes in Medicare's skilled-nursing payment system. The 21-bed unit within 102-bed Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital serves as a bridge between acute care and home health. It stopped accepting new patients Oct. 1 and will close upon approval from the state, Sinai said in a statement today. (Goldberg, 10/15)
Read more from the original source:
- Cardiac Nursing Nursing Schools - RNtoMSN - Find Top Masters in Nursing Programs ... [Last Updated On: April 13th, 2018] [Originally Added On: April 13th, 2018]
- Associate Degree Nursing Physiology Review [Last Updated On: April 18th, 2018] [Originally Added On: April 18th, 2018]
- Cardiac Nursing Nursing Schools - Find Top Masters in ... [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2018] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2018]
- Cardiac Nursing | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2018] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2018]
- Interpret EKGs Strips Like a Boss! (ekg interpretation for ... [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2018]
- Chapter 36: Cardiac Disorders Nursing School Test Banks ... [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2018]
- Cardiac Nursing - 9781416029342 | US Elsevier Health Bookshop [Last Updated On: May 28th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 28th, 2018]
- Cardiology and Cardiac Nursing [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2018]
- Cardio 2018 | Cardiology Conferences | Cardiac Nursing ... [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2018]
- Nursing Care Plans for Decreased Cardiac output [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2018]
- Cardiovascular Nursing Education Associates [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2018]
- How to Become a Cardiac Care Nurse - Salary ... [Last Updated On: December 3rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 3rd, 2018]
- Cardiac Nursing | Become a Cardiac Nurse or Advance Your ... [Last Updated On: December 3rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 3rd, 2018]
- Cardiology | How to become a Nurse Practitioner [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2018]
- Cardiac Nurse: Career Education for This Nursing Profession [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2018]
- Decreased Cardiac Output - Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan ... [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2018]
- Cardiac Nursing at the CICU at Children's Hospital of ... [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2018]
- Cardiac Care Nurse Careers & Salary Outlook - 2018 ... [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2018]
- Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (RN-BC) | ANCC [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2018]
- Cardiac nursing - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2018]
- Cardiac Nurse Salary and Job Description | Cardiovascular ... [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2018]
- Cardiovascular Nursing | CNS Careers & Education [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2018]
- Cardiac Nursing Nursing Schools - RNtoMSN [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2018]
- Nursing Events - Emergency Medicine and Acute Care [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2019]
- Nursing Journals Impact Factor List | Nursing Open Access ... [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2019]
- Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Exam Review - Overview | Online ... [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2019]
- Everything You Need to Know About Cardiac Nursing ... [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2019]
- Decreased Cardiac Output and Ineffective Cerebral Tissue ... [Last Updated On: March 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 17th, 2019]
- Free Cardiac Vascular Nurse Exam Review - Test Prep [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2019]
- Cardiac Nursing Careers & Salary Outlook - 2019 ... [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2019]
- Cardiology Nurse: Salary, Job Duties and Requirements [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2019]
- Cardiac Nurse Practitioner - Nursing License Map [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2019]
- Cardiac/Vascular Nurse Exam Practice Test (2019) - Mometrix [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2019]
- Cardiac Nursing - Nursing Link [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2019]
- 2019 Cardiac Nursing Conference - eventbrite.com [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2019]
- Role of the Cardiac Nurse | Chron.com [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2019]
- Cardiac SOAP Note - nursing notebooks [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2019]
- Nursing Assessment of the Cardiovascular System [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2019]
- Bayshore Oktoberfest Celebration to Benefit New Emergency Care Center - Newswise [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Chick-fil-A Employee Performs CPR, Saves Stranger's Life: 'God Placed Me' There - Christianheadlines.com [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- IoT Medical Devices Market 2015 Global Trend, Segmentation and Opportunities Forecast to 2023 - OnYourDesks [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Beats & Rhythms offers heart disease support for families - The Spokesman-Review [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- With Assisted Living Pickups, Symphony Post-Acute Targets Wider Swath of Care Continuum - Skilled Nursing News [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Gastrointestinal tract 5: the anatomy and functions of the large intestine - Nursing Times [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Chick-fil-A employee in Calif. helps save man's life - WPTV.com [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Business Notebook: SEMO expands public radio reach, local church gets new name - Southeast Missourian [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Balancing Risks, Rewards of Targeting Higher-Acuity Residents in Skilled Nursing - Skilled Nursing News [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Yorkshire trust's deputy leader takes on nursing director role - Nursing Times [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Rural ERs see fallout from national nursing shortage - Roanoke Times [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Peanut butter and cardiac arrest: Diabetic inmate at Holding Center dies - Buffalo News [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Would you recognise a gradual-onset heart attack? - The Guardian [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- THE BOOKWORM SEZ: Nurse explains ABCDEs of treating people - Goshen News [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2019]
- Heartbroken family's tribute to 'brilliant dad' who died choking on food - Hull Daily Mail [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2019]
- Community Rallies For Parsippany Mom Who Had Open Heart Surgery Month After Birthing 4th Baby - Daily Voice [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2019]
- A look at the 40 inmates who have died at Santa Rita Jail in the last five years - KTVU San Francisco [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2019]
- Global Cardiac Holter Monitor Market to Witness Heightened Revenue Growth During the Forecast Period 2018 2025 - Space Market Research [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2019]
- Seahawks Support Crucial Catch Activities For Cancer Awareness And Early Detection In Collaboration With Virginia Mason, CHI Franciscan - Seahawks.com [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2019]
- Former nurse died after accidentally taking paracetamol overdose - Isle of Wight County Press [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2019]
- Earn More With Ancillary Services: 10 Things to Know - Medscape [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2019]
- Medical Beds And Chairs Market to Record an Impressive Growth Rate During Forecast 2018 2026 - Space Market Research [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2019]
- Therapy Strategies Begin to Shift Post-PDPM as Genesis Lays Off 5% of Rehab Staff - Skilled Nursing News [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2019]
- Improving inpatient care with MHS GENESIS - Stripes Japan [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2019]
- Alkermes Presents New Health Economics and Outcomes Research on Patients With Schizophrenia and Bipolar I Disorder at 2019 Psych Congress - PRNewswire [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2019]
- 16 years fighting breast cancer takes its toll, but Gainesville couple perseveres - Gainesville Times [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2019]
- Irishman in Australia: It wasnt part of the plan to end up in the emergency department - The Irish Times [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2019]
- North America Smart Patient Monitoring Device Market Projected to Worth a value of USD 3729.6 Million by 2027 - Space Market Research [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2019]
- Its Very Unethical: Audio Shows Hospital Kept Vegetative Patient on Life Support to Boost Survival Rates - ProPublica [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2019]
- Letter: Why force qualified nurses out the door? - Greenville News [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2019]
- Saeed Ghani opens 10th Chest Pain Unit of NICVD at New Karachi - UrduPoint News [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2019]
- Faculty Highlights: Recent Grants and Awards | Now - Drexel Now [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2019]
- Learn to save a life - Kent Online [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2019]
- It's Very Unethical: Audio Shows Hospital Kept Vegetative Patient on Life Support to Boost Survival Rates - Mother Jones [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2019]
- Site-of-Service Medicare Reimbursement Led to More Hospital Testing - RevCycleIntelligence.com [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2019]
- Englewood Health, one of last independents in region, to merge with Hackensack Meridian - NorthJersey.com [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2019]
- Unions for Sacred Heart nurses and hospital workers schedule strike votes - The Spokesman-Review [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2019]
- These are the 10 best nursing homes in Pennsylvania - PennLive [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2019]
- Surgical nurse who helped with the 'Baby Fae' baboon heart transplant - Redlands News [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2019]
- The 'Angel of Death' Who Killed the Children She Was Supposed to Save - VICE UK [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2019]
- Nurse rewarded for 'beautiful' sensitivity and compassion as a student - Nursing Times [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2019]
- Nurses and hospital workers at Sacred Heart and other hospitals across the state are poised to go on strike - Pacific Northwest Inlander [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2019]