News For: Blue Care Wi WisconsinBlue Shield of California Awards $29.5 Million in Pay-for-Performance Programs in 2008 As part of its ongoing commitment to providing high quality affordable health care, Blue Shield of California announced today that it is awarding $29.5 million in performance bonuses to medical groups and IPAs in California. Nearly half of the payments are part of the Integrated Healthcare Association IHA pay-for-performance program, which rewards providers for the quality of their health ... Horizon Blue's Conversion to For-Profit Status May Alter Plan's Existing Pricing Strategy HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a leading provider of managed care market intelligence, reports that, if approved, conversion by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to for-profit status may prompt the plan to adopt a more conservative approach to pricing. New Hanover Regional to open pediatric intensive care unit New Hanover Regional Medical Center's first pediatric intensive care unit, or PICU, is set to open in two months with six licensed beds in the new Betty H. Cameron Women's and Children's Hospital. LOCAL NEWS Supporters of the Health Care for America Now coalition will assemble at 11 a.m. today outside the Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance offices at 150 N. Main St. in Elmira for a demonstration and press conference. Blue Cross & Blue Shield Goes Green Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas had employees dancing in their courtyard as they learned how to help preserve the earth. Nigeria militant leader seeks urgent medical care: wife The suspected leader of Nigeria's main militant group in oil-rich Niger Delta, who is in detention on treason charges, needs urgent medical care for a kidney ailment, his wife and lawyer said Monday. Rise in health care premiums outpaces inflation and wages Washington — Premiums for job-based health insurance are up 5 percent in 2008 and have more than doubled since 1999, a growth rate that far outpaces inflation and the increase in workers' wages over the same period, according to an annual survey of employers. Meanwhile, a growing number of workers at smaller firms are getting less coverage for their money as health plans with high deductibles ... HealthPartners Medical Group Tops in Quality for Patients in State Medical Programs HealthPartners Medical Group received some of the highest quality of care marks among all Minnesota medical groups that serve people in state health care programs according to a new report on health care disparities issued by Minnesota Community Measurement -- a non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of health care in Minnesota. Care center at hospital to be shut HOLYOKE - Holyoke Medical Center announced Monday it will close its 23-bed transitional care center to make room for 28 more monitored beds at the hospital. Holyoke Hospital to shut care center HOLYOKE - Holyoke Medical Center announced Monday it will close its 23-bed transitional care center in to make room for 28 more monitored beds at the hospital. |




