ALSO NOTED: FL hospitals see dramatic growth in uncompensated care; LifePoint wants to buy; and much more...

> Costs for uncompensated care have gone through the roof in Florida, according to the state's hospital association. Article

> With solid profits under its belt, LifePoint Hospitals pursue acquisitions aggressively. Article

> A coalition of powerful interest groups have sued to block the state's planned 10 percent Medi-Cal cut, arguing that such a cut could compromise services to the poor. Article

> Skilled nursing facilities are protesting planned reductions in Medicare payments, cuts CMS says are necessary to better account for resources uses in caring for medically complex patients. Article

And Finally...  Without this system, you could hit a whale, and that can't be good. Article