OH hospital seeks Medicare exemption for cancer care

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:59:54 -0400

For years, officials at University Hospitals Case Medical Center have worked to get an exemption from DRG limits on Medicare reimbursements that would funnel $3 to $5 million into its coffers to aid in delivering cancer care. This cash inflow could go a long way into boosting the organization into the top ranks of cancer care in the U.S. However, UH Case is now facing a fight over their requested Medicare exemption spurred by The Cleveland Clinic, which is not eligible for the exemption UH Case wants. Cleveland Clinic has begun lobbying Congressional reps to see that UH Case doesn't get what it's after.

Since 1983, only 11 cancer hospitals have gotten this exemption, which can only be awarded if Congress enacts specific legislation. Until recently, UH Case's odds for getting such a Congressional favor looked good. Now, with Cleveland Clinic lobbying against the change, it's hard to tell what UH Case's odds are.

To learn more about the dispute:
- read this article from The Cleveland Plain Dealer

West Penn Allegheny Health profit up

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:59:54 -0400

Largely due to its success in refinancing debt and boosting investment earnings, Pittsburgh's West Penn Allegheny Health System turned a $6.9 million net profit for the first six months of fiscal 2008, up a whopping 67.7 percent from the same period in 2007. The system is enjoying the benefits of a 2007 debt refinancing that cut interest expense by $5 million. It also enjoyed a $6.7 million growth in investment earnings.

The down side of this story is that if you strip away the investment income, the system actually would have posted a $12 million operating loss in the six months ended Dec. 31, which actually is worse than the $8 million operating deficit for the same six month period a year ago. The system continues to work on a turnaround that began in 2000, when Allegheny General Hospital and Western Pennsylvania Hospital merged.

To learn more about West Penn's financial picture:
- read this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette piece

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medical center

OH hospital seeks Medicare exemption for cancer care

West Penn Allegheny Health profit up