IRS releases new Form 990 instructions; PwC struggles to help Grady rebuild cash flow;

Anne Zieger — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:03:14 -0400

> The IRS has officially released new instructions for Form 990, including tools that make it easier to answer questions, line by line. Article

> While consultants with PriceWaterhouseCoopers are doing their best to make over cash flow Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital, it's proving to be a very difficult job, thanks to, among other problems, resistance from staff, bad technology and worker shortages. Article

> Nearly 80 million U.S. adults have medical bill problems, or are working to pay off medical debt, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. Article

> Des Moines, IA-based Broadlawns Medical Center has announced that patients will no longer receive free medication unless their income is below the federal poverty level. The public hospital had previously given free medications to patients with no insurance and those on state insurance for low-income patients. Article

And Finally... If you think even a dog could see the flaws in King County, WA's voter registration system, you might be right. Article

SPOTLIGHT: PwC says world health leaders want to change payment systems

Anne Zieger — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:16:49 -0400

A new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers has concluded that it's not only the U.S. that is struggling with its healthcare finance system. The report, by PwC's Health Research Institute, found that two-thirds of health leaders from 20 different countries have concerns about their health payment system. The systems face many similar issues, including meeting demand for an aging population, imposing adequate cost controls, facing the rise of healthcare consumerism and answering the need to better coordinate care. Article