Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Conn. Payments To Hospitals 'On Hold' Because Of Budget Problems
The Associated Press: Malloy Putting Hospital Payments On Hold Due To Budget Woes
Connecticut hospitals are being notified they may not receive about $150 million in anticipated payments because of state budget problems. Office of Policy and Management Secretary Ben Barnes informed hospital chief financial officers this week the Department of Social Services will hold off until Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration finds ways to address the budget deficit. His letter was released Thursday. (3/3)
The Connecticut Mirror: Malloy Suspends $140 Million In Payments To CT Hospitals
Responding to shrinking tax revenues, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration suspended about $140 million in payments to Connecticut’s acute-care hospitals this week. (Phaneuf, 3/3)
The Connecticut Mirror: Prospect Of Detox, Psychiatric Bed Cuts Worries Hospital Officials
As they try to cut more than $34 million from their budget, officials at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services say they anticipate reducing the number of treatment beds available – a prospect that worries hospital officials and mental health professionals. (Levin Becker, 3/4)
The Associated Press: Psychiatric Hospital Overpays Doctor Almost $72,000
A state fraud investigation released Thursday found that a physician at Western State Hospital was paid almost $72,000 for hours that he did not work and that the hospital has failed to adequately monitor its doctors' attendance. The findings by the Washington state Auditor's Office are the latest in a series of reports that are critical of the way the 800-bed psychiatric hospital is being run. The facility is under threat of losing millions in Medicare and Medicaid funds after federal investigators found safety violations that placed patients at risk. It also is under a federal injunction for failing to provide timely competency services to mentally ill defendants. (Bellisle, 3/3)
