No bailout? Here’s Plan B
September 30, 2008
A day after the House’s surprise defeat of a 0 billion financial rescue bill, talk is growing louder about alternative government steps that could help battered credit markets and stave off broader problems in the economy.
Miserly wireless for audiophiles
September 30, 2008
The idea of wirelessly streaming the music collection on the computer to the stereo system usually comes after one (or both) of these realizations: "Gee, this album I just downloaded would really sound much better coming through my impressively large and expensive speakers in the living room," or "This apartment is too small for huge piles of cracked CD jewel boxes." Large or small, there are plenty of options for broadcasting that Green Day playlist or Internet radio feed around the house. So many, in fact, that it can get confusing as to what you actually need. But here’s the good news: New, cheaper products make it easier and more affordable to live the stream dream….
Driving to vote could be hazardous, so be careful, say traffic study researchers
September 30, 2008
CHICAGO - Could voting for president be hazardous to your health? An analysis of Election Day traffic deaths dating back to Jimmy Carter’s 1976 win suggests yes, but the authors say that’s no reason not to go to the polls. The study found that on average, 24 more people died in car crashes during voting hours on presidential election days than on other October and November Tuesdays. That amounts to an 18 percent increased risk of death. And compared with non-election days, an additional 800 people suffered disabling injuries. The results were pretty consistent on all eight presidential Election Days that were analyzed, up to George W. Bush’s victory over John Kerry in 2004. "This is one…
Medicare’s No-Pay Rule Is Small Potatoes for Hospitals’ Bottom Line
September 30, 2008
Starting tomorrow, Medicare won’t pay hospitals for costs associated with a handful of complications the feds say are preventable. Some of the complications — such as bedsores, patient falls and blood clots in the veins after certain surgeries — are fairly common.
But as it turns out, the program’s effect on the bottom line looks to be minimal. Medicare estimates the no-pay rules will cut off about million in payments during the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. That’s a vanishingly small sum when you consider that Medicare’s total payments to hospitals for the year will be more than 0 billion.
Why so small? Under the current system, payments for the conditions on the list only come into play for plain-vanilla patients whose care becomes more complicated as a result of the complications. But many Medicare patients are not plain vanilla.
For example, a hospital is paid more for a heart surgery patient with diabetes than for an otherwise healthy heart surgery patient, under the assumption that the diabetic is more likely to develop complications and require more extensive care. Payments for the more complicated patients won’t change under the new rules, because they’re already in the higher pay bracket under the current system.
But there is a hope that the payment rules will be one more incentive, however small, to push hospitals toward reducing the rate of preventable complications. “This is tiny, but not unimportant,” American Hospital Association CEO Rich Umbdenstock told the Health Blog.
The AHA backs the idea of trying to reduce complications (who doesn’t?) but is wary of CMS, the agency that oversees Medicare, refusing to pay for complications that aren’t entirely preventable. “We really want to see CMS move forward with some degree of caution as we learn more about these conditions and what can be done or can’t be done” to reduce their occurrence, Umbdenstock said.
Coming Soon: The financial crisis is likely to have a bigger effect than the Medicare no-pay rule on hospital finances. We’ll have a post on that subject tomorrow.
Consumer spending loses steam
September 30, 2008
Personal spending stagnated in August as the slowing economy continued to weigh on consumers, according to a government report released Monday.
‘The Express’ - Hollywood Premiere
September 30, 2008
Event date: 9/25/2008
Russell Crowe Will Play Both Robin Hood And Sheriff In ‘Nottingham’
September 30, 2008
Russell Crowe has reportedly been handed two roles in forthcoming film Nottingham. The Australian star was confirmed to play the Sheriff of Nottingham - but will now also play lead Robin Hood in the new epic.
Read more!
Asia a major player in gaming market
September 30, 2008
Videogames News: Accounts for 54% of global online share — Asia accounts for 54% of global online gaming and growth rates of 26% could make online a billion global industry by 2012.
Personal Journeys: In India, Lessons on Yoga and on Life
September 30, 2008
With a new school, a yoga teacher is building one Pondicherry community from the ground up.
Hawkeyes expect Shonn Greene to return for Saturday’s game against Michigan State
September 30, 2008
IOWA CITY, (AP) _ Iowa running back Shonn Greene is expected to play Saturday when the face State. Greene suffered a head injury early in the fourth quarter of last week’s 22-17 loss against Northwestern and did not return. Iowa coach…
