• Health care CEOs discuss ACOs at exclusive panel
• CMS moves forward with medical home program for foster care children
• Why health care orgs need to invest in philanthropy
• Hispanics less likely to have insurance than other ethnic groups
  
• Coalition gives $6.6 million to communities to promote health

Health care CEOs discuss ACO importance at WHA panel July 25

On July 25, four of the Wisconsin’s hospital and health system CEOs discussed health care reform in Wisconsin and the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during a Wisconsin Health News lunch panel sponsored by the Wisconsin Hospital Association  (WHA) at the Madison Club. The WHA stated in a recent article (add link) that with or without the Affordable Care Act in place, Wisconsin community health system and hospital executives are already well on the way to transforming the payment for and delivery of care in their communities.

Panelists included: Craig Samitt, MD, president and CEO or Dean Health System, Brian Ewert, MD, president and CEO or Marshfield Clinic, Dean Gruner, MD, president and CEO of ThedaCare and Randy Linton, MD, president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System – Eau Claire.

To read an edited transcript of the discussion, CLICK HERE.

CMS moves forward with medical home program for 2,500 foster care children

On July 30, Governor Scott Walker announced the Department of Health Services (DHS) has received federal approval to create a foster care medical home program in six southeast counties. The program will coordinate care for 2,500 children in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. Each child will have a primary care provider and team that will create a medical care plan focused on the specific needs of the child.

DHS will certify one or more integrated health systems to participate in the new program. To be certified, qualified health care providers must be integrated health systems with experience in trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatment. They must also be able to contract with providers outside their network.

The program is a joint initiative between DHS and the Department of Children and Families.

To read the news coverage from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, CLICK HERE.

Why health care orgs need to invest in philanthropy

Fierce HealthCare published an article last week about how hospitals have a variety of options when it comes to beefing up their philanthropic efforts.

A Hospitals and Health Networks report says charitable giving from patients and their families can represent about half of all overall donations, and such a potential revenue stream may be overlooked in favor of other more traditional revenue centers. Therefore, hospitals should provide an excellent healthcare experience for patients and a culture that embraces philanthropy.

Health care philanthropy (or charitable giving) is an attainable revenue resource, but apparently it’s underused. Health care organizations who engage in fund development, or cultivating charitable resources, will benefit from an extra revenue source. These organizations can deploy a range of strategies to encourage effective giving and to increase the impact of giving. These strategies include:

• Investing in fund development
• Selecting strategically aligned projects
• Providing excellent clinical service
• Improving organizational culture
• Enhancing accountability

Fierce HealthCare said in an article  some hospitals also believe a financially proactive status can help increase charitable contributions. For example, South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Mass., makes voluntary contributions to the city’s municipal services pegged to the facility’s long-term growth, according to the Patriot-Ledger. As a result, this stimulates giving from local residents.

Survey says Hispanics less likely to have insurance than other ethnic groups

According to recent data collected by the Family Health Survey, nearly 580,000 state residents, or 10 percent of the population, had no health insurance for at least part of 2010. The young, the poor, the unemployed and Hispanics were among the groups least likely to have coverage. The report also states the uninsured rate was 24 percent for Hispanics, compared to 11 percent for blacks, and 4 percent for whites.

Most residents, 69 percent, younger than 65 had employer-sponsored insurance. An estimated 14 percent had Medicaid. Meanwhile, 94 percent of adults 65 and older had Medicare coverage.

To read the survey, CLICK HERE.

Transform Wisconsin Coalition gives $6.6 million to communities to promote health

On July 24, the Transform Wisconsin Coalition announced it will grant 30 Wisconsin counties to create healthier places to live, work and play. These grants total $6.6 million and will be awarded over the next 26 months.

The grants are administered by the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Services.

To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

This post was researched and written by Trish Skram. Feel free to connect with Trish Skram on her Facebook page at Trish Skram “PR Gal” or on LinkedIn.