Literature Review

Community Health Systems sells three Florida hospitals for $294MModern HealthcareDecember 1, 2023Community Health Systems sold three Florida hospitals to Tampa General Hospital in a $294 million cash deal that closed Friday, the for-profit health system announced. The transaction involves the 120-bed Bravera Health Brooksville in Brooksville, the 128-bed Bravera Health Seven Rivers in Crystal River and the 124-bed Bravera Health Spring Hill in Spring Hill, in addition to clinics and outpatient services.

Nursing Homes’ Letter to CMS Calls Out Lack of Teeth—and Clarity—in Final Rule’s Medicare Advantage ReformSkilled Nursing NewsDecember 1, 2023In order to keep Medicare Advantage plans in check for denial of services, provider organizations are pressuring federal authorities to do more, and asking them to closely monitor and aggressively enforce reforms for these plans as envisioned in a final rule that takes effect on Jan. 1. Companies managing MA plans have said they don’t believe they need to do anything different, based on what was laid out in the final rule, a worrying concern that needs to be addressed, providers said, who are also seeking to gain clarity on how the Center for Medicare & Medicaid will monitor MA plans’ compliance. To that end, nursing home and hospital associations are seeking to influence the implementation of CMS’s rule regarding MA plans.

Northwell’s operating income drops $104M in Q3Becker’s Hospital CFO ReportNovember 30, 2023New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health reported a $103.9 million drop in operating income in the third quarter, from a $92.4 million gain in the third quarter of 2022 to an $11.6 million loss in the third quarter of this year, according to financial documents published Nov. 29. Revenue increased 5.8% year over year to $4.1 billion while expenses increased 8.6% to $4.2 billion.

‘Plain old greed’—HCA nurses rally to denounce understaffing, unsafe conditions at hospitalsFlorida PhoenixNovember 30, 2023Judy Preuss, an ICU nurse at HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital, joined the National Nurses Organizing Committee 13 years ago for the same reason she rallied Thursday afternoon in Tampa with colleagues from other parts of the country: Bargaining to fix understaffing. Oak Hill Hospital, where Preuss has worked for 18 years, is one of HCA Healthcare’s 46 hospitals in Florida. The nurses from the union representing 10,000 registered nurses across the U.S. held a rally at the HCA West Florida Division Office in Tampa.

Hospices Seek Special Focus CONs to Reach Underserved PopulationsHospice NewsDecember 1, 2023Some states with certificate of need regulations have special focus policies that allow hospice providers to expand services among underserved communities. But navigating these CON processes can be a challenge. ... A difficulty in seeking these types of special focus CONs is proving an unmet need among specific populations, according to André Lee, co-founder and administrator of Nashville-based Heart’n Soul Hospice.

Report indicates fewer Vermonters opting for hospice care.WCAX-TV (Burlington, VT)November 29, 2023Burlington, VT—Many Vermonters with terminal illnesses aren’t taking advantage of a benefit that some medical professionals say could improve their end-of-life care. A new report this month from the Vermont Department of Health found the percentage of people using hospice has actually gone down after it had risen steadily for many years.

Medical City Healthcare buys Wise Health System, increasing D-FW footprintDallas Morning NewsDecember 1, 2023Dallas-based Medical City Healthcare has again expanded in North Texas with the purchase of Wise Health System, bringing the health system giant to 19 in-patient hospitals. Medical City, a division of HCA Healthcare in Nashville, announced the acquisition Friday, nearly a year after word surfaced of discussions with the Decatur, Texas-based hospital system.

Together, New England College and hospitals aim to tackle nursing vacanciesNew Hampshire BulletinDecember 1, 2023The state’s health care industry had to get creative after the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing workforce shortages, doubling the vacancy rate for nurses and LNAs between 2019 and 2022, according to the New Hampshire Hospital Association. Employers offered generous signing bonuses and paid training. The state made it easier for out-of-state practitioners to get a New Hampshire license. A team of health care leaders developed 107 strategies to recruit and retain workers.

Friendtique Reaches $1.3 million in lifetime donations to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCareDaily Record (Wooster, OH)November 30, 2023Wooster, OH—Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare recently received a donation of $25,000 from Friendtique, a local boutique resale shop. Friendtique’s gift marks a milestone of $1.3 million in lifetime donations to the Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare Community Care Fund.

Be kind. Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden. ~Ian MacLaren

Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, Fischer Pass Bipartisan Resolution Designating November 2023 as ‘‘National Hospice And Palliative Care Month”

HCA to buy bankrupt Texas hospital