State Ready To Revamp Medicaid Payments To Hospitals
August 6, 2012
With the hospital industry closely watching, the state is moving forward with a plan to revamp the way hospitals get paid to care for Medicaid patients.
Lawmakers this year directed the state Agency for Health Care Administration to develop the plan, which is designed to more accurately tailor Medicaid payments to the treatment each patient receives. It will replace a complex system that involves calculating per-diem rates for inpatient care — a system that Gov. Rick Scott and other critics say has led to wide differences in how much hospitals get paid.
Consultants briefed state and health-care industry officials Thursday about work on the plan, which is required to be submitted to Scott and legislative leaders by Jan. 1 and is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2013. The changes have high stakes for hospitals, as some likely will wind up getting paid more under the new system and others will get paid less.
Lawmakers required that the revamped system — known in the hospital world as a system of diagnosis related groups, or DRGs — not cost more than continuing the current system.
“We have to be budget neutral,” said Jim Pettersson, a managing director of the consulting firm Navigant. “We don’t have an option.”
The Medicare program and some other states already use DRG systems. But the Florida Medicaid changes could particularly affect so-called “safety net” hospitals, such as teaching hospitals, public hospitals and children’s hospitals, which treat large numbers of low-income patients.
Jim Zingale, who closely tracks finance issues for the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, said he was concerned about being able to get the revamped system in place by next July. Consultants and state health officials will have to resolve myriad details and also will have get approvals from the Legislature and the federal government.
“That timeline looks very difficult to deliver an accurate product that meets these requirements,” Zingale said.
Pettersson, whose firm has worked on DRG systems in other states, said the timeline is aggressive, but “it can be done.” He also said the payment systems can include provisions that help shift money to hospitals that care for large numbers of Medicaid patients.
“The states generally try to protect the hospitals that are really vested in the Medicaid program,” Pettersson said.
Zingale said it also is unclear how the DRG system would work with a broader state move to shift almost all Medicaid beneficiaries into HMOs and other types of managed-care plans. That shift, which is expected to play out over the next few years, will lead to hospitals and managed-care plans negotiating contracts that will include payments.
Though DRG systems vary, the general idea is to classify patients based on such factors as their diagnoses or types of treatments. Those classifications are then used to calculate payment amounts that are designed to more closely reflect the costs of treating patients than a per-diem rate would.
Pettersson said one possible DRG model, for example, includes numerous classifications for neonatal care. Such care can have widely varying costs because of complications suffered by infants, and the classifications could help better tailor payments to hospitals.
By The News Service of Florida
Lottery Sales Up, More Cash For Schools
August 6, 2012
Lawmakers will have an additional $48 million to spend on education construction and other enhancements under a revised Lottery scenario reached by state economists.
Tough economic times may be translating into higher revenues for the Department of Lottery, which would see total sales climb by $262 million more for the current fiscal year that began July 1 than economists estimated earlier this year.
The boost in Lottery revenues translates into more money available to the Education Enhancement Trust Fund, which was created to augment traditional general revenue education funding.
Going forward, however, Lottery proceeds will continue to exceed previous projects through 2015/16 but at a more moderate clip.
Sales of scratch-off games were up 5.3 percent from previous projections while Lotto sales will be flat. PowerBall sales growth, though strong at 12 percent, will grow at nearly half the rate as previously expected.
Hamilton Steals Three As The Pensacola Blue Wahoos Fall 7-4
August 6, 2012
The Huntsville Stars broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the seventh by scoring a pair of runs on back-to-back wild pitches during an attempted intentional walk to Hunter Morris on their way to a 7-4 win Sunday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Ala. The win is the Stars’ second straight over the Wahoos in the five-game series. Blue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton stole three more bases giving him 125 for the season. He is now alone in third place on the all-time single-season Minor League Baseball stolen base list.
Despite the loss, Pensacola remains just two games out of first place in the Southern League South Division after the Montgomery Biscuits lost to the Jacksonville Suns.
As they did in the first two games of the series, the Blue Wahoos scored first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Ryan LaMarre put Pensacola ahead with an RBI single bringing home Hamilton from third. Josh Fellhauer came home later in the inning on a groundout by David Vidal.
After getting a run in the second inning, Huntsville took its first lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. Josh Prince doubled home Brock Kjeldgaard and Morris to make it a 3-2 game. Pensacola responded the next inning when the Blue Wahoos got three straight two-out extra-base hits. Beau Mills started it with a double. Vidal traded places with him a batter later to tie the game. Then, he scored when Brodie Greene tripled to give the Wahoos a 4-3 advantage.
After the Stars tied it with a sacrifice fly in to bottom of the sixth inning, they moved in front for good in the seventh. With runners at first and second base, a passed ball was charged to Wahoos catcher Tucker Barnhart moving runners up to second and third with one out. This opened first base with Morris at the plate, so an intentional walk was called for to load the bases. The next two pitches from reliever Josh Ravin were thrown to the backstop allowing both runners to score giving the Stars a 6-4 advantage. They added another run in the eighth on their way to the win.
Ravin took the loss after giving up the two seventh inning runs, though only one was earned. Brian Garman worked two scoreless innings out of the Stars bullpen in the winning effort. Brandon Kintzler worked a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
Offensively, Greene and Vidal continued their hot hitting with two hits each. Andrew Means also had a two-hit game for the Wahoos.
The series continues on Monday with RHP Daniel Corcino (7-5, 3.09) getting the start for Pensacola against RHP Johnny Hellweg (1-0, 0.00) for Huntsville. First pitch is set for 6:43 p.m. from Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: Billy Hamilton had three steals on Sunday night giving him 125 for the season. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kenneth Roy Thomas
August 6, 2012
Mr. Kenneth Roy Thomas, age 61 of Jay, passed away Friday afternoon after injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was a native and former resident of Brewton and moved to Jay 27 years ago. Mr. Thomas was a member of Golden Memorial Holiness Church, a 1969 graduate of W.S. Neal High School, and was employed as a oil field supervisor.
He is survived by his wife, Paula Foster Thomas of Jay; daughter Nanci (Marty) Kent of Huxford; son Jeremy Alford Thomas of Daphne; mother Annie Laura Thomas of Brewton; brother Mike (Gina) Thomas of Brewton; grandchildren Cotten Kent and Cody Kent.
He was predeceased by his father Claude Thomas; father-in-law and mother-in-law Charlie and Ina Foster; a brother Ed Mack Thomas; and sister JoAnn Steele.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 6, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Brewton.
Funeral services are scheduled Tuesday afternoon, August 7, 2012, at 2:00 at Blackwater Baptist Church in Munson with Rev. Andy Boutwell, Rev. Alton Nixon, and Rev. Bill Thompson officiating. Interment will follow in Foster Cemetery in Munson.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Brewton, directing.
Shooting at Wisconsin Sikh Temple Leaves At Least Seven Dead
August 5, 2012
Police in Wisconsin say at least seven people were killed in a shooting Sunday at a Sikh temple in a suburb of Milwaukee. A police officer responding to the shooting was wounded in an exchange with the gunman, who is among the dead.
The shooting occurred Sunday morning as dozens of worshippers gathered at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek.
Greenfield Police Chief Bradley Wentlandt says one of the first officers to respond to the incident encountered a gunman, who opened fire. “The first officer on the scene is a 20-year law enforcement veteran, an extremely accomplished tactical officer. When he arrived on the scene, he engaged an active shooter outside of the temple. Multiple rounds were exchanged. The officer was shot multiple times,” he said.
Wentlandt says officers killed the alleged shooter and that four people were found dead inside the temple.
Friends and family members of worshippers told local media that several people, including the president of the temple, were being treated for gunshot wounds at area hospitals.
A man who said his uncle was among the wounded, told reporters that Sunday services are among the biggest weekly gatherings at the temple. “The gunman came earlier than when most people come, so I think, relatively, damages were somewhat limited. But I mean, if this had happened an hour or two later, God knows how many people would be hurt or dead,” he said.
Sunday’s shooting put other Sikh temples in the area on a heightened state of alert, with local police departments guarding other temples as a precaution.
The Sikh Temple of Wisconsin’s website says about 350 to 400 people worship at the site. The Sikh community in southeastern Wisconsin is relatively small, and includes a total of about 3,000 families.
There were isolated incidents of violence against Wisconsin Sikhs in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
[VOA]
Cantonment Woman Charged After Wreck; 6-Year Old Seriously Injured
August 5, 2012
A Cantonment woman was charged after a wreck on I-10 in Santa Rosa County late Friday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 39-year old Julie Ann Yonker was eastbound on I-10 near the 34 mile marker just after 11 p.m. when she suddenly slowed down in front of another vehicle and impeded traffic.
In order to avoid a collision, William Lester Morrill, age 37 of Crestview, veered off the roadway before striking a tree. Morrill and four other people in his pickup suffered minor injuries, while a six-year old passenger was seriously injured.
Yonker was charged with careless driving/impeding flow of traffic, no proof of insurance and failure to display registration.
Youth On A Mission
August 5, 2012
Youth from a Texas church teamed up with youth from a Molino church last week on a mission to make an impact across Escambia County.
Over 100 youth and their adult leaders from Highland Baptist Church in Molino and Friendship Baptist Church of Cleburne, TX, worked together and served in “Mission Molino” from Molino to Pensacola Beach.
For a photo gallery, click here.
On the first day of Mission Molino, the youth teamed up with Barefoot Ministries of Gulf Shores at Pensacola Beach. The youth passed out free water with Gospel tracts, gave away free Bibles and New Testaments, shared the Gospel with salvation bracelets, painted faces and even held a Bible story sand sculpting contest.
The second day of Mission Molino saw the youth working at Molino Park Elementary School. They help prepare the campus for the first day of school by moving items, cleaning, sweeping, washing windows, pulling weeds and many other tasks to prepare Molino Park for the return of students.
One the third day, the youth worked at the homes of widowed and elderly residents around Molino. The youth performed yard work, planted flowers, trimmed trees and shrubs and more.
Mission Molino concluded with the Highland members showing their Texas friends some of the local sites — Ft. Pickens and the Naval Aviation Museum, along with some beach fun — including a Beach baptism service.
Each evening of the week, the students enjoyed a meal prepared by Highland volunteers and a time of worship.
Pictured top: Mission Molino students work to beautify the campus at Molino Park Elementary School. Pictured inset: The students worked around the homes of elderly community members. Pictured below: Mission Molino students at Pensacola Beach. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Hold Fair Housing Workshop Monday
August 5, 2012
The Town of Century will hold a fair housing information workshop in conjunction with a regular town council meeting Monday night.
The workshop and council meeting will begin at 7 p.m at the Century Town Hall, 7995 North Century Boulevard.
For more information, call Leslie Gonzalez at (850) 256-3208.
Flomaton Lions Flip Pancakes For School Uniforms
August 5, 2012
The Flomaton Lions Club is turning pancakes into dollars to purchase school uniforms for needy Flomaton students. The club will present a check for uniforms following a pancake supper fund raiser. The supper was coordinated by the Flomaton Lions Club and new LEO Club at Flomaton High School. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Exempt Olympians From Taxes On Their Gold Medals?
August 5, 2012
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has introduced The Olympic Tax Elimination Act, a bill that would exempt U.S. Olympic medal winners from paying taxes on their hard-earned medals. Currently, Olympians who win medals also receive honorariums in the form of cash payments of $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze, with the IRS collecting taxes on these amounts.
“Our tax code is a complicated and burdensome mess that too often punishes success, and the tax imposed on Olympic medal winners is a classic example of this madness,” said Rubio. “Athletes representing our nation overseas in the Olympics shouldn’t have to worry about an extra tax bill waiting for them back home.
“We need a fundamental overhaul of our tax code, but we shouldn’t wait any time we have a chance to aggressively fix ridiculous tax laws like this tax on Olympians’ medals and prize money,” he added. “We can all agree that these Olympians who dedicate their lives to athletic excellence should not be punished when they achieve it.”
The Olympic Tax Elimination Act, would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the tax on Olympic medals and prize money won by United States athletes. If enacted into law, the gross income of Olympic athletes “shall not include the value of any prize or award won by the taxpayer in athletic competition in the Olympic Games.” This would apply to prizes and awards received after December 31, 2011.