‘If hospitals suffer, communities suffer,’ AHA tells Congress

In an ad this week in Washington-area publications (view ad), the AHA outlines five steps Congress can take in a lame-duck session to ensure hospitals “remain a bedrock source of jobs and economic growth in America’s communities.” The economic crisis “is taking its toll on patients, communities and hospitals alike,” the ad states, urging Congress to rescind the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ payment cuts to teaching hospitals and halt pending cuts to Medicaid outpatient services through a moratorium.

Medicaid cuts could affect thousands

More S.C. children uninsured

The number of uninsured children in SC has risen since last year, according to Families USA. An estimated 12 percent of SC children, or about 132,000 children, are currently without health care, a nearly 30% increase from previous years.

Read more at The State online.

SC Hospitals Provide Community Benefits

In 2007, South Carolina hospitals provided $1.3 billion in “free” hospital care to uninsured and underinsured patients. Of that $439 million was for individuals who could not or did not pay. Hospitals also subsidized other health services to South Carolinians to the tune of $86.7 million.

Learn more at www.schacommunitybenefits.org

Governor Withholds Vetoes, Lets Bills Pass

Governor Mark Sanford announced last week that he would allow the FY 2008–09 Recession Appropriations Bill, H.5300, to go into effect without his signature. As a result, the General Assembly did not have to come back to consider vetoes. The cuts went into effect after midnight on Thursday. Following is a summary of healthcare related budget items contained in the bill.
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Be Something Amazing!

More than 600 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) students from around the state gathered at Newberry College for their fall leadership conference.

In addition to learning about the All Health Team, forensics and Newberry College’s Nursing Program, they also were witness to the launch of SCHA’s BeSomethingAmazing.com Web site, which is a compilation of up-to-date information on health care careers, the education required, locations of all hospitals, how to get experience or get prepared now and much more.