Infection prevention personnel boost evidence-based practice; Provider consolidation drives up healthcare costs;

News From Around the Web

> Having dedicated infection prevention personnel may lead to greater evidence-based prevention practices, according to a new study published in this month's American Journal of Infection Control. Announcement

> In exchange for funding Medicaid expansion, the government is going to phase out its disproportionate share (DSH) payments to hospitals, reported The Kansas City Star. Article

> As nonphysician providers increasingly gain responsibility, more states are considering relaxing supervision rules, The Wall Street Journal reported. For example, the Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants is lobbying to repeal one such law, arguing that no other state requires physician assistants to have 18 months of on-site supervision. Article

Health Insurance News

> Provider consolidation as a result of accountable care organizations and high out-of-network provider fees are causing healthcare costs to rise at exorbitant levels. Article

And Finally… One reason to tip well. Article