health policy report

On Tuesday President Bush signed a bill requiring the four federal agencies in charge of healthcare--HHS, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Office of Personnel Management--to share data amongst agencies and with beneficiaries. At a recent discussion on the subject, President Bush stated, "The fact is, if you have excellent information about quality, about service and about price, people make good decisions," according to The Washington Post. The …

The University of Pittsburgh Center for Biosecurity estimates that the cost of planning for an influenza pandemic could be as high as $5 billion. The American Hospital Association is citing the number in its efforts to win more flu funding from Congress for its members. The AHA told the Senate Special Committee on Aging that a typically-sized 164 bed hospital should expect to spend at least $1 million on preparations. The $5 billion estimate does not include the cost of buying mechanical …

> Chutes & Ladders: The CEO of Boston's Catholic healthcare system is leaving, after reports this week that he harassed a number of employees. Article

> The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report writes that starting in 2007, Medicare Part D plans will no longer be able to co-brand with outside organizations. The news …