News From Around The Web
> Leaders of the non-profit hospital sector have briefed Congress regarding their concerns on the current two-midnight policy for patient admission versus observation. They claim the rules are arbitrary and harsh, AHA News reports. Article
> About 6,500 Alaska Medicaid patients have been straining the state's hospital system with repeated emergency room visits, with one Anchorage neighborhood home to more than 1,000 repeat users, according to the Alaska Dispatch. Article
> The unfavorable view of the Affordable Care Act among uninsured Americans is nearly twice as high as the rate of those who hold a favorable view, according to a new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. However, a large majority say they think insurance is necessary, Kaiser Health News reports. Article
Provider News
> New Jersey's largest nurse and healthcare worker union, concerned that understaffing of nurses leads to inadequate patient care, is calling for legislation that would regulate nurse-to-patient ratios and enforce stricter hospital accountability, transparency and quality, according to NorthJersey.com. Article
Healthcare IT News
> The website of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center--which provides weekly summaries of flu cases within the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as historical data on diseases and major medical events--was purposely taken offline, according to Navy Capt. and AFHSC Director Kevin Russell to "resolve its issues." Article
And finally...Talk about dedication. Article