News From Around The Web
> The hospital readmission rate for Medicare patients in 2012 was 18 percent, the lowest level in years, and is likely linked to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' decision to impose financial penalties for readmissions, Kaiser Health News reported. Article
> North Carolina is revamping its Medicaid system to have payer contracts bidded out on a regional, rather than a statewide basis, making it more likely that smaller players could provide services and make Medicaid managed care more competitive, according to the Newsobserver.com. Article
Provider News
> Hospitals and health systems across the country are teaming up with different community organizations to help improve their populations' general health, according to a report by the Association for Community Health Improvement. "Trends in Hospital-based Population Health Infrastructure" states hospitals reported several partnership types for population health improvement efforts, ranging from health-focused groups to schools and local government. Article
Healthcare IT News
> Healthcare executives have high expectations for the potential of big data, with a talent shortage and lack of resources being the biggest barriers to use, according to a new survey from the Society of Actuaries. Article
Healthpayer News
> A federal judge has blocked UnitedHealth from dropping more than 2,000 physicians from its Medicare Advantage network in Connecticut, concluding it violated the terms of their contract. Article
And finally...Airline travelers left $500,000 at security checkpoints in 2012. Article