> About 200 hospital leaders are fighting the proposed Medicare cuts to evaluation and management services in hospital outpatient departments, according to AHA News Now. They warn that cutting E/M payments by $7 billion over 10 years would severely reduce patient access to care and outpatient programs their hospitals could offer. News brief
> After Ascension Health Care called off a deal with St. Mary's Hospital in New Jersey, California-based Prime Healthcare Services swooped in to acquire St. Mary's, NJBiz reported. Article
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reduced the supervision level of 22 outpatient services--including wound care, bladder irrigation services, flu and other drug or therapeutic injections--to general supervision, effective Jan. 1, 2013, thanks to a final rule released Tuesday. Final rule (.pdf)
> The Affordable Care Act, through multimillion-dollar grants from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, is enhancing shared decision making, Politico reported. Insurers, state legislators and health officials also are pushing the momentum to eliminate waste and improve care quality. Article
And Finally… Worst or best theme park? Article