> Thanks to lower patient volume and budget issues, Florida's Jackson Health System will implement "significant" layoffs, reported The Miami Herald. Article
> For the first time in 18 years, Texas prisons will consider switching to local hospitals for medical care, reported the American-Statesman. The hope is that shifting to regional care through local hospitals will save millions of dollars in prison medical costs. Article
> Hospitals are considering some visits by Medicare beneficiaries as "observation care," which can lead to hefty hospital bills, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission found that the number of hospital observation hours jumped to about 36 million in 2009, up from 23 million in 2006. Article
> Researchers found that nearly 4,600 children were admitted to a U.S. hospital in 2006 as a result of physical abuse, noted MedPage Today. The study found that the incidence was higher in children treated under Medicaid. Article
And Finally... Researchers examine "sickening rug phenomenon." Article