
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Health
Net of California, Inc., a subsidiary of Health
Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT – News), announced today that its HMO, POS, PPO,
Healthy Families Program and Medicaid lines of business have been
awarded the Multicultural Health Care (MHC) Distinction by the National
Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
This national distinction recognizes organizations that lead the market
in providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services, and
working to reduce health care disparities.
“At Health Net, we believe that cultural competency is a critical
component of a high quality health care system,” said Steve
Sell, president, Western Region Health Plan… Continue reading

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced
the next steps for providers who are using electronic health record
(EHR) technology and receiving incentive payments from Medicare and
Medicaid. These proposed rules, from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid
Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology (ONC), will govern stage 2 of the Medicare and
Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs.
“We know that broader adoption of electronic health records can save our
health care system money, save time for doctors and hospitals, and save
lives,” said Secretary Sebelius. “We… Continue reading

TOLEDO, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN – News) today announced it has
completed $ 508 million of acquisitions in 2012. These acquisitions are
in addition to the company’s previously announced transaction with
Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT that is expected to close in the second
quarter of 2012. In total, the transaction with Chartwell is $ 925.2
million including Health Care REIT’s investment of $ 503.3 million.
Currency references are in US dollars and are based upon an exchange
rate of CAD to USD of 1:1 for the Chartwell transaction.
During the first quarter, the company expanded its… Continue reading

I like health Web sites and tech start-ups. I think the democratization of medical information is a beautiful thing. It’s a cliche that you can find out more about a hotel than a doctor with a few Google searches. I love how that’s starting to change. I also think that electronic medical records will improve health care over the long haul.
But I am also cynical about the idea that technology is some sort of panacea all that ails the sector. I read Michael Lewis’s book The New New Thing when it came out in 1999. There’s a… Continue reading

Health Management Associates (NYSE:HMA – News), a leading operator of general acute care hospitals, reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2011 earnings per share of 26 cents and 86 cents, respectively, beating the corresponding Zacks Consensus Estimate of 20 cents and 80 cents and surpassing the year-ago earnings per share of 16 cents and 65 cents, respectively.
Net income from continuing operations dropped 22.1% year over year to $ 32.1 million (or 13 cents per share). Consolidated net income rose 9.5% to $ 30.8 million.
Revenues
Revenues increased 17.6% year over year to $ 1,584 million, narrowly beating the Zacks Consensus… Continue reading