Uwe Reinhardt, PhD, economics professor at Princeton and keynote speaker for the 7th Annual Orthopedics, Spine and Pain Management-Focused ASC Conference, proposes an alternative approach to hospital reimbursement in a New York Times blog posting titled "A More Rational Approach…

A request by Grady Health System in Atlanta, Ga., for a combined contribution of $30 million from several hospitals in its metro area to help care for its poorer patients has been rejected, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

CMS Office of the Actuary announced that 2007 U.S. healthcare spending increased at the lowest rate of growth since 1998, according to a teleconference held Jan. 5.

Despite the credit crisis, and industry-wide reporting of capital losses, and decreases in volume and elective procedures, hospitals in Greater Cleveland are moving forward with major expansion projects, according to The Plain Dealer.

A survey by the Tennessee Hospital Association of the state's hospitals reveals that the majority of the organizations have reduced staff or are considering cuts as a result of current economic challenges, according to The Tennessean.

Each year, the American Hospital Association (AHA) collects aggregate information on the payments and costs associated Medicare and Medicaid by U.S. hospitals. Here is the national government underpayment for Medicare and Medicaid from 2000-2007 (in billions) at registered community hospitals…

Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) has called off the sale of its West Florida Hospital in Pensacola to Baptist Health Care (BHC), according to a press release from BHC.

Cambridge Health Alliance plans to close facilities and layoff employees, according to the Boston Business Journal.

The state of Illinois owes Peoria healthcare providers at least $32 million, mostly in late Medicaid reimbursements, according to the Peoria Journal Star.

Healthcare observers were split between the November elections and the economic downturn as their choices for the top hospital stories of the years. Both impacted hospitals in multiple ways and will continue to exert influence on hospital finances and operations…