WH

Brandon Larrabee of The News Service of Florida, via Health News Florida on May 13, 2015, reports:

A congressional committee will hold a hearing on Gov. Rick Scott's showdown with the federal government over health care funding, but that meeting could come too late to help close a potential $2.2 billion hole in the state budget.

Scott announced Tuesday that U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., will have the House Energy & Commerce Committee look into the governor's allegations that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is trying to illegally coerce the state into accepting Medicaid expansion.

In a related story by AP, again via Health News Florida and also on May 13, it is reported that:

Just days after flying to Washington in hopes of convincing the Obama administration to extend federal hospital funds, Gov. Rick Scott was back in the nation's capital Tuesday slamming federal health officials for denying his request.

WIM  

As this ugly and possibly zero-sum-game battle unfolds between entrenched business and ideological interests, one can't help but wonder if the ultimate loser might be the healthcare consumer and taxpayer - the two constituents the government is duty bound to protect.

WH

Ayla Ellison writing for Becker's Hospital Review on May 11, 2015 reports:

There were 23 hospital transactions in the first quarter of 2015, which was in line with 2014's quarterly average of 23.5, according to a recent Kaufman, Hall & Associates report.

WIM 

Barring a recession, the trend should continue. Seldom discussed in healthcare reform articles is the fact that one of the ACA's principal goals is to force consolidation in the healthcare industry. Government policy makers believe enhanced scale will drive down cost.

WH

According to  Today News, in a May 11, 2015 post, the oldest practicing nurse in the U.S. celebrated her 90th birthday. She works at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington. 

WIM

If we don't solve our unsustainable entitlement programs soon, we might all be working until age 90.