Daily Archives: April 5, 2013

04.05.13
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JOIN ROBIN HOOD IN DC ON APRIL 20

Demand Treasury Secretary Lew and President Obama Stand with the People NOT Wall Street

Wall Street banks and corporations are raking in record profits while our communities continue to suffer job losses and cuts to public programs. Instead of lining the pockets of corporate fat cats, this money should go to our children’s Head Start programs, Grandma’s retirement, and fixing our broken healthcare system.

It’s time for the administration to stand with the people and TAX WALL STREET.

Join us April 20 as we march to the White House and Treasury Department to demand a financial transaction tax on Wall Street trades so we can put the money toward global health needs, addressing the climate crisis, jobs, and education.

NOON Rally at Murrow Park in front of the IMF and World Bank
Pennsylvania Ave. between 18th and 19th Streets NW • Washington, DC

12:30 pm March to the White House and US Treasury Department

Share the PDF flyer

Visit and share our Facebook events page

Contact Robin Hood Tax Campaign Coordinator Francesca Lo Basso with any questions:

Get more details at www.RobinHoodTax.org

 

04.05.13
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MNA Legislative Update, April 5, 2013

Standards of Care Update

MNA nurses and representatives continue to meet with legislators to update them on the goals of the Standards of Care Act.  MNA is proposing that hospitals be required to report their staffing plans and actual nurse hours per patient day, and a Department of Health study of hospital staffing and its effect on nursing sensitive indicators like infections, falls and pressure ulcers.  We are confident that a MDH study will validate what nurses already know–that proper nurse staffing leads to better nurse outcomes–but we also recognize the need for Minnesota-specific data.  Our main objective for the remainder of the 2013 legislative session is to ensure that a comprehensive and accurate study is completed.  Ultimately, our goal is safe staffing in every facility, on every unit and during every shift.

We still differ significantly from the hospitals on this bill. So it continues to be very important for nurses to contact our legislators to ask them to support a comprehensive and accurate study.

Contact your state legislators and ask them to support strong consumer transparency language, nurse staffing reporting and a comprehensive study that gathers real data about the correlation between staffing and health outcomes. Let them know unsafe staffing is still a problem for Minnesota patients and we need meaningful data-collection to protect patients.

Click here to use the MNA Grassroots Action Center to send an email.

Possible Sanford/Fairview Merger

Attorney General Lori Swanson is holding a public hearing this Sunday, April 7 at 1:30 pm to shed light on the possible merger of Fairview Health Services and South Dakota-based Sanford Health. This merger would further the trend of the corporatization of healthcare in Minnesota, where profits and productivity are a higher priority than patient care. Please support the Attorney General’s effort to hold these two health care corporations accountable to the taxpayers of Minnesota. RSVP to geri.katz@mnnurses.org.  

WHAT:                 Attorney General Lori Swanson’s public hearing on possible Sanford-Fairview merger
WHEN:                 Sunday, April 7, 1:30pm
WHERE:               Room 15, State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155
DIRECTIONS/PARKING INFO: Click here

Meanwhile, the news broke yesterday that the University of Minnesota is also interested in taking over the entire Fairview system. Read the Star Tribune article here.

We are glad to see some competition for this important health care system, and we are looking forward to learning more details about both proposals. Our ultimate concern is that whatever happens, patient care and safety be the first priority of any change to Fairview.

Governor’s Budget
The Governor’s Health and Human Services budget proposal was heard in the legislature this week. The Governor proposes to increase Health and Human Services spending by $170 million, after many years of cuts to services for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable. His proposal would provide access to health care for 145,000 uninsured low-income Minnesotans, invest in school-based mental health services for our children, and reform and streamline the delivery of health care services in Minnesota.

MNA continues to support the Governor’s commitment to progressive taxation and investment in key state priorities.

Mayo “Destination Medical Center” Proposal
MNA has joined other unions to raise questions about Mayo’s request for over half a billion dollars from the state for their “Destination Medical Center” expansion project in Rochester.

We are concerned this plan lacks transparency and leaves too many questions unanswered about patient care, jobs and the impact of the project on the community. For the state to consider such a major investment in a private entity, we believe these questions must be answered first. Read more here.

Willmar State Mental Health Facility
Both the Governor’s supplemental budget and legislation proposed by Willmar lawmakers Sen. Lyle Koenen and Rep. Mary Sawatzky propose keeping the 16-bed state mental health facility in Willmar open. This facility has been slated for closure in past years, so we welcome these proposals and remain dedicated to keeping this important mental health facility open.

Legislator Town Hall Meetings

 

MNA nurses Cassie Hamilton, Pat Webster and Mary Turner speak up about patient safety at a town hall meeting with Sen. Alice Johnson, Sen. John Hoffman and Rep. Jerry Newton in Coon Rapids on Thursday.

MNA nurses Cassie Hamilton, Pat Webster and Mary Turner speak up about patient safety at a town hall meeting with Sen. Alice Johnson, Sen. John Hoffman and Rep. Jerry Newton in Coon Rapids on Thursday.

Governor Dayton and many legislators will be holding public meetings this spring to discuss the state budget and hear constituents’ concerns. These meetings are a great opportunity to meet your elected officials close to home, build a relationship with them, and educate them about nursing issues. Please attend a town hall meeting if one is coming up in your district:

Saturday, April 6

Senator Ann Rest
9:30-10:30 am
Robbinsdale City Hall, 4100 Lakeview Avenue North, ROBBINSDALE

Senator Lyle Koenen and Representative Mary Sawatzky
8:30-10:00am – Coffee and conversation
Sunberg Creamery Café, 403 Central Avenue, SUNBURG

Representative Shannon Savick
9:00-11:00am – coffee and conversation
The Bakery, Retail Room, 345 E. Main St., BLOOMING PRAIRIE

Representative John Persell
10:00am-12:00pm – Coffee and conversation
Common Ground Coffee, 1428 Hwy 5, LONGVILLE

Representative Barb Yarusso
10:00am-12:00pm
Mounds View Public Library Meeting Room, 2576 County Road 10, MOUNDS VIEW

Representative Paul Marquart and Senator Kent Eken
10:00-11:00am
Minnesota State Community and Technical College, 1900 28th Ave S, MOORHEAD

Representative Ben Lien
10:00-11:00am
M State Technical School, MOORHEAD

Senator Rod Skoe, Senator Tom Saxhaug and Representative John Persell 1:00 – 2:30pm
Bemidji City Hall, 317 4th Street NW, BEMIDJI

Tuesday, April 9

Governor Mark Dayton, Meetings with Mark town hall tour
6:00-7:30 pm
Conference Hall/ Auditorium at South Central Community and Technical College 1920 Lee Blvd, NORTH MANKATO

Saturday, April 13

Representative Zach Dorholt
9:00-11:00am
Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Dr., ST. CLOUD

Representative Shannon Savick
9:00-11:00am – Coffee and conversation
Prairie Wind coffee, 211 S. Broadway, ALBERT LEA

Representative Mary Sawatzky
9:00-11:00am – Coffee and conversation
Lulu Bean’s, Small downstairs meeting room, 1020 1st St. S, WILLMAR

Tuesday, April 16

Governor Mark Dayton, Meetings with Mark town hall tour
6:00-7:30 pm Commons Area of Mesabi Range Community and Technical College 1001 West Chestnut Street, VIRGINIA

04.05.13
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Final Report shows taxpayers overpaid HMOs $200 Million

KSTP story on final HMO overpayments report

Click window link to view story

KSTP-TV reports the final audit confirms what Minnesota Nurses have long argued-that the healthcare system in the state is need of greater transparency and some of Minnesota’s HMOs owe the taxpayers a refund.

“When taxpayer dollars for patient care are so scarce,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton, “it’s unconscionable that even one penny could be wasted when it could’ve gone to treat somebody’s mother or grandmother.  Instead it’s padding somebody’s bank account somewhere.”

An independent auditor, the Segal Company, reveals in a report issued March 31 the government overpaid the four insurance companies that run the state’s Medicaid program by $207 million.  They say the amount owed is “concerning,” and they question the length of time HMOs were overpaid.   From 2003 to 2011, HMOs were able to run even double-digit profits on Medicaid programs and pocket millions of dollars into their own “reserve” accounts that were many times over what’s considered the minimum.

MNA President Linda Hamilton told KSTP-TV in 2010 that it’s a “disgusting” show of how taxpayer dollars can be used compared to how it could’ve been utilized to care for patients.  The reason behind this is the industry’s lobbying of the state of Minnesota to avoid transparency, battle back against public reporting, and to remove caps on how much they can collect to manage public programs.

Link to KSTP-TV story: http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2982096.shtml?cat=127

More background on the HMO overpayments story:

http://mnablog.com/2012/04/24/mna-rns-and-the-nearly-4-billion-question/

04.05.13
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Walgreens Expands Services

Access to health care services is an ongoing challenge to the U.S. health care system. With a physician shortage, aging population, a growing prevalence of chronic diseases and up to 30 million people projected to gain insurance coverage in 2014 through the Affordable Care Act, the issue will become even more critical – and may further impact both patients and the health care system at large.

To help meet the need for greater access to affordable health services and bridge gaps in patient care, while also improving care coordination, Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) (Nasdaq:WAG) today announced its Take Care Clinics are expanding the scope of health care services offered. The new services, now available at the more than 330 Take Care Clinics located at select Walgreens (excludes clinics in Missouri), include assessment, treatment and management for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma and others, as well as additional preventive health services.

“With this service expansion, Take Care Clinics now provide the most comprehensive service offering within the retail clinic industry, and can play an even more valuable role in helping patients get, stay and live well,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kang, senior vice president of health and wellness services and solutions, Walgreens. “Through greater access to services and a broader focus on disease prevention and chronic condition management, our clinics can connect and work with physicians and other providers to better help support the increasing demands on our health care system today.”

Service Expansion

Under the new service expansion, in addition to chronic condition management, Take Care Clinic providers can evaluate, recommend and order preventive health services, such as screenings or lab tests, based on a patient’s age, gender and family history.

Retail clinics have continued to gain greater consumer acceptance, popularity and recognition for delivering quality care. A recent Rand Corporation study showed the use of walk-in retail clinics is on the rise – increasing 10-fold over the past two years.1 Studies have also found that retail clinics provide care for routine illnesses at a lower cost and similar quality as physician offices, urgent care centers or emergency rooms.2

Retail clinic industry estimates show that more than one in three patients do not have a regular physician.3 Walgreens and Take Care Health strongly encourage all patients to have a designated primary care physician and medical home for ongoing medical needs and routine exams, and under this new service expansion will continue to work collaboratively with providers to support and complement a patient’s physician care plan.

“The existing gaps in patient care and demands on an already overburdened health care system are all projected to worsen with an influx of new patients under health care reform,” said Heather Helle, divisional vice president, consumer solutions group, Walgreens. “Walgreens is stepping up to be part of the solution. As innovative care delivery models emerge, we are uniquely positioned to play an integral role in addressing the needs of patients, payers, and providers and to help shape the future of health care delivery in the U.S.”

Take Care Clinics are open seven days a week, with extended evening and weekend hours, and offer walk-in availability as well as same-day online appointment scheduling. Take Care Clinics accept most major insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid, and offer affordable, transparent pricing for those without insurance coverage. Take Care’s board-certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants deliver patient-centric care, driving patient satisfaction rates that are consistently greater than 90 percent. Take Care providers use nationally accepted, evidence-based clinical guidelines to ensure quality care delivery.

“Our goal is to coordinate with physicians in order to help patients manage their chronic conditions in alignment with their physician’s treatment plan,” said Alan E. London, chief medical officer, Take Care Clinics. “Walgreens and Take Care Health also continue to develop clinical affiliations with leading health systems to coordinate patient care and to help meet the triple aim of improving health outcomes and patient satisfaction while reducing health care costs.”

Clinical Affiliations Further Walgreens Efforts to Coordinate and Improve Patient Care

Clinical affiliations are aimed at increasing opportunities for clinical coordination and improving patient access to health care services available at Take Care Clinics. Through these programs, professionals from the health systems share information on Take Care Clinics and other health care options when their locations are closed or unable to schedule an appointment within a patient’s desired timeframe.

“In a post-ACA environment, managing the health of broad populations is going to increasingly require coordination among partners across the spectrum of care,” said David B. Nash, founding dean, Jefferson School of Population Health in Philadelphia. “I have long been an advocate of the retail clinic model. Take Care Health’s expansion of services and ongoing formation of clinical affiliations with leading health systems represents the direction health care is trending and the type of innovation that will be the key to improving outcomes and increasing access.”

“One of our key goals is to improve access and care for patients,” said Tim Hobbs, M.D., chief physician executive at Community Health Network in Indianapolis. “Through our relationship with Walgreens, we are bringing new thinking to local health care delivery and helping to ensure that patients are receiving the best care at the best location. We look forward to enhancing our relationship to find other unique ways to improve the patient experience.”

About Walgreens

As the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,077 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

04.05.13
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NURSE TALK RADIO: Missouri RNs fight for safe lift bill – HB 856

Nurse Talk Radio

Coming Up on Nurse Talk Radio

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Listen and share the NNU segment:

LISTEN: Missouri RNs fight for safe lift bill – HB 856

Featureing Missouri RN Emma Stroud

Podcast: Download (Duration: 8:37 — 11.8MB) | Embed

Listen to the Full Show here >>

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By Pattie Lockard
Executive Producer
Nurse Talk Radio

Missouri RNs fight for safe lift bill - HB 856

Missouri RNs fight for safe lift bill – HB 856

We’ve touched on this issue before but it’s worth talking about again.

The statistics regarding back injuries are frightening! Approximately 80% of adults are expected to experience back injuries in their lifetime with 10% re-injuring! When it comes to health care professionals, the facts get are even worse.

According to national statistics, six of the top 10 professions at greatest risk for back injury are nurse’s aides, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, health aides, radiology technicians, and physical therapists. Healthcare industry workers sustain 4.5 times more overexertion injuries than any other type of worker.

Well, registered nurses from hospitals in Kansas City and St. Louis, members of National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), with the help of their state legislators, recently introduced HB 856 – the Safe Lift Bill. Sounds like a no brainer right? Listen and find out how challenging it was to get this bill introduced. Trust us – this is important even if it isn’t a sexy topic.

READ THE FULL NNU PRESS RELEASE

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