Report: Health care overhaul would reduce hospitals' costs

Health Care Reform by Elizabeth Dunbar, Minnesota Public Radio February 7, 2013 ST. PAUL, Minn. The federal health care overhaul will reduce the amount of money Minnesota hospitals pay each year to care for patients who can’t afford their services, according to a new report from the Minnesota Department of Health Continue reading

Walmart Joins Arkansas Health Care Payment Improvement Initiative

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe announced today that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) is joining a groundbreaking effort to create a more patient-centered and cost-efficient health payment system through the Arkansas Payment Improvement Initiative (APII). Continue reading

Lower sin tax, less health care for poor

(Editor’s Note: This is third of a 4-part special report on sin taxes.) MANILA, Philippines – When the sin tax reform bill is compromised, so are health care plans for the poor. This is because under the proposed bill, about 85% of annual incremental revenues from excise taxes on so-called sin productstobacco and alcoholwill go the government’s universal health care (UHC) program Continue reading

Web tool provides health care analytics

There may be no other industry that is regulated as much as health care. According to Adrian Velasquez, president of Wauwatosa-based Fi-Med Management Inc., declining reimbursement rates and a tough economy have increased audits and investigations of hospital systems across the country Continue reading

Lib Tech launches eco-friendly surfboard line

Updated: June 27, 2012, 5:20 PM ET After more than three decades spent refining an eco-alternative to the traditional high performance surfboard, Mike Olson and Lib Tech have officially announced the release of their long-anticipated line of surfboards, the Lib Tech Waterboards. Lib Tech is highly regarded in the snowboard and skateboard industries for its environmental board building practices and original, artistic board designs, but the company’s roots are actually in surfing. Continue reading

Using nanotechnology, SU scientists replicate light produced by fireflies

Asst. Copy Editor One day, energy provided by batteries and electricity may be replaced by the replication of one of natures bright and luminous wonders: the glow produced by fireflies. Syracuse University scientists recently replicated the light fireflies provide by using nanotechnology Continue reading