Health Care

RI Insurers Must Disclose Prices to Doctors

Kristin Gourlay — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:17:54 +0000

For the first time, Rhode Island’s insurance commissioner has directed health insurers to disclose what they pay for health care services. But that information won’t necessarily be directly available to patients.

More Layoffs As Lifespan Tries to Trim $150M

Kristin Gourlay — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:32:36 +0000

The state’s largest hospital network is making another attempt to trim nearly $150 million in expenses over the next two and a half years. Lifespan has announced another round of layoffs.

RI's Latest Health Care Merger: Good for You and Your Bottom Line?

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:24:22 +0000

The Lifespan hospital system’s recent acquisition of Gateway, a mental health care network, may be a sign of more to come. But it could be too soon to tell what it means for a patient’s pocketbook.

RI Health Dept. Encourages Hep C Testing for Boomers

Kristin Gourlay — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:53:24 +0000

The Rhode Island Dept. of Health estimates nearly 11,000 Rhode Islanders are infected with the Hepatitis C virus but don’t know it. That’s why the department is encouraging testing.

Online Health Insurance Marketplace to Offer 28 Plans

Kristin Gourlay — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:44:46 +0000

Rhode Island’s online marketplace for health insurance is taking shape in preparation for October 1^st. That's the date the exchange is scheduled to be up and running with a variety of new health plans to choose from.

Women & Infants Researcher Counters Critics of Premature Baby Study

Kristin Gourlay — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:13:35 +0000

Women and Infants Hospital is responding to allegations that a research study of premature babies in which it participated didn’t properly inform parents of the risks.

Newport Drinking Water Exceeds Safety Standard

Kristin Gourlay — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:20:31 +0000

Newport residents received notice this week that levels of some cancer-causing chemicals in their water have exceeded what’s allowed by the federal government. It’s no emergency, but the city is upgrading its treatment facilities to prevent possible long term health effects.

USDA to Help RI Feed Low-Income Kids This Summer

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:45:48 +0000

Rhode Island is getting a boost from the US Department of Agriculture to help attract more kids in need to its summer food program. The USDA’s goal is to increase participation by 10 percent.

BCBSRI Responds to Steward Suit Over Failed Landmark Deal

Kristin Gourlay — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:56:32 +0000

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island is responding to a lawsuit claiming that it stymied Steward Health Care’s bid to acquire Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket.

Steward is the Massachusetts-based, for-profit health care chain that tried to acquire Landmark, which has been in receivership for several years. Steward filed suit in Superior Court this week claiming Blue Cross thwarted those plans purposefully to maintain what Steward calls an unlawful monopoly on commercial insurance and hospital services.

Westerly Hospital Lays off 45 Ahead of Sale to L&M

Kristin Gourlay — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:27:41 +0000

Westerly Hospital will lay off 45 employees, just before its sale to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, CT is completed.

Westerly’s new owners struck deals with hospital unions early on during acquisition talks. They agreed to keep most clinical positions. The 45 lay-offs don’t conflict with those commitments.

15 of the employees losing their jobs are unionized support staff. The rest are mainly from Westerly’s business office. Those functions will be consolidated at L&M’s headquarters in Connecticut.