Nov 14 Health University of Louisville Hospital Announces Partnership with KentuckyOne Health After over eight months of negotiations, U of L Hospital and University Medical Center will enter into a joint agreement with KentuckyOne Health on March 1, 2013.KentuckyOne Health -- which is under directives of Catholic Health Initiatives -- will maintain the day-to-day operations but U of L Hospital and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center will remain independent in its oversight and health directives, which was a major criticism during last year's merger talks.On Wednesday, officials said there were two competitive bidders, the other being Health Management Associates out of Naples, Fla. But, they say KentuckyOne Health was more aligned with UMC's mission and goals.Attorney General Jack Conway, who last year provided Gov. Steve Beshear his recommendations that U of L not merge with KentuckyOne Health, said the new joint agreement addresses issues that previously concerned him.“It also maintains state control of the hospital. It does not transfer a state asset. It protects women’s health. It maintains all current services and it ensures the hospital’s ability to help care for our community’s indigent," he said.Under the 20-year $1.4 billion agreement, all services will be maintained at the respective facilities, but none of the Catholic health directives under CHI will be put on any of the University's facilities. In return, KentuckyOne Health will have access to UMC and U of L to help develop its healthcare system.In the first few years over half-a-billion dollars will invest in academic programs, technology improvements and other services:o $75 million annually for academic and program investments and another $95 million over the first three years for key service lines and departments;o $70 million for critically needed IT infrastructure upgrades at UMC;o $15 million for discretionary spending by UofL for each of the first three years, targeted on statewide health efforts; ando $3 million will be dedicated for research annually and $7.5 million per year in capital investment for technology.University officials say a study provided during the bidding process shows the return on investment looks very good in the first four years.Update: Honi Goldman, a critic of the UofL Hospital merger plan from last year, issued this statement: "This UL 'partnership' is the old proverb of 'once a camel gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow.' So beware of the 'Kentucky One's' nose."Update: Current University Medical Center policies for women's health and end-of-life care will remain unchanged, officials said.The joint agreement will lead to a $543 million investment to UMC in the first five years, then $1.4 billion over 20 years, officials said.Earlier: The University of Louisville Hospital announced Wednesday a partnership plan with KentuckyOne Health -- the same group it attempted to merge with last year.From the announcement:The University Medical Center (UMC) and the University of Louisville (UofL) announced today that they have entered a partnership that brings together University Hospital and the James Graham Brown CancerCenter with KentuckyOne Health. The agreements for the partnership have been signed by the partners along with Governor Steve Beshear.This new collaboration with KentuckyOne Health is essential for University Hospital | James Graham Brown Cancer Center to continue its core mission as an innovative academic medical center and a vital regional safety net hospital that provides the highest level of care to all patients. This partnership will maintain local control of the hospital. Additionally, it enables the University of Louisville to continue to recruit and retain the best faculty for its health schools, which are critical as the pipeline of future generations of doctors, nurses, dentists and caregivers.Last year, Gov. Steve Beshear rejected a plan that would have merged UofL Hospital with Catholic Health Initiatives and Jewish Hospital. Jewish Hospital and Catholic Health Initiatives then merged without UofL Hospital, creating KentuckyOne. UofL Hospital issued requests for proposals for a new merger plan earlier this year.WFPL will bring more information as it becomes available. By Devin Katayama Nov 14 Health University of Louisville Hospital Announces Partnership with KentuckyOne Health Devin Katayama
Jul 28 Health Promising Alzheimer’s Drug Being Developed At UK A class of drugs developed by researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Kentucky could help reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Linda Van Eldik of UK’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging says the drug targets inflammation in the brain.“So we administered the drug early in the course of the disease, just when these pro-inflammatory molecules are beginning to develop. And by doing that, we reduced the inflammation back down to normal and we prevented the nerve cell damage and the behavioral deficits,” she said.The study was conducted on mice, and Van Eldik says a biotech company is now developing a similar drug and doing initial tests on humans. Alzheimer’s affects some five million Americans and the number of diagnosed cases continues to grow. By Brenna Angel Kentucky Public Radio Jul 28 Health Promising Alzheimer’s Drug Being Developed At UK Brenna Angel Kentucky Public Radio
Jun 28 Health High Court Upholds ACA: Roundup Information for this post also came from the Associated PressPresident Barack Obama's health care overhaul will proceed thanks to the help of conservative Chief Justice John Roberts. The Supreme Court upheld the law today with Roberts joining with the court's four liberal justices in a 5-4 decision. By Rick Howlett Jun 28 Health High Court Upholds ACA: Roundup Rick Howlett
Jun 28 Health Beshear: High Court Decision Removes Uncertainty; State To Move Forward With Insurance Exchange Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear says the state will now move forward with the establishment of a health insurance exchange now that the Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of the federal health care overhaul.Beshear issued this statement today: “This Supreme Court decision removes much of the uncertainty about the Affordable Care Act. By Rick Howlett Jun 28 Health Beshear: High Court Decision Removes Uncertainty; State To Move Forward With Insurance Exchange Rick Howlett
Jun 23 Health Mixed Results for Medicaid Operators in Kentucky Last year, Kentucky state officials approved plans to bring on more regional Managed Care Operators, MCOs, to administer the state’s Medicaid program, which has been facing significant budget shortfalls. By Brad Yost Jun 23 Health Mixed Results for Medicaid Operators in Kentucky Brad Yost
Apr 25 Health IU Medical School, Health System Announce $150 Million Research Initiative The Indiana University School of Medicine and IU Health hospital system are launching an unprecedented $150 million research collaboration. By Rick Howlett Apr 25 Health IU Medical School, Health System Announce $150 Million Research Initiative Rick Howlett
Apr 25 Health Eastern Kentucky Provider Sues to Maintain Adequate Healthcare Protection Eastern Kentucky’s largest healthcare provider is suing the state and two major managed care operators (MCO) for failing to provide adequate care under the new privatized Medicaid system.Appalachian Regional Healthcare, which provides a majority of the healthcare services to eastern Kentucky (locations noted on map), may soon lack adequate protection against high medical costs. By Devin Katayama Apr 25 Health Eastern Kentucky Provider Sues to Maintain Adequate Healthcare Protection Devin Katayama