The Affordable Care Act has been enacted in Washington. Now the debate has turned to each individual state as they try to “implement the new health insurance reforms effectively and efficiently.” The struggle will be that the states ensure that all health benefits “flow seamlessly and affordable access is established.”

One in ten dollars will be spent (within the health care system) utilized on defensive medicine and frivolous lawsuits. “This is due in part to investors and hedge funds seizing on medical liability lawsuits in order to reap the rewards that should be going directly to injured patients.”

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding Medicaid will add costs to states of at least $118 billion (through 2023). This is a higher estimate of costs than what was originally estimated. These new estimates were recently released in a report from House and Senate Republicans. Who is covered by Medicaid? At this present time, almost 54 million Americans.

A recent survey conducted by Health Facilities Management has found that more hospitals and health systems are now leaning towards renovation rather than building new facilities.

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Private employers are now offering their employees cash incentives if they make healthier lifestyle choices. Some of those healthier lifestyle choices include: stopping smoking, weight loss, good management of diabetes. In 2010, 62% of employers offered such cash incentives; this was an increase from 2009 and only 57% of employers.

West Penn Allegheny Health System, based in Pittsburgh, has reported a loss of $26.8 million (halfway in the fiscal year). $12 million contributed to the operating loss due to the system’s major restructuring project. The loss was in part due to severance packages, as well as fees for consultants and “physician integration costs.”

With the big push for greener solutions today, Kaiser is holding a contest to seek out design concepts for smaller, greener hospitals. The winner of this contest will win up to $750,000 to further develop this concept.