Hospital Roundup—Spending bill includes opioid funds; UMMC cited after viral video; nonprofit leaders earn millions

Spending bill includes funding for NIH research, opioid crisis

Congress unveiled its 2018 omnibus spending bill Wednesday night, and it includes additional funding for research into diseases and the opioid epidemic. The bill would provide $88.1 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Health and Human Services for 2018, which is $10.1 billion more than fiscal year 2017. This includes a $3 billion increase to the National Institutes of Health's research budget, bringing NIH's total funding allocation to $37 billion. (FierceHealthcare)

UMD hospital cited for patient rights violations over patient dumping case captured in viral video

The University of Maryland Medical Center violated a patient’s rights as well as several patient safety regulations when staff at the Midtown Campus discharged the woman in only her hospital gown on a cold January evening, according to a federal investigation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found numerous deficiencies or failures to comply with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act related to the incident. (FierceHealthcare)

Nonprofit hospital executives in the multimillion-dollar club

Healthcare systems and academic medical centers are some of the highest paying nonprofit organizations, doling out seven-figure pay packages to their top executives. Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, took the third top-pay spot. (FierceHealthcare)

Puerto Rico healthcare conditions slowly improving in wake of Hurricane Maria

Hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico six months ago. Today, 1 in 10 permanent health centers on the island still lack consistent electricity. Conditions have slowly improved, but continued power outages and a shortage of medical personnel have hampered recovery. (FierceHealthcare

Paying hospitals to keep patients out of hospitals is working in Maryland

Maryland’s statewide system of pushing hospitals to lower admissions has led to savings of hundreds of millions of dollars for the taxpayers, employers and others who ultimately pay the bills. Maryland essentially pays hospitals to keep people out of the hospital. Analysts describe the change as the most far-reaching attempt in the nation to control the medical costs driving up insurance premiums and government spending. (FierceHealthcare)