Connect with us

Delaware

Hospital cost review board passes Delaware Senate

Published

on

Hospital cost review board passes Delaware Senate


According to a news release from Delaware Health and Social Services earlier this month, health care spending in Delaware increased by 6.3% in 2022, outpacing the 3% growth rate benchmark. The previous year saw an 11% increase as more people resumed health care visits they had put off during the pandemic.

“The 6.3% per capita increase in 2022 is significant, but there was an expectation of some continuing health care spending rebound effect in the post-pandemic period,” the news release said. “Moving forward into 2023 and beyond, DHSS expects Delaware’s health care market to be in a steadier state.”

Carney set a spending benchmark in 2018, which was an aspirational goal for annual per-capita-rate health care spending growth. The 3.8% benchmark took effect in 2019. It’s since fluctuated to various percentages below 4%.

Once up and running, the review board would review each hospital’s budget annually. If a hospital failed to meet spending benchmarks, it would be required to develop a performance improvement plan. Once a hospital met spending targets for three consecutive years, the board would release it from the performance plan oversight. When a hospital successfully meets its budget goals for three consecutive years, it would no longer be required to participate in the budget approval process.

Advertisement

“This legislation is not about punishing hospitals, but rather ensuring our constituents are able to access quality and affordable health care and to put a system into place to slow down the skyrocketing costs that we have experienced in Delaware,” House Speaker Valerie Longhurst said during a debate in the House.

Advocates of the legislation say hospitals are the primary driver of higher costs. However, DHA President and CEO Brian Frazee has argued pharmacy drugs and long-term care are more significant cost drivers than hospitals.

Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, said he was concerned about an “attack on hospitals” and that the hospitals were forced to come to the table after being backed into a deal.

“It disturbed me greatly when one hospital had told me two days ago that before House Bill 350 was introduced, no one from the General Assembly, not from this chamber, not from the other chamber, picked up the phone and called them to discuss and understand hospital costs,” he said. “Not one. Is this a collaboration? Is this a partnership? Not in any definition that I’m familiar with.”

The bill heads back to the House for approval of the Senate amendment, where it passed 21-16 on a near party-line vote, with three Democrats voting in opposition. If the House signs off and no other changes are made, it will then head to Gov. John Carney’s desk.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Delaware

Reading man arrested for shooting in Delaware

Published

on

Reading man arrested for shooting in Delaware


A Reading man was arrested last week for a shooting earlier this month at a Red Roof Inn & Suites in New Castle, Delaware.

Erickson Acuapa, 21, of Reading, was arrested in Wyomissing for the shooting that took place June 16, Delaware state police said.

Acuapa was arrested by Wyomissing police and later extradited to Delaware and taken into custody by Delaware state police.

He was charged with assault, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, and reckless endangerment.

Advertisement

According to a press release:

At 3:33 a.m. troopers responded to reports of the shooting at 1612 N. Dupont Highway.

When troopers arrived on the scene, they learned that a 20-year-old male victim had been taken to a local hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm.

A preliminary investigation revealed that several people gathered at the motel after attending a local concert.

During this gathering, the victim and unknown suspect engaged in an argument. The altercation escalated, and the suspect fired a shot at the victim before fleeing the scene.

Advertisement

An investigation by detectives identified the suspect as Erickson Acuapa.

On June 19, Acuapa was located in Wyomissing and taken into custody by the Wyomissing Police Department.

Following his extradition to Delaware, Acuapa was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $138,000 cash bond.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Delaware

Del. Supreme Court restores early voting access and permanent absentee voting

Published

on

Del. Supreme Court restores early voting access and permanent absentee voting


Delaware Supreme Court justices heard arguments in the case earlier this month.

Former judge and chair of the Delaware Republican Party Jane Brady argued the case on behalf of Hocker and the elections inspector. She said the state’s constitution specifies only one day that the election can be held, making early voting unconstitutional. She also argued that the language in the constitution requires voters to apply for an absentee ballot for each election.

“We claim that the statutes on their face are unconstitutional. They don’t comply with the language in the constitution,” she said. “Clearly, the drafters intended to address two issues: the time of the election and the manner of the election.”

Former U.S. Solicitor Donald Verrilli, representing the state, countered by arguing that both permanent absentee and early voting are employed in many other states across the U.S. and are consistent with Delaware’s Constitution and within the power of lawmakers to enact.

Advertisement

“Article Five, Section One [of the state constitution] provides an express delegation to the General Assembly to prescribe the means, methods and instruments of election to further a whole set of important goals,” he said. “That seems to me to be a structural indication that the Legislature has broad power here to set the means and methods of elections.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.



Source link

Continue Reading

Delaware

How bank fraud suspects targeted man in Delco grocery store parking lot

Published

on

How bank fraud suspects targeted man in Delco grocery store parking lot


UPPER CHICHESTER, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Upper Chichester police hope the public can help them identify two people they believe targeted a man for bank fraud in Delaware County. There’s also concern there could be other victims.

On June 4, around 12:30 p.m., police say the pair followed the man out of the Giant in Aston and approached him in the parking lot.

One suspect claimed he dropped a $20 bill while the other was recording the interaction.

Police say the victim pulled out and opened his wallet and said the money wasn’t his. In the process, cards fell to the ground and the man’s personal information was possibly caught on video.

Advertisement

A short time later, thousands of dollars were swiped from the man’s bank account, according to police.

“It’s horrible, there’s all kinds of things that are happening all different kinds of scams that are going around and people just need to be really, really careful,” said Jackie Kane of Aston Township, who was walking her dog near the Village Green Shopping Center.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, in the first quarter of this year, more than 30,000 cases of bank fraud have been reported nationwide. The tri-state ranked 8th overall for fraud, and people 70 to 79 were the most targeted.

“They’re too trustworthy too, older people,” said Cindy Robertson, of Ridley Park, who was shopping nearby.

“They should be careful, especially if they’re by themselves and they don’t have somebody with them.”

Advertisement

Residents say it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and they’re also thankful the only injury in this case was financial.

“It’s frustrating, it’s frustrating people do that kind of stuff. That guy worked for whatever he has his whole life and somebody gonna steal it, that is not a good thing to do,” said Dave Bonavita of Upper Chichester.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending