Healthcare Financial News

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Sept. 23 announced changes in the way it will evaluate traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and burn scars for purposes of determining the appropriate level of compensation veterans receive for these injuries. At the same time, the department announced it will substantially increase disability benefits for veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries. Compensation payments now will be as much as $600 per month, compared with the $117 veterans with symptoms including headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, ringing in the ears, irritability, and insomnia currently receive. The new payments, which will begin in 30 days, will affect between 3,500 and 5,000 veterans annually. VA estimates the added benefits will cost an additional $120 million through 2017.

The new benefits alter a 1961 rating schedule that assesses mild brain trauma that did not recognize some brain injuries, such as those from blasts. More than 90 percent of combat-related TBIs are closed head injuries, with most servicemembers sustaining a mild TBI or concussion. As of this month, there are more than 22,000 veterans being compensated for TBI, of whom more than 5,800 are veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Download the final rule.

An increase in executive and physician leadership and improvements in general infection prevention practices are needed to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and improve patient care, according to a survey of more than 930 infection preventionists nationwide. The report of the survey, conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and the Premier healthcare alliance, was released Sept. 23.

Only 15 percent of survey respondents indicated that executive and physician leadership are actively engaged and leading the charge against infections in their facilities, though 30.3 percent suggested executives and physicians are the most important resource to meet HAI challenges. When asked how HAI data are shared between infection preventionists and executives, 57.6 percent of respondents cited regular agenda discussions at board meetings, but only 15.3 percent responded that senior leadership provides feedback and recommendations.

Survey respondents cited removing unnecessary indwelling urinary catheters (55.5 percent) as the most challenging HAI prevention intervention to implement. Measuring compliance with hand hygiene practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was also identified by 35.5 percent of the respondents as a significant challenge. Read the survey summary.