By the Numbers

2 — It has been two years since St. Peter’s Healthcare Services, Northeast Health and Seton Health announced plans to merge into a regional system with five hospitals, 19 primary care centers and a network of senior services. The goal is for the new organization to form the basis of an accountable care organization—a group of providers who take joint responsibility for a group of patients for a lump payment. If they provide care for less, while meeting quality goals, they share in the savings. Read more: Under review: Merger could change care in region | The Business Review

91-6 — West Virginia hospitals would pay a new tax to secure additional federal Medicaid funds under legislation heading to acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. Thursday’s 91-6 vote approves a Senate-passed bill creating a temporary provider tax for acute care hospitals.

1 – Proposed constitutional amendment passed by Florida State Senators to keep President Obama’s healthcare overhaul out of Florida.

2 – As in Twin Cities. The Twin Cities have the safest hospitals in the nation, according to a report released Wednesday.

Among metro areas with at least 1 million people, Twin Cities hospitals had the lowest rate of preventable medical mistakes, according to a study by HealthGrades, a provider of physician and hospital information. Read more: Report says Twin Cities have safest hospitals in nation | Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

 

$525 Million —  Walgreen Co (Deerfield, IL) plans to sell its pharmacy-benefit management business for $525 million to Catalyst Health Solutions Inc (Rockville, MD). The sale should be completed by June 2011, and transition costs will be about $40 million. Additional details were not disclosed.