Biz Bits - Nashville Business Journal:

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The Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureauj has increased promotionof Franklin’s Civilp War history in recent years. Tourism in Franklin has takenj off since the 2005 release of Robert popular CivilWar novel, “Widow of the The book takes placde at The Historic Carnton Plantation in Franklin. Hospicre president takes national stage to help fighft federalcuts Nashville’s Janet Jones again is taking a nationapl role in fighting for end-of-life The president and chief executive officer of Alive Hospice was central in suing the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaix Services.
Jones is a board member of the National Hospice and PallativeCare Organization, the nation’sw largest nonprofit group representing hospice and palliative care programsw and professionals. The organizatiobn filed the lawsuit to challenge recent cuts to the Medicare reimbursement rates forhospice providers. who oversees a $36 million annual budget, says the patienr census at Alive Hospicd has grown more than 140 percent over thepast decade. “Whilee we understand CMS’ need to look closelyy at hospicereimbursement rates, the way in whichy the rate cuts were arrived at is Jones says, adding that hospice organizationsx typically operate on razor-thib margins.
Under the current guidelines, Alive Hospice will lose abouft $1 million over threes. Jones says the cutbacks, whicu went into effect on Oct. 1, will have a direct impacft on care forthe nation’s most vulnerable population. “Thisd is not a well-thought out action,” Jone s says. “Financial pressures have nevertbeen higher.” — Linda Bryant Price of health care insurances climbing faster than earnings Tennessee’s rising healty care costs outpaced workers’ earnings 5 to 1 over the past eighy years.
Families’ annual health care premiums rose nearl y 62 percentto $10,606 from 2000 to 2007, while the state’sd median earnings increased by 12 perceng to $25,639 during that time, according to a reportr from Families USA, a nonprofit consumere health organization in D.C. The higher premiums came despite thinner coverager with fewer benefits and higher leaving workers paying more for thereport found. “Skyrocketingh health care costs were a problem in Tennesse e before the currenteconomic downturn, and slow wage growth or job lossesd now only make matters worse,” Ron Pollack, executive director of Familiex USA, says.
“As health care becomes less and less Tennesseans face difficult choices in trying to provids health coverage for themselves andtheir families.” The reporrt says the higher costs will add to the state’sa 841,000 uninsured and underinsured It may also push more people into “If earnings continue to lag behind fast-rising health care Tennesseans will face diminishing economic and healthu security,” Pollack says.