Miami Jewish Health Systems

Miami Jewish Health Systems (MJHS) is featured in the following Associated Press wire story on the changing nursing home landscape and how organizations are taking steps to ensure long term sustainability through the diversification of their business models and introduction of new service lines not commonly associated with those of a traditional nursing home. Founded 70 years ago as a nursing home, MJHS now stands as a full-service healthcare system that treats patients of all ages from throughout South Florida and across the globe.

Now that the Baby Boomer generation is heading into the retirement age, Alzheimer’s disease has become the next major concern for healthcare professionals - and entitlement programs.  With new changes in healthcare reform during  a troubled economy, a new generation is increasingly growing concerned about the looming financial burden of caring for millions of patients affected by this disease.  How will this affect healthcare providers, Medicaid, and the patients and their families’ finances - not to mention the emotional toll of caring for a loved one suffering from dementia?

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Posted by Schwartz Media Strategies, a Miami, Florida public relations (PR) firm
Given the current state of affairs in the global economy, it's very easy for a business to become engulfed in developing solutions to 'todays' problems. But the shrewdest companies and organizations -- and those best positioned for long term sustainability -- are the ones that have already begun anticipating tomorrow's challenges today.

Examples abound within our client roster alone.

Miami Jewish Health Systems, located in the heart of Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, is home to one of South Florida's largest Haitian employee bases. MJHS is doing a lot to support earthquake relief efforts (see previous post), but one of the most impactful activities underway at the 1,300-employee organization has less to do with collecting money and goods and more to do with a few clicks of the mouse.

By JANE E. BRODY

BUSINESS JOURNALS

Friday, September 25, 2009

Following is the New York Times’ coverage of Florida Senator Bill Nelson’s proposed amendment that would shield seniors from benefit cuts under the administration’s health care reform bill. Senator Nelson, who is hearing from constituents, recently met with patients at the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital.

Senator Tries to Allay Fears on Health Overhaul

By ROBERT PEAR

Published: September 23, 2009

WASHINGTON — Senator Bill Nelson of Florida desperately wants to expand health insurance coverage because one in five Floridians is uninsured. As a former state insurance commissioner, he wants to crack down on insurers. And as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, he can shape legislation to achieve both goals.

But Mr. Nelson, a Democrat, has a big problem. The bill taken up this week by the committee would cut Medicare payments to insurance companies that care for more than 10 million older Americans, including nearly one million in Florida. The program, known as Medicare Advantage, is popular because it offers extra benefits, including vision and dental care and even, in some cases, membership in health clubs or fitness centers.

“It would be intolerable to ask senior citizens to give up substantial health benefits they are enjoying under Medicare,” said Mr. Nelson, who has been deluged with calls and complaints from constituents. “I am offering an amendment to shield seniors from those benefit cuts.”

Similar concerns exploded into public view on Wednesday as members of the Finance Committee slogged though a mammoth health care overhaul bill for a second day.

To help offset the cost of covering the uninsured, the Senate and House bills would squeeze roughly $400 billion to $500 billion out of the projected growth in Medicare over 10 years.

Republicans on Wednesday accused Democrats of using Medicare as a piggy bank to pay for coverage of the uninsured. Democrats countered by saying they were eliminating overpayments to insurance companies and extending the life of the Medicare trust fund, which could run out of money in 2017.

THE MIAMI HERALD - BUSINESS MONDAY - MY VIEW