Survey: Idaho employers tight on health benefits
POSTED: Monday, March 1, 2010 at 09:41 AM PTBY: IBR Staff
Tags: Employment, health insurance, Idaho Department of Labor, state of Idaho
Idaho employers continued reining in access to health care coverage between 2007 and 2009 as the state’s economy moved from creating more jobs than any other state to shedding more than 8 percent of its jobs.
The 2009 Idaho Fringe Benefit Survey found the number of employers offering full-time employees medical coverage had fallen to 56 [...]
Idaho Falls physician group acquired by Mednax
POSTED: Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 11:02 AM PTBY: IBR Staff
Tags: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, hospitals, Mednax, Pediatrix Medical Group
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Mednax has purchased a neonatal physician group based in Idaho Falls.
The practice consists of two physicians who staff the Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, as well as two area hospitals in the southeast Idaho region. Annual NICU patient volume at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical [...]
St. Luke’s expands laboratory solution software
POSTED: Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 09:22 AM PTBY: IBR Staff
Tags: hospitals, St. Luke's, Sunquest
Idaho-based St. Luke’s Health System is preparing to expand the health care diagnostic information technology and outreach solutions in its laboratories.
Sunquest Information Systems, a provider of health care diagnostic information technology and outreach solutions, and St. Luke’s Health System have signed an agreement for services.
“St. Luke’s Laboratory Services will be implementing a fully operational system [...]
Health and Welfare launches new benefits system
POSTED: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 10:21 AM PTBY: IBR Staff
Tags: Accenture, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare has successfully replaced its outdated human service benefits eligibility system with the support of global management consulting firm Accenture.
The new Idaho Benefit and Eligibility System replaces a 30-year-old eligibility system that could not be updated to accommodate new requirements nor support efficient administration of the state’s health and human [...]
Idaho House passes hospital debt measure 65-5
POSTED: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 09:55 AM PTBY: Simon Shifrin
Tags: debt, hospitals, Idaho Legislature, Walter Knox Memorial Hospital
The Idaho House has voted 65-5 to back an amendment of the state Constitution to restore public hospitals’ authority to go into debt without a vote of the people.
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Feb. 23 to back a joint resolution that would amend the Constitution to clarify that county and district hospitals could incur debt without a [...]
New hospital opens in Gooding 
POSTED: Monday, February 22, 2010 at 12:12 PM PTBY: IBR Staff
Tags: City of Gooding, Layton Construction, North Canyon Medical Center
Construction is complete on the 50,000-square-foot North Canyon Medical Center in Gooding, and officials are preparing to open the doors to patients on March 2.
Sandy, Utah-based Layton Construction, which has an office in Boise, began construction on the new hospital in September 2008. The architect was Salt Lake City-based Architectural Nexus.
The total cost for the [...]
Committee backs bill to give public hospitals debt powers
POSTED: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 10:21 AM PTBY: Simon Shifrin
Tags: Fred Wood, hospitals, Idaho Legislature, Kootenai Health
A House committee voted unanimously to approve a proposal that would restore public hospitals’ authority to go into debt without a vote of the people, a power thrown into doubt by a 2006 Idaho Supreme Court decision.
The House State Affairs Committee approved a joint resolution Feb. 17 that would amend the state constitution to clarify [...]
Twin Falls doctor joins St. Luke’s board
POSTED: Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 12:37 PM PTBY: IBR Staff
Tags: hospitals, St. Luke's
Lucie DiMaggio, a practicing internal medicine physician in Twin Falls, is the newest member of the St. Luke’s Health System’s Board of Directors, the hospital announced.
She replaces Magic Valley physician Robert Lobb, who resigned his position after three years to pursue full retirement.
DiMaggio joins 10 other community volunteers from throughout St. Luke’s service area who [...]
St. Luke’s Health System selects AmeriBen for services
POSTED: Friday, January 22, 2010 at 10:46 AM PTBY: IBR Staff
Tags: Ameriben, St. Luke's Health Systems
Meridian based AmeriBen has been awarded a contract to administer medical benefits for St. Luke’s Health System beginning April 1.
Jon Aubrey, senior vice president of Account and Business Development, stated, “We are very excited for the opportunity to be the claims administrator for St. Luke’s Health System. We recognize and appreciate the valuable [...]
Ribbon cut on new BSU nursing building
POSTED: Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 03:43 PM PTBY: IBR Staff
Tags: Boise State, Education
Boise State University on Jan. 13 cut the ribbon on its new 81,000-plus square foot Norco Building, which will house the university’s Department of Nursing and University Health Services.
The four-story building, located at 1529 Belmont St. on the south end of campus, cost $20 million to construct and was paid with a range of sources, [...]
