This summer, Congress has been considering a variety of proposals to overhaul our nation’s healthcare system. Like many Kentuckians, I believe we need to enact comprehensive healthcare reform legislation which will increase access to quality healthcare and services while lowering costs for all Americans.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a revision to the National Housing Act Section 242 to allow Hospitals to use the program for refinancing existing debt. The revision is effective for the period July 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010 and HUD has indicated that they will be publishing a rule that proposes to amend the regulations as a permanent component of the Program.

One of the first principles every doctor learns is “do no harm.” This reminds them of the power they hold in their hands—while it is within their abilities to heal a patient, what they do has the potential to cause injury as well. Doctors must weigh the risks of different actions.

Kerri Cokeley began work this week as Executive Director of the Clark Memorial Hospital Foundation. Cokeley has been a philanthropic leader in the Southern Indiana community for nearly 10 years, with expertise in resource development, relationship building, board leadership and fund-raising campaigns. She most recently worked as Associate Director of Community Building for Metro United Way.

Hui Shao, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, has received a $60,000 Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award from the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) organization. The grant will help fund Shao’s research of Sjogren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disease that targets the salivary and lacrimal glands – the glands that produce saliva and tears, respectively – resulting in dry mouth and dry eye symptoms.

Hundreds of thousands of Kentucky families are expected to benefit over the next 10 years from the new federal health reform law. Kentuckians with health insurance will receive enhanced benefits, an estimated 261,000 who are now uninsured will eventually have coverage through Medicaid, and 221,000 Kentucky families will receive tax credits to help purchase insurance.

About 1200 people from rural, eastern Kentucky are expected to turn out -- and even camp out overnight -- in order to seek free medical and dental care provided by over 150 University of Louisville dental and medical students and faculty on June 19 and 20.

The current economic downturn and looming healthcare reform should motivate physicians to carefully examine their business and make changes to enhance their practice.