Former director of Dartmouth Institute hired: Julie L. Lewis has been named vice president of health policy and government relations for Amedisys. Lewis will work with hospitals, doctors and private payers in developing pilots to test new delivery and payment models. Before joining Amedisys, she was director of health policy at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Lewis also worked for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, handling domestic issues, such as health care.
January numbers impacted by snow: Consumers bought more from retailers for a seventh straight month in January. But snowstorms limited the spending gains expected from workers with more money in their paychecks from a Social Security tax cut. Retail sales rose 0.3% last month to $318.6 billion, the Commerce Department says. Demand rose at department stores, electronic stores and auto dealerships. Sales have risen more than 14% from the recession low in December 2008. Americans spent less at restaurants and on clothing while paying higher prices for gas. Stuart Hoffman, an economist at PNC Financial, says harsh weather played a role in limiting the sales gains. But Hoffman says he remains optimistic that sales will continue to rise and fuel the economy in the coming months.
