05/18/2012
The Los Angeles Times has obtained internal reports from Metropolitan State Hospital showing lapses in patient care. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center has stopped construction on a support building after workers discovered a cemetery on the hospital grounds.
05/15/2012
Budget subcommittees in the Assembly and Senate have rejected a budget proposal that would have curbed inspections of hospitals’ and nursing homes’ compliance with state laws. Patient safety advocates are worried that the proposal will resurface. California Watch.
05/15/2012
On Friday, Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions -- which represents nearly 100,000 Kaiser workers -- announced a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract. The contract includes annual wage increases of 3% for California workers and 2% for workers in all other regions. The tentative deal maintains health care, pensions and retiree benefits and improves dental care, according to the announcement. If the local unions ratify the deal, it would take effect Oct. 1. San Francisco Business Times.
05/15/2012
Children with private insurance coverage are more likely to undergo procedures in the emergency department than their uninsured or publicly insured peers, according to a study in the Journal of Pediatrics. Researchers say it remains unclear whether study findings indicate that EDs are withholding care for the uninsured and publicly insured children or overtreating children with private insurance coverage, who typically draw larger reimbursements. Kaiser Health News' "Capsules."
05/14/2012
Five out of the top 10 hospitals where patients cost Medicare the most money are located in California, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis of data published on the CMS Hospital Compare website. Kaiser Health News' "Capsules."
05/11/2012
The California Department of Public Health has cited Shasta Regional Medical Center for repeated breaches of patient confidentiality in 2011. Children's Hospital & Research Center in Oakland has received $3 million in grant funding that the facility will use for renovations.
05/08/2012
A new study finds that reported hospital charges for certain treatments vary among California hospitals. However, hospital officials say that the findings are of little value because the charges do not represent what patients actually pay. Ventura County Star.
05/07/2012
On Wednesday, the Assembly Committee on Local Government approved a bill, by Assembly member Luis Alejo, that would prohibit taxpayer-funded health care districts from offering financial perks to retiring executives that are not offered to other employees. The measure comes after the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System gave its outgoing CEO a $4.9 million retirement and severance package last year. The bill now goes to the full Assembly. Bay Citizen.
05/04/2012
This week, about 4,500 nurses went on strike at seven Sutter Health hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area in response to proposals made by Sutter during contract negotiations. Stanford Hospital & Clinics has agreed to a three-year HMO and PPO contract with Blue Shield of California.
05/03/2012
The Service Employees International Union will stop pursuing two proposed ballot initiatives as part of an agreement with the California Hospital Association. In exchange, CHA will help facilitate the union's organizing efforts. Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal," Payers & Providers.
05/02/2012
New rules implemented under the federal health reform law seek to clarify how not-for-profit hospitals must report charity care and provide health care services to low-income patients. However, the rules are not being actively enforced, allowing some not-for-profit hospitals to seek payment from patients who struggle to pay hospital bills. NPR's "Shots."
05/01/2012
Massachusetts lawmakers soon are expected to consider legislation that would overhaul the way health care providers are paid. For example, a legislative committee is advancing a bill that would move all state health care providers to a value-based payment model. Washington Post.
04/27/2012
Kaweah Delta Health Care District recently received accreditation to establish medical residency programs. Meanwhile, the California Nurses Association is planning a one-day strike at 10 Sutter Health hospitals to protest a lack of progress in contract negotiations.
04/27/2012
On Tuesday, CMS issued a proposed rule that would increase inpatient payment rates to hospitals by 2.3% in fiscal year 2013. However, CMS said that other policies in the proposed rule and estimated utilization of inpatient services would lower the increase to 0.9%. In addition, CMS issued a final rule requiring providers and suppliers to include their National Provider Identifier when submitting Medicare and Medicaid payment claims or when applying for program enrollment. FierceHealthcare et al.
04/27/2012
This week, Kaiser Permanente officials touted the success of its Android-based mobile phone application, which the insurer released in January. Officials said that the Android app has been downloaded 94,367 times and that the insurer is preparing to release an iPhone version of the app. San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk."