Modesto Area Abuzz Over Potential Impact of New Kaiser Hospital
Kaiser Modesto Medical Center is set to open its doors on Wednesday, sparking questions about how a third full-service hospital in Modesto will affect health care in the area, the Modesto Bee reports.
Critics of the hospital warned that the Kaiser facility would lead to higher health care labor costs in part by encouraging workers to leave other hospitals and go to work at Kaiser Modesto. Critics of the facility also said that because Kaiser hospitals are intended primarily for Kaiser health plan members, the facility would not help treat Medi-Cal beneficiaries or the uninsured in the area.
However, Tom Moore, a senior consultant for the California Health Care Coalition, said that Kaiser's expanded presence in the area will boost competition among health plans and pressure insurers to avoid premium hikes.
In addition, county officials said that the area's emergency response system will benefit from having another hospital emergency department available (Carlson, Modesto Bee, 9/29).
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