Latest California Healthline Stories
Most States Updating, Digitizing Medicaid Enrollment Systems
A Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds that 47 states have received or applied for federal funds to upgrade their Medicaid systems. Under the Affordable Care Act, all state Medicaid programs must shift to online enrollment systems by January 2014. The Hill’s “Healthwatch” et al.
Data Breach at Calif. Hospital Affects About 57K Patients
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine have started notifying about 57,000 patients about a data breach that occurred Jan. 9. The incident involves the theft of a laptop computer containing patients’ names, birth dates and certain clinical data. Healthcare IT News, Becker’s Hospital Review.
Cuts to Medicare Pay, Other Reductions Likely To Take Effect in March
As Congress works on a long-term solution to curb the national debt, lawmakers say they expect mandated spending cuts under sequestration to take effect in March. The mandated cuts include a 2% reduction to Medicare reimbursement rates. Washington Post‘s “Federal Eye,” Politico.
S.D. County Home to 3 ACOs for Medicare Beneficiaries
Over the past year, three accountable care organizations have been set up in San Diego County. Sharp HealthCare, North Coast ACO and San Diego Independent ACO provide care to a total of more than 43,800 Medicare beneficiaries. U-T San Diego.
CIRM Approves Guidelines for Curbing Conflicts of Interest
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has approved proposals for reducing conflicts of interest on its oversight committee. The proposed guidelines include voluntary abstention from grant voting for certain oversight committee members. U-T San Diego.
More Calif. Hospital CEOs Earning 7-Figure Salaries
In 2010, 32 not-for-profit California hospital CEOs — or more than one in five CEOs at such hospitals statewide — received compensation of at least $1 million, according to a new Payers & Providers analysis of the compensation data. By comparison, a June 2010 Payers & Providers analysis of 2007-2008 data found that 19 CEOs received a seven-figure pay package. Payers & Providers.
Readmission Penalties More Likely To Hit Some Hospitals
Large teaching hospitals and safety-net facilities are the most likely to be penalized under the federal government’s plan to tie Medicare payments to hospital readmission rates, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Under the program, CMS will withhold up to 1% of regular reimbursements for hospitals with too many readmissions within 30 days of discharge because of certain medical conditions. Reuters, Bloomberg.
Gov. Brown Expected To Deliver Positive State of the State Address
Gov. Brown is expected to deliver an optimistic State of the State address following the release of his proposal to provide a budget surplus. However, observers say Brown and Democratic lawmakers could be at odds over spending efforts. Los Angeles Times, Contra Costa Times.
400 California Hospitals Join CMS-Led Initiative To Boost Patient Care
About 400 state hospitals are taking part in a CMS-led program to improve patient care quality. The initiative aims to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and complications that result from transferring patients to other care facilities. Long Beach Business Journal, Payers & Providers.
Proposed Rule Could Result in Higher Costs for Medicaid Enrollees
A proposed rule released by the Obama administration would allow state Medicaid programs to charge higher copayments and premiums for medical services. The proposed rule aims to encourage states to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. New York Times.