Latest California Healthline Stories
Nurses Plan Another Strike at Sutter, HCA Hospitals
On Tuesday, the California Nurses Association plans to launch a two-day strike at Sutter Health hospitals in the Bay Area. This will be the seventh strike against Sutter since September 2011. The registered nurses said they are striking over proposed cuts to their health coverage, paid sick leave and education leave, as well as workplace conditions affecting patient care. CNA also plans to hold a one-day walkout at two San Jose hospitals operated by the Hospital Corporation of America. San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Business Times.
Study: Care Costs Vary in Bundled-Payment Initiative
Care costs at hospitals participating in a CMS bundled-payment initiative can vary by more than 100%, and hospitals that successfully coordinate care are best positioned to benefit from the model, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers found that CMS routinely spends as much or more on care in the 90 days after discharge as it does on the initial hospitalization. MedPage Today.
Monthly Premiums for Medicare Part B Set To Increase Slightly in 2013
Last week, CMS announced that monthly premiums for Medicare Part B coverage will increase by $5 in 2013. The premium hike is expected to account for about one-quarter of a typical retiree’s cost-of-living increase in Social Security payments next year. AP/New York Times et al.
AMA Delegates Release Medicare Reform Plans
On Tuesday, American Medical Association’s House of Delegates outlined a set of proposed Medicare reforms. Under the reforms, Medicare would provide defined contributions to beneficiaries. Lower-income and sicker beneficiaries would receive larger contributions toward the cost of their coverage. The new principles also would require competing health plans to provide coverage that is at least equal to coverage offered by traditional Medicare. Meanwhile, all beneficiaries would still have access to traditional Medicare. MedPage Today.
Lawmaker Seeks Response to Health IT Safety Inquiries
U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers has sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius requesting a prompt response to previous inquiries about whether the agency has taken steps to monitor health IT safety issues. A 2011 Institute of Medicine report called for stronger oversight of health IT systems, but HHS has yet to take action on the issue. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Modern Healthcare.
Calif. Insurance Pilot Program Slated for U.S. Expansion
A two-year pilot program at Sharp Healthcare emergency departments that helps uninsured patients obtain health coverage could expand to hospitals across the U.S., according to a company that manages software for the program. Payers & Providers.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of November 16, 2012
Alameda County, Alameda County Medical Center and San Leandro Hospital each have agreed to pay $3 million over three years as part of an agreement to keep San Leandro open. The Joint Commission is investigating patient safety and care issues at UC-Davis Medical Center.
Emergency Medical Response Times Vary Across Los Angeles
A Los Angeles Times investigation found that the Los Angeles Fire Department failed to meet the national standard of responding within six minutes to nearly all medical emergencies about 85% of the time when called to some affluent areas of the city. However, responders beat the six-minute standard the majority of the time when responding to calls in more densely populated areas in and around downtown L.A. Los Angeles Times.
House Committee Subpoenas Sebelius Over ACA Marketing
On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee subpoenaed HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as part of its investigation into the department’s contracts with public relations firms to help promote the Affordable Care Act. The subpoena, issued by committee Chair Dave Camp and Oversight Subcommittee Chair Charles Boustany, demands that Sebelius turn over all documents dating back to January 2008 that detail how taxpayer dollars are being used to promote the ACA. Politico.
Experts Tout Health IT Progress During House Subcommittee Hearing
This week, a House subcommittee questioned federal spending on health information technology. National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari and other health IT experts responded by outlining progress in the meaningful use program. Government Health IT et al.