Latest California Healthline Stories
Hospital Deal Could Lead to Higher Health Costs in S.F.
Some San Francisco officials are concerned that a deal between Mayor Ed Lee and the California Pacific Medical Center to build a 555-bed hospital on Cathedral Hill could threaten the city’s efforts to control health care costs. Officials say they are worried that some of the cost of the $2.5 billion project could be passed along to residents. San Francisco Chronicle.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Group Seeks 4.1% Premium Increase
The Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau recently proposed a 4.1% increase in employer-paid premiums for workers’ compensation insurance. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones plans to hold hearings on the issue before making recommendations. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Report: Calif. Sees Big Jump in Tax Revenues Last Year
A new Census Bureau report finds that California’s tax revenues increased by 17.4% in fiscal year 2010-2011, the third highest jump among all states. The state’s increase in tax revenues likely was the result of temporary sales and income tax increases that were enacted in 2009 but have since expired. Gov. Brown is pushing for a tax hike measure on the November ballot to restore those revenues. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Opinion Piece Stumps for ‘Right to Work’ Law in Calif.
In an Orange County Register opinion piece, National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation President Mark Mix argues that California should have “a Right to Work law making union affiliation completely voluntary.” He notes that such a law would stop the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Workers West from forcing workers at Orange County’s Chapman Medical Center to join the union. Mix concludes, “A Right to Work law would make it less difficult for workers to hold union officials accountable and could wake up union bosses to the harsh reality that coerced unionization is not a sustainable model for liberty or for the health of their organizations.” Orange County Register.
Program Promotes Primary Care Medicine to Students
Family medicine residents at UC-Davis are participating in a program to recruit high school students — many of whom are from low-income or ethnic minority backgrounds — to be primary care physicians. The California Academy of Family Physicians — which, along with Sutter Health, helped launch the program last year — estimates that as many as 30% of California family physicians will retire in the next few years and that the state’s deficit will reach 17,000 physicians by 2015. Sacramento Bee.
Calif. Hospitals Set To Receive Funds From CMS Settlement
CMS has agreed to a settlement with about 2,200 hospitals to end lawsuits related to an error in reimbursement rates. More than 200 California hospitals are set to share more than $310 million from the settlement. Los Angeles Times, Modern Healthcare.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of April 13, 2012
California Pacific Medical Center can obtain permits to build and renovate five San Francisco medical facilities following a vote by the city planning commission. Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and the National Union of Healthcare Workers have reached a three-year agreement covering about 700 workers.
U.S. Hospitals Opening Geriatric-Focused EDs
Hospitals across the U.S are opening geriatric emergency departments to cater to the country’s aging population and boost patient satisfaction scores. The EDs offer targeted services and amenities for elderly patients, who represent a growing share of hospital patients. Individuals over age 65 now account for 15% to 20% of all ED visits, a percentage that is expected to rise as baby boomers age. New York Times.
Obama Campaign Marks Sixth Anniversary of Mass. Health Care Law
Obama’s re-election campaign has released a Web video marking the sixth anniversary of Massachusetts’ health reform law, which GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney signed as governor. The video aims to counter Romney’s criticism of the federal health reform law. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Health Care Providers Report Rise in Health Data Breaches
A new report by HIMSS Analytics and Kroll Advisory Solutions finds that health care providers have experienced an increase in health data breaches over the past few years. However, the report also finds that this year’s survey respondents expressed greater confidence than previous years’ respondents in their readiness to handle such breaches. Healthcare IT News.