Latest California Healthline Stories
Analysis: S.F. Leads Nation in Hospital Construction Projects
U.S. hospitals are spending billions of dollars on construction projects to expand market presence and boost profits, and such initiatives have become a key driver of health care costs, according to a yearlong investigation by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The investigation found that San Francisco leads the nation in hospital construction with six projects worth $4.9 billion in development or under way. Including long-term financing payments, hospital construction projects around California could cost more than $250 billion. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Indigent Patient Populations Tied to Higher Readmissions
Hospitals with the most low-income patients are nearly three times more likely to report high congestive heart failure readmission rates than other hospitals, according to an analysis by Kaiser Health News. For the analysis, KHN studied 30-day congestive heart failure readmission rates at 3,119 U.S. hospitals from July 2007 to June 2010 using the CMS Hospital Compare website. According to the analysis, 11.7% of the hospitals that treated the greatest share of low-income patients were ranked by Medicare as having worse rehospitalization rates than the national average. In comparison, only 4.3% of remaining hospitals reported higher-than-average rates. Kaiser Health News.
House Seeks Negotiation on Tax Break, ‘Doc Fix’ Bill, but Senate Adjourns
Yesterday, the House voted to request conference committee negotiations with the Senate on a bill to extend a payroll tax break and delay scheduled Medicare physician payment cuts. However, the Senate has adjourned for recess for the rest of the year. AP/Washington Post et al.
Medical Marijuana Advocates Propose 2012 Ballot Initiative
A coalition of medical marijuana advocates led by Americans for Safe Access and the United Food and Commercial Workers’ medical cannabis division has proposed a 2012 ballot initiative that would establish a Board of Medical Marijuana Enforcement to oversee entities that grow, distribute and test medical marijuana products. The coalition submitted the proposed initiative to the secretary of state last week. The state attorney general’s office must approve the proposal before its supporters can begin collecting signatures. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Health Reform Case in March
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of the federal health reform law over three days beginning on March 26, 2012. On the first day, the court will discuss whether a tax law — known as the Anti-Injunction Act — prevents it from ruling on the constitutionality of the law before 2014, when the major provisions in the overhaul will be implemented. On March 27, the court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the individual mandate. Finally, on March 28, the justices will examine the issue of severability and whether the Medicaid expansion is constitutional. Los Angeles Times et al.
Report: Fraudulent Medicare Claims Cost $1.2B in 2009
Medicare claims paid to deceased health care providers or for unnecessary medical treatments cost the program $1.2 billion in 2009, according to a report from the HHS Office of Inspector General. For the report, OIG analyzed the efficacy of several types of methods that private contractors have adopted to address fraudulent Medicare claims. Although officials were notified of the problems, 77% remained unresolved nearly two years later. CMS said it is addressing the vulnerabilities. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
House Delays Floor Vote on Amended Payroll Tax Break, ‘Doc Fix’ Measure
House Republicans have postponed a vote on an amended bill to extend a payroll tax break and delay scheduled Medicare physician payment cuts for two months. House lawmakers will vote on taking the bill to conference committee, but the Senate is unlikely to reopen negotiations. Politico et al.
Washington State Case Could Carry Implications for California IHSS Cuts
An appeals court has ruled in a Washington state case that states cannot cut in-home services for the elderly and residents with disabilities if there is serious risk they could be institutionalized. An attorney says the ruling has implications for California. San Francisco Chronicle.
Editorials Discuss Bipartisan Plan To Overhaul Medicare
A Washington Post editorial “congratulat[es] Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Paul Ryan for” their recent proposal to provide Medicare beneficiaries with “premium support” to purchase traditional coverage or a private plan. “Unfortunately, instead of welcoming the effort, the White House chose to stomp on it,” which “is not a constructive or adequate response to a serious proposal,” according to the editorial. Meanwhile, a New York Times editorial notes that while the plan “deserve[s] careful scrutiny, … we are skeptical that any of the proposals for premium support that have been floated by Republicans can rein in Medicare spending without harming beneficiaries, financially or medically.” Washington Post, New York Times.
Six Calif. Entities Are ‘Pioneer’ Accountable Care Organizations
CMS has selected six California entities to participate in its “Pioneer” accountable care organization initiative, which aims to boost coordination among health care providers and reduce costs in Medicare. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post et al.