Latest California Healthline Stories
Blue Shield To Return $295M as Part of Pledge To Limit Profits
Blue Shield of California will give back $295 million to fulfill a pledge to cap its profits at 2%. The insurer will give credits to policyholders and payments to health care providers and make community investments. San Francisco Business Times et al.
Prime Billed for High Number of Rare Ailments, Data Show
Former Prime Healthcare Services staff have said in interviews and court testimony that they were urged to record common medical conditions as more severe ailments to boost the chain’s Medicare reimbursements. A recent California Watch analysis of Medicare billing data from 2010 focused on three such medical conditions. The analysis found that the number of malignant hypertension cases that Prime logged was 11 times higher than the statewide average. Hospitals that report the condition can earn about $3,000 more. In addition, six of the seven California hospitals that reported the highest rates of encephalopathy — which can earn hospitals $7,000 more if they treat the condition as a complication of pneumonia — were owned by Prime. At the same time, the data show that Prime handled 77% of cases of autonomic nerve disorder — which can earn hospitals an additional $5,000 if coded properly — even though Prime treated just 3.6% of the state’s Medicare patient population. California Watch.
Report: 70% of Hospitals, Health Systems Plan To Hire More Physicians
A report finds that 70% of hospitals and health systems plan to increase physician employment in the next few years. Officials say uncertainty about the health reform law is contributing to physician requests about employment. FierceHealthcare, Dallas Business Journal.
USC Keck Hospital Employees Strike Over Contract Dispute
On Wednesday, hundreds of caregivers and service employees at the University of Southern California’s Keck Medical Center participated in a 24-hour strike over ongoing contract negotiations and what they say is inadequate input in staffing and care delivery issues. The employees, who are members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, include respiratory care workers, radiology technologists, surgical technicians, housekeepers and others. Matt McElrath, chief human resources officer at the hospital, said that the hospital hired some replacement staff and that it was able to stay open and fully operational. Los Angeles Daily News, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Calif. Places Flame Retardant on List of Harmful Chemicals
On Wednesday, a science committee at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment voted 5-1 to add chlorinated Tris to the state’s list of harmful carcinogens under Proposition 65. Prop. 65, or the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, was enacted in 1986 to protect state residents and the public drinking water supply from chemicals found to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive problems. Although chlorinated Tris previously was banned from use in children’s clothing, manufacturers of furniture and a range of baby products commonly use it as a flame retardant. Officials at the state environmental hazard office and representatives from natural resource and environmental policy groups praised the committee’s action. California Watch, Los Angeles Times‘ “Greenspace.”
MedPAC Weighs Changes to Benefit Models To Cut Costs
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is considering different ways of delivering benefits that could promote better personal health decisions by Medicare beneficiaries and help drive down overall costs. During a recent meeting, panel members discussed three alternative benefit models that would limit out-of-pocket expenses to $5,000 and require copayments. Meanwhile, the panel has urged researchers to develop models that would encourage beneficiaries to adopt more healthy behaviors, such as losing weight or controlling chronic diseases. Healthcare Finance News.
More States Seek Drug Tests for Public Benefit Recipients
This year, lawmakers in dozens of states have proposed drug testing for residents who receive benefits such as welfare, unemployment assistance, job training, food stamps and public housing. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states considered drug testing for recipients of cash assistance from the welfare program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, 12 states proposed it for unemployment insurance and others considered mandating tests for food stamps, home heating assistance and other programs. To date, the majority of state proposals that would require drug tests have not gained widespread support because of legality concerns. New York Times.
High School Program Readies Students for Medical Careers
This fall, Simi Valley High School launched the Medical and Health Careers Academy for students interested in further education and employment in the medicine and health care fields. Students can enroll in the program when they are in grade 10, during which they learn about medical careers. In grade 11, they attend courses in content and leadership, before they pursue internships in their chosen medical profession in grade 12. According to Tammy Harter, the program’s organizer and a teacher at the school, some of the program’s classes offer both college and high school credit. Ventura County Star.
Senator Urges Debt Panel To Avoid Making Cuts to Federal Prevention Fund
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Tom Harkin is urging the federal debt-reduction committee to refrain from making changes to the Prevention and Public Health Fund created under the federal health reform law. National Journal et al.
House Democrats Raise Concern Over Proposed Medi-Cal Cuts
House Democrats from California recently met with CMS Administrator Donald Berwick to argue that proposed Medi-Cal cuts included in the state budget package would negatively affect both beneficiaries and health care providers. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”