Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS Unveils Patient-Focused Website, Quality Project Plans
On Friday, CMS launched Quality Care Finder, a new website designed to help U.S. residents compare hospitals, physicians, nursing homes and other health care providers. The website is an online platform that provides access to all Medicare Compare portals, and it allows patients to compare hospitals based on death rates, readmissions and whether they give recommended treatments for various conditions. CMS also released plans for an enhanced Quality Improvement Organization program, which aims to provide technical assistance and resources to help health care providers change care delivery. Health Data Management et al.
Dems, Officials Voice Support for Suits Challenging Medicaid Cuts
Congressional Democrats and former health officials have filed briefs with the Supreme Court supporting Medicaid beneficiaries’ ability to challenge cuts to Medicaid provider rates. The briefs were filed in a consolidated set of cases that originated in California. New York Times.
Report: California Might Need More Time To Cut State Prison Population
A report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office concludes that Gov. Brown’s plan to shift tens of thousands of state prisoners to county jails will not do enough to ease prison overcrowding before a deadline imposed by the U.S. Supreme Court. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Patient Satisfaction Not Gauge of Hospitals’ Performance
More than 120 hospitals with high patient satisfaction ratings also have higher than average mortality rates for certain conditions, according to newly released CMS data. The data, published Friday on HHS’ Hospital Compare website, include three years of information from patients at more than 4,600 U.S. hospitals. The data focus on risk-adjusted readmission and 30-day mortality rates for myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia patients treated between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2010. The facilities that reported above-average mortality rates for the three conditions received high ratings from patients on CMS’ Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers survey. For example, these facilities received at least a nine out of 10 patient satisfaction score or were recommended by two-thirds of patients. USA Today, Wilmington News Journal.
Opinion: State Should Reject Insurance Rate Regulation Bill
A bill that would boost the state’s oversight of health insurance rate increases “is the wrong solution” to a “very real problem,” Ronald Smith, senior vice president of the Hospital Council of Northern & Central California, writes in a Contra Costa Times opinion piece. According to Smith, “premium rate-setting by government will drive some health plans and insurers out of California,” which “will decrease consumer choice of plans, and, more importantly, it will decrease the choice of medical caregivers consumers may go to for their medical care needs.” Smith writes that legislation passed last year is “a better solution” because it requires health plans to actuarially justify rate increases without imposing additional state regulation. He adds, “Accordingly, the Legislature should reject Assembly Bill 52.” Contra Costa Times.
Santa Cruz ADHC Center Aims To Remain Afloat
Officials at the Salud Para La Gente Elderday adult day health care center in Santa Cruz say they are developing a plan to avoid closure when the new state budget eliminates Medi-Cal payments to the center on Dec. 1. Medi-Cal payments to Elderday, which totaled about $2.2 million last fiscal year, represent about 90% of the center’s funding. An Elderday spokesperson said the plan to avoid closure likely would involve scaled-back services and financing through fees and grants. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
State Plans To Provide Managed Care for Adult Day Health Care Users
State officials are disseminating a plan to help keep thousands of elderly individuals and residents with disabilities from being institutionalized when Medi-Cal stops offering adult day health care as a benefit. The strategy relies on Medi-Cal managed care plans. Los Angeles Times.
Blue Shield of California CEO Discusses ACOs, Profit Cap
In an interview with Kaiser Health News, Bruce Bodaken — CEO of Blue Shield of California — discussed the insurer’s partnership with CalPERS to form an accountable care organization, the effect of the company’s decision in June to place a 2% cap on profit margins and criticism of his $4.6 million salary last year. Bodaken said that “through the partnership with CalPERS, we’ve seen a 15% reduction in hospital readmissions, and a reduction in admissions as well.” Bodaken also said Blue Shield will not need to adjust its profit cap “over the next couple of years.” In addition, he noted his salary “is well within the market standard for organizations our size.” Kaiser Health News.
Industry Groups Support Lawsuit Challenging Medi-Cal Reductions
Health care industry groups have filed friend-of-the-court briefs in support of a California lawsuit contesting cuts to the state’s Medi-Cal program. The case stems from a move in 2008 to reduce Medi-Cal reimbursements. Modern Healthcare et al.
Drop in Credit Rating Could Make Debt Panel Pursue Entitlement Cuts
Last week, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time in history, dropping the rating from AAA to AA-plus. Observers say the move could compel a new panel created under the recent debt deal to pursue cuts to entitlement programs. New York Times et al.