Latest California Healthline Stories
Kaiser Permanente Sees 64% Surge in Q2 2011 Net Income
Last week, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and their subsidiaries announced that their second-quarter net income rose by 64% to $663 million, up from $404 million during the same quarter in 2010. The Kaiser units also reported that Q2 operating revenue increased by 8% from $11 billion in Q2 2010 to $11.9 billion in Q2 2011, while operating income grew by nearly 25% from $313 million in Q2 2010 to $390 million in Q2 2011. In addition, Kaiser reported that membership in its health plans has increased by about 208,000 since the end of 2010, raising its total membership to 8.8 million. San Francisco Business Times, Contra Costa Times.
Medicare Tops List as Most Wasteful Federal Program, GAO Finds
A new report estimates that Medicare accounted for about 40% of wasteful spending in fiscal year 2010, the most of any federal program. Officials attributed the overspending to fraud, unnecessary claims and other errors. American Medical News, HealthLeaders Media.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of August 5, 2011
St. Joseph Hospital in Orange and Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo plan to eliminate a total of 144 jobs through attrition, layoffs and voluntary departures. Meanwhile, California-based Prime Healthcare Services plans to purchase a not-for-profit hospital in New Jersey.
Advocates To Lobby on Health Care Spending Following Debt Deal
Following the debt agreement, groups such as Health Care for America Now and Families USA are expected to lobby against future cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Meanwhile, conservative groups are pushing for cuts to entitlement spending. Politico, The Hill‘s “Ballot Box.”
Foundation Doles Out $810K for Health Services, Research
Seven Los Angeles-area organizations will receive a combined total of $810,000 in grants from the California Community Foundation to improve health care services and promote scientific research. Six of the grants — ranging from $100,000 to $140,000 — will go to clinic operators that serve low-income populations. The seventh grant, totaling $205,000, will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Los Angeles for research on blood cancer treatment for children. Payers & Providers.
Group Seeking Volunteers To Tackle Long-Term Care Issues
Ombudsman Services of Northern California is looking for volunteers to help the group investigate and resolve complaints from residents in skilled nursing and residential care facilities. The volunteer ombudsmen would assist residents and their families with resident care plans, quality of care issues, and concerns relating to Medicare and Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. The volunteers also might respond to concerns about elder abuse, neglect or financial exploitation. Sacramento Bee.
Pico-Union Clinic Struggling With Financial, Internal Strife
A community health center in Pico-Union is grappling with financial strain and internal management issues. Since it opened in 1983, Clinica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero has provided health services to undocumented residents and other members of the local community. However, officials say the clinic is under financial pressure because of the economic downturn and a growing number of uninsured patients. In addition, observers say management and staffing issues are compounding the clinic’s problems. Los Angeles Times.
HHS Says Premiums for Medicare Drug Benefit Expected To Stay Stable
According to HHS, the average monthly premium for the Medicare prescription drug program is not expected to increase in 2012. The agency also announced that Medicare beneficiaries have saved $461 million on prescription drugs because of the federal health reform law. AP/Washington Post et al.
Report Raises Access to Care, Enrollment Issues Under Reform
An expansion of insurance coverage under the health reform law could be limited unless state policymakers tackle issues including burdensome eligibility rules and outdated enrollment systems, a new report says. Payers & Providers, California Endowment release.
CDC: HIV Incidence Rates Stable but Disparities Persist
New HIV infections among U.S. residents remained stable at about 50,000 annually between 2006 and 2008, according to a CDC report published in the journal PLoS One. However, the report noted a 50% surge in cases among young black men who have sex with men. Meanwhile, minority women were found to have a relatively high risk of contracting HIV, and the risk was 15 times higher among black women than white women. In addition, Hispanic women had a risk three times greater than white women. Washington Post et al.