Latest California Healthline Stories
Perspective: CMS Should Not Lower the Bar on ACO Rules
In a New England Journal of Medicine perspective piece, Paul Ginsburg — president of the Center for Studying Health System Change — writes that the proposed rules governing the creation of accountable care organizations are “a wake-up call” for hospitals and physicians about the federal governments’ intent to improve quality and lower costs. Ginsburg writes that CMS should not “be too quick to lower the ACO bar,” in response to criticism, because “the initial ACO opportunity should not be for everybody.” New England Journal of Medicine.
Report: Public Schools Failing on Physical Education Rules
More than 33% of students ages 12 to 17 enrolled in public schools in California do not participate in physical education classes, according to a study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. California law mandates that public middle and high school students get 400 minutes of physical education every 10 days. Researchers pointed to cuts in physical education programs and exemptions that allow students to skip such classes as reasons that have contributed to the decline in participation. Riverside Press-Enterprise, San Bernardino County Sun.
Analysis Evaluates Savings in San Diego Retiree Health Deal
The amount of savings that San Diego will achieve through a new retiree health care deal will depend on which benefit option workers choose, according to an analysis prepared by Buck Consultants. The analysis found that the city could curb spending by about $615 million over 25 years if every employee opted for the most expensive option. However, the city could curb spending by as much as $754 million over 25 years if every worker chose the least expensive option. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Editorial: Medicare Signifies ‘Biggest Budget Challenge’
This week, a Democrat won a congressional seat in a largely conservative New York district in part because the Republican candidate supported a GOP plan “to cut Washington’s share of providing” Medicare coverage, a Los Angeles Times editorial states. Though there “are some good ideas” in the GOP plan, … there’s no getting around how dramatically Medicare would change,” the Times continues, adding that “Medicare is the biggest budget challenge Washington faces over the long term.” The editorial concludes, “The worst outcome of all this would be if lawmakers concluded from [the outcome of the New York election] that it is simply too politically risky to address the growing cost of Medicare.” Los Angeles Times.
Report: Many Uninsured Young Adults Delaying Care
In 2010, nearly 58% of uninsured young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 delayed care because of costs, compared with 34% of insured young adults in that age group, according to a study by the Commonwealth Fund. The report notes that provisions of the federal health reform law are expected to increase coverage among this age group in the coming years. Modern Healthcare.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of May 27, 2011
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee is asking California Pacific Medical Center to provide more than $108 million in community benefits in exchange for city approval of CPMC’s construction plans. Meanwhile, Scripps Health broke ground on a new radiation therapy center in La Jolla.
Hospitals With Strong Market Power Maintain Clout During Recession
A new study by the Center for Studying Health System Change finds that dominant hospitals often maintained their negotiating leverage with private insurers during the recession. The report outlines some strategies that hospitals used to reduce their losses. CQ HealthBeat.
Union Reaches Tentative Deal With Nine Tenet Hospitals in California
The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West has reached a tentative agreement that would boost workers’ pay at nine Tenet hospitals in California. Union members are slated to vote on the contract in June. San Francisco Business Times.
Editorial Takes State to Task on Inmate Medical Parole
This week, the California “Board of Parole Hearings denied medical parole for a quadriplegic,” a Sacramento Bee editorial states. A new state law “requires prison medical officials to identify ‘permanently medically incapacitated’ prisoners” who could be granted medical parole, the editorial continues. “Two commissioners decided” that the quadriplegic inmate could “use other people to carry out threats,” yet “the law clearly requires that” medical parole violators “could be returned to prison custody,” the editorial adds, concluding, “California, it seems, can’t even put a quadriplegic on parole. Legislators may need to fix the law to make medical parole possible.” Sacramento Bee.
New Entity To Run HIV Tests for Adult Film Industry
The Free Speech Coalition, an adult entertainment industry trade group, has announced that it will provide testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections for adult film performers. The coalition will continue some of the work that had been conducted by the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, which shuttered earlier this month because of financial reasons. Under the coalition’s program — called the Adult Production Health & Safety Services, or APHSS — performers can select services from a network of clinics or health care providers. A database will collect individuals’ information, and adult entertainment filmmakers will be able to review that data. Pasadena Star-News.