Latest California Healthline Stories
Opinion: National Effort Will Save Lives, Cut Medical Costs
“The United States has the world’s most skilled doctors and nurses and its finest hospitals,” but too many avoidable medical errors exist, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and David Cote — CEO of Honeywell International — write in a Philadelphia Inquirer opinion piece. “That’s why the Obama administration,” employers and health care organizations have launched the Partnership for Patients, which seeks to “reduce preventable injuries in hospitals by 40%” and “cut readmissions by 20%” in the next three years, Sebelius and Cote write. They continue, “Achieving these goals would save 60,000 lives … and save $50 billion over 10 years from Medicare costs alone.” Philadelphia Inquirer.
Editorial Calls Out GOP for Blocking Tax Extension Vote
“As in past years, a balanced budget is being held hostage by a Republican minority in the Assembly and Senate that has been empowered by the two-thirds requirement to pass the budget,” a Fresno Bee editorial states. “The Republicans are wrong to stand in the way of a statewide vote on extending taxes that are due to expire,” the editorial continues, adding, “It’s time for both parties to step back from the political posturing and find common ground that’s in the best interests of all Californians.” Fresno Bee.
One in Six Employers Favors Universal Health Care System
One in six employers would prefer a federally funded universal health care system, according to a survey released this week by United Benefit Advisors. The annual survey of about 1,280 employers found that 97% of employers are concerned about the effects of health care costs on their employees, up by nearly 20% over 2008. Healthcare Finance News.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of April 22, 2011
Los Angeles County supervisors have approved a contract for the construction of a new Martin Luther King, Jr. Medical Center. Adventist Health/Central Valley Network plans to purchase Sierra Kings District Hospital if voters approve the deal in a June special election.
Report: Calif. Elderly Risk Hiring Caregivers With Criminal Records
A new state Senate report concludes that elderly Californians could unknowingly employ caregivers with criminal backgrounds and that the state lacks screening procedures for private in-home health care providers. California Watch et al.
Calif. Cities Struggle To Keep Up With Cost of Pension, Health Benefits
Local governments in California are working to adjust to the economic climate and reduced state funding. However, city officials say new revenue sources and budget cuts are not enough to counter rising health care and pension costs. Sacramento Bee.
Agency Recognizes Kaweah Delta for Nursing Excellence
Kaweah Delta Health Care District became the 23rd facility in the state to receive a Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. To receive the designation — which recognizes excellent nursing practices — Kaweah Delta nurses had to undergo training and alter their work structure. Visalia Times-Delta.
CDC Predicts More State Smoking Bans; California Could Strengthen Its Law
If current trends continue, all 50 states might have rules in place by 2020 that ban smoking, according to a new CDC report. In California, legislation has been introduced to close loopholes associated with a smoking ban that was enacted in 1994. AP/Washington Post et al.
Physicians Speak Out Against Proposed Liberty Quarry
On Wednesday, a group of physicians who are opposed to the proposed Liberty Quarry near Temecula said that an environmental study on the project is flawed and that pollution from the site would threaten public health. Granite Construction executives have said the quarry actually would lower air pollution because there would be fewer diesel trucks carrying aggregate on the road. The county Planning Commission plans to hold at least two public hearings on the proposal. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
SCAN Health Plan To Award $5M in Quality Incentives
SCAN Health Plan — a Long Beach-based Medicare Advantage plan — recently pledged to provide $5 million in incentive payments over the next two years to its contracting medical groups. The health plan said it would award incentive payments to health care providers based on their performance on certain quality measures. Payers & Providers.