Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 25, 2011
Next week, San Jose’s Good Samaritan Hospital is slated to start construction on its $30 million expansion project. Meanwhile, Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta is awaiting approval from the state Department of Public Health before it opens to patients.
Demand Rising for Primary Care Residency Programs
This year, residency programs in family medicine attracted 1,317 U.S. medical students, 133 more than in 2010. Roland Goertz, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said the federal health reform law might have helped fuel the increased demand. The reform law includes provisions designed to encourage medical students to pursue primary care, such as loan forgiveness and higher payments for primary care doctors who serve Medicaid beneficiaries. CNN Money.
Calif. Emergency Department Physician Groups To Merge
Emeryville-based CEP America — which provides emergency department management and staffing services — recently announced that it is merging with Sutter Emergency Medical Associates, an ED physician group. Under the merger, more than 25% of all patients who visit a California ED will be treated by a CEP America physician. The merger is expected to be completed on April 1. Sacramento Bee.
U.S. Supreme Court To Weigh Expedited Review of Health Reform Case
Next month, the U.S. Supreme Court will convene a private conference to discuss a request from the Virginia attorney general to fast-track review of a lawsuit against the health reform law. One expert says the court could issue a decision on the day of the meeting. CQ HealthBeat.
Federal Budget Battle Could Jeopardize Funds for Many Health Centers
Many community health centers could shut their doors if Congress approves plans to cut billions of dollars in funding for such clinics. Last month, the House approved a continuing resolution spending bill that would eliminate $1.3 billion reserved for community health centers. Boston Globe.
Reform Law’s Drug Discounts Aiding Medicare Beneficiaries
About 48,000 individuals have saved a combined $38 million — or an average of $800 each — through the first two months of 2011 under the federal health reform law’s discount on brand name drugs for Medicare beneficiaries, according to HHS. HHS also noted that 11,000 Medicare beneficiaries have hit the out-of-pocket maximum for this year. Those beneficiaries saved an average of $1,175 each, according HHS. Kaiser Health News.
IOM Guidelines Focus on Clinical Practice, Review of Effective Health Care
The Institute of Medicine has issued two reports that contain standards for consistent clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews of comparative effectiveness research. The reports were developed at the request of Congress. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Hospital CEO Discusses Game Plan for Establishing ACOs
According to Steve Geidt — CEO of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, part of the MemorialCare Health System in southern California — the move toward accountable care organizations will require new structures and cultural changes. Geidt supports setting up new hospital-physician alignments to coordinate care, but said that California health care providers could be at a disadvantage because state law bans hospitals from directly employing physicians. Instead, tax-exempt agencies can contract with physician practices to establish not-for-profit foundations that would give hospitals and physicians the opportunity to integrate care. Becker’s Hospital Review.
States Set Up Infrastructure for Insurance Exchanges
Several states are building the information technology infrastructure necessary to implement health insurance exchanges required under the federal health reform law. For example, Maryland officials are planning to set up an application to make possible the automatic confirmation of eligibility requirements from federal agencies such as HHS and the Social Security Administration. Meanwhile, California plans to collaborate with Maryland on an IT system that would work in harmony with other legacy eligibility systems. Government Health IT.
Report: Health Reform Law Providing Tangible Benefits to Californians
A California Budget Project report finds that the federal health reform law already is helping to expand access to coverage in California. The report predicts that up to eight million Californians will enroll in the state health insurance exchange in 2014. Sacramento Business Journal.