Latest California Healthline Stories
AHA: Hospital Prices Reflect Costs of Providing Services
The
American Hospital Association recently released a study contending that
hospital prices directly reflect the costs of care, not organizations’ efforts
to build market power. According to the study, as much as 72% of the
differences in non-Medicare hospital prices could be explained by factors such
as case mix, hospital investments, hospital type and regional costs. HealthLeaders
Media.
Registered Nurses Seek To Fill Void in Geriatric Health Care
As the baby boomer population ages and the number of geriatric physicians continues to decline, registered nurses are stepping in to fill the void in geriatric health care delivery. However, the new focus on gerontology requires a cultural shift, as well as additional education. Heather Young — founding dean and associate vice chancellor of the UC-Davis School of Nursing — stressed that there must be a strong focus on aging in nursing school curriculum. Sacramento Bee.
Study: Palliative Care Helps Cut Medicaid Hospital Costs
Palliative care teams helped reduce inpatient costs for the care of seriously ill Medicaid beneficiaries by an average of $6,900 per admission, according to a Health Affairs study. The study found that New York’s Medicaid program could reduce spending by between $84 million and $252 million annually if every hospital in the state with 150 or more beds had a fully operational palliative care consultation team. Wall Street Journal‘s “Health Blog,” Becker’s Hospital Review.
Drugmaker To Pay $5.2M to California as Part of Multistate Settlement
AstraZeneca will pay $68.5 million to 37 states and the District of Columbia to settle allegations that it marketed its drug Seroquel for unapproved uses. Attorney General Kamala Harris said California will receive $5.2 million of the settlement. Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg.
U.S. Senators Say Republican Budget Plan Would Hurt Calif.
“[T]he spending plan endorsed by House Republicans” would hurt “our economic recovery and [endanger] the financial security, health and educational opportunities for millions of California families,” Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) write in a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece. Feinstein and Boxer continue that under the GOP proposal, the “budget for community health centers is cut by more than half,” and the “Title X Family Planning Program is eliminated. For California, that means 1.2 million individuals lose health care, counseling and education services.” The writers conclude, “We will pursue a different course in the Senate with … smart investments that support California’s economic recovery, preserve jobs and protect families.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Prime Healthcare Seeks To Bolster Image Via PR Firm
Prime Healthcare Services has hired Washington, D.C.-based public relations company Levick Strategic Communications to help defend Prime Healthcare’s image in the wake of recent investigations alleging improper Medicare billing practices. Last month, a data analysis concluded that Prime Healthcare has reported higher rates of malnutrition among seniors than other hospitals. Last October, another study found that some of its hospitals have reported high rates of septicemia blood infections among elderly patients. Redding Record Searchlight.
Report: 3% of Doctors Write Majority of Pain Rx for Workers’ Comp
A study by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute finds that just 3% of physicians who treat patients in the state’s workers’ compensation system are writing more than half of prescriptions for the strongest and most addictive pain drugs. San Francisco Chronicle.
California HMOs Score Well for Meeting Care Quality Standards
The Office of the Patient Advocate has released a report card showing that eight of California’s nine largest HMOs received a three- or four-star rating for quality of care. Some HMOs scored worse in other categories. Sacramento Bee et al.
Funding To Support Health Information Exchange Efforts
Six health information exchange initiatives in California will receive funding from Cal eConnect, the state-designated organization to disburse funds for such efforts. The $38.8 million in funding comes from the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, which was part of the 2009 economic stimulus package. Health Data Management.
HHS Rule Would Guide States on Applying for Reform Law Waivers
HHS has released a proposed rule to guide states seeking waivers from certain provisions of the health reform law. The Obama administration also has issued new waivers exempting businesses from specific requirements of the overhaul. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.