Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Hospitals Underpaid by $32.4 Billion in 2008
Underpayments by Medicare and Medicaid to U.S. hospitals relative to the cost of care increased by more than 800%, from $3.8 billion in 2000 to $32.4 billion in 2008, according to a recent American Hospital Association report. On average, hospitals received 91 cents from Medicare for every dollar spent on care in 2008, while Medicaid paid 89 cents. HealthLeaders Media.
U.S. Announces Grant Effort for Models of Health IT Usage
On Wednesday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology David Blumenthal announced that they would award $220 million in grants to about 15 not-for-profit organizations or government bodies that have demonstrated success in adopting health IT. The grants are intended to establish the recipients as models for health IT adoption as more organizations tap into funds from the federal economic stimulus package. Government Health IT.
New Report Points to Variations in Medicare Spending, Service Use
A new federal report documents wide regional variations in Medicare spending and use of health care services by Medicare beneficiaries. The study found that service use in San Jose and Sacramento was 82% of the national average. New York Times‘ “Prescriptions,” CQ HealthBeat.
Agreement To Reopen MLK Hospital Wins OK From L.A. County Board
Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors signed off on an agreement to team up with the University of California to reopen Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital in South Los Angeles. The facility has not offered inpatient services since 2007. Los Angeles Times, Torrance Daily Breeze.
Reform Holds Promise for American Indian Health Care
Citing early efforts by the Obama administration, advocates for Indian health care are optimistic that reform legislation would provide significant benefits for the Indian Health Service. On Thursday, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee is scheduled to discuss Indian health issues that could be included in the Senate’s health care reform bill. New York Times.
Kaiser Announces HIV/AIDS Grants for Southern California
On Tuesday, Kaiser Permanente announced $750,000 in grants to organizations that provide HIV/AIDS services in Southern California. The announcement came a day after Kaiser announced more than $500,000 in grants for Northern California groups. San Francisco Business Times.
New Software Tool Helps Hospitals Cut Building Costs
California Pacific Medical Center, UC-San Francisco Medical Center, Peninsula Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente all have cut millions of dollars from construction projects by incorporating business information modeling software into the efforts. The tool lets architects, general contractors and subcontractors work together to stay on target to meet deadlines. San Francisco Business Times.
New Analysis Finds Wide Disparities in Quality of U.S. Nursing Home Care
Scripps Howard News Service recently analyzed long-term care quality data from CMS’ Nursing Home Compare system. The analysis found that not-for-profit institutions and facilities with higher nurse-to-patient ratios tended to receive higher ratings. SHNS/Ventura County Star.
Low-Income, Minority Women Plagued by Health Disparities
New research from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that low-income women ages 40 to 64 are more likely to go without routine preventive cancer screenings than women who are eligible for Medicare. The report found that such women also are more likely to be uninsured than more affluent women. New America Media.
Study: Many Calif. Hospitals Not Providing Price Data on Request
A new RAND study suggests that many California hospitals aren’t complying with a state law that requires them to furnish price information to uninsured consumers upon request. About 28% of the hospitals surveyed responded to a RAND letter asking for quotes for three common procedures. The California Hospital Association has criticized some of the study’s findings. San Francisco Chronicle et al.