Latest California Healthline Stories
CalPERS-Backed Firm Invests in Improving Health Care Efficiency
David Brailer, head of the equity firm Health Evolution Partners, said he plans to invest $150 million to $200 million per year in companies that are working to make the health care industry more cost-effective. CalPERS has invested up to $1 billion in Brailer’s firm. Bloomberg.
S.F. Hospitality Union To Strike Over Health Benefits
On Thursday, members of the hospitality workers union Local 2 voted to approve a strike, after negotiations between the union and hotels in San Francisco stalled over the issue of health benefits. Under the current contract, hotels pay individual union workers’ complete premiums, and employees can cover their dependents by paying $10 monthly. The union is seeking to maintain that agreement, but hotel groups have said that system is unsustainable because insurance premiums have tripled over the last 10 years. San Francisco Chronicle.
Hospitals Form Coalition To Lobby for Extensions of Seismic Safety Rules
Catholic Healthcare West, Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health are among the California hospital systems urging lawmakers to push back state-mandated seismic safety deadlines. The hospitals say the recession is hindering their compliance with the rules. Modern Healthcare.
President Signs Legislation To Avoid Funding Delays for VA
On Thursday, President Obama signed into law the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which will prevent funding delays for Department of Veterans Affairs health services by approving VA’s budget one year in advance. Previously, VA funding had frequently been delayed because of congressional delays in passing the budget. Washington Post’s “44.”
California Grappling With Flu, Waiting for Vaccine
On Thursday, Gov. Schwarzenegger released half of the state’s stockpile of N95 respirators to help hospitals in California deal with an influx of H1N1 flu patients. The move comes as state Public Health Officer Mark Horton announced that flu activity in California is at the level of the peak of a regular flu season. The state has received about 1.7 million doses of the 20 million doses of H1N1 vaccine that are allocated for California this year. Los Angeles Times, Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Financial Performance on the Rise for Calif. Hospitals, Data Show
California hospitals saw a notable increase in total and operating margins between the fourth quarter of 2008 and the second quarter of 2009, recent state reports found. The data also show that hospitals’ investment income dropped during the recession. HealthLeaders Media.
Reid Suggests Public Option Might Make It Into Senate Reform Bill
Meeting with President Obama and other Senate Democrats yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indicated he is considering including a government-run health plan in the Senate’s reform bill. The move comes as some senators are pushing Reid to take a slower pace on the legislation. Washington Post et al.
Report Illustrates California’s Shortage of Primary Care Docs
A June report from the California HealthCare Foundation warned that a decline in the number of primary care physicians in the state could result in critical shortages that would affect the quality of care. The report found that just 16 of California’s 58 counties had an acceptable amount of PCPs, and the shortage was most acute in rural counties. Sacramento News and Review.
California Hospital News Roundup for Oct. 23, 2009
CMS recertified the heart transplant program at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento and extended the deadline for Vista Hospital of Riverside to address problems inspectors found earlier this year. Meanwhile, Kaiser closed escrow on a new medical office building in Kearny Mesa.
Pelosi Regrouping After Count Questions Votes for ‘Robust’ Public Plan
A whip count indicates that there are not enough votes among House Democrats to pass health care reform legislation with a government-run health plan that uses Medicare payment rates as a basis for reimbursements. Two other versions of the public plan are under consideration. CQ Today et al.