Latest California Healthline Stories
Don’t Target Physician Pay To Curb Health Care Costs
In an opinion piece, Kevin Pho, a primary care physician, writes that “there are serious implications in targeting physician pay to control medical spending.” He concludes, “With medical spending estimated to rise nearly 10% annually, costs need to be curbed. But by focusing on physician payments, government alienates the profession for little in return.” USA Today.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of August 22, 2008
Alameda Hospital is gearing up to take over a convalescent hospital, while a judge approved Doctors Medical Center San Pablo’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Scripps Mercy Hospital officials have submitted a correction plan to CMS after investigators faulted the facility for patient care violations.
Nursing Home Operator To Pay $2M To Settle Lawsuit
Sun-Mar Health Care, the operator of 18 Southern California nursing homes, has agreed to pay $2 million to former residents to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged that 4,000 elderly residents who lived in the facilities between 2005 and 2008 received substandard care. Los Angeles Times.
Office of Systems Integration Wins IT Management Award
California’s Office of Systems Integration has been awarded the Center for Digital Government’s Digital Government Achievement Award for its management of large IT projects that support the delivery of health and human services. Government Technology.
Emergency Docs Support Bill To Prevent Balance Billing
In an opinion piece, William Mallon, president of the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, writes that his organization supports a bill (SB 981) by Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata that would ensure “reasonable payment for emergency services provided by out-of-network emergency physicians.” He adds that the “calculated practice of chronic underpayments and non-payments by health plans created balance billing in the first place.” Sacramento Bee.
San Joaquin Valley’s ED Use Highest in State, Study Finds
A new Public Policy Institute of California study found that Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Fresno have the highest number of emergency department visits per capita among urban counties in the state. The high rate of ED visits can be attributed in part to San Joaquin Valley’s high unemployment, lack of physicians and large number of uninsured residents. Modesto Bee.