Latest California Healthline Stories
188 Cases of Shigella Linked to San Jose Restaurant; Third Lawsuit Filed Over Outbreak
As of Tuesday, 188 individuals have become infected in an outbreak of Shigella bacteria that has been linked to contaminated food from San Jose restaurant Mariscos. Of those infected, 150 are Santa Clara County residents. Meanwhile, a third lawsuit was filed against the restaurant on Tuesday alleging negligence in connection with the outbreak. KLIV 1590, CBS SF Bay Area.
Budget Deal Would Ease, Not Eliminate, Medicare Premium Increases
If a budget agreement between the Obama administration and congressional leaders is approved by Congress, monthly Medicare Part B premiums would increase to about $120, rather than to $159, for roughly 30% of beneficiaries. The deal also would enact changes to physician practices’ reimbursements, which hospital groups are opposing. New York Times et al.
CMS Details Hospital Pay Adjustments Under Value-Based Purchasing
New CMS data show about 1,800 hospitals will receive positive payment adjustments under the Value-Based Purchasing Program in fiscal year 2016, while about 1,200 hospitals will see a negative payment adjustment under the program. In California, Patients’ Hospital of Redding received the largest bonus percentage for 2016 and Alameda County Medical Center received the largest penalty percentage. Modern Healthcare, CMS release.
Va.-Based Faneuil Wins $12M Covered California Call Center Contract, To Host Hiring Events
Covered California has awarded a $12 million call center contract to Virginia-based Faneuil in partnership with Insync Consulting Services in Roseville. Faneuil plans to hold two hiring events this week to staff the health insurance exchanges call center before open enrollment begins Sunday. Sacramento Business Journal.
Opinion Piece Says California Equipped To Handle Looming Health Care Workforce Shortage
In a Sacramento Bee opinion piece, Cathy Martin — vice president of workforce policy for the California Hospital Association and a member of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation and a Strong Economy — writes, “California has the components to eliminate the [health care] workforce gap. With an unemployment rate hovering around 6%, we have the labor pool” and “a strong community college system to train it.” She notes that the task force has developed 25 recommendations to improve the workforce, including two that “will be most helpful to California’s hospitals,” and “urges” Californians to review them. Sacramento Bee‘s “Soapbox.”
Anthem Agrees To Refund $8.3M to About 50,000 Calif. Policyholders
Anthem Blue Cross has agreed to refund $8.3 million to about 50,000 California policyholders to settle a class-action lawsuit over mid-year increases to its annual deductibles, out-of-pocket limits and prescription drug deductibles. Anthem did not admit wrongdoing under the settlement. Los Angeles Times et al.
San Francisco Approves Settlement in Patient Dumping Lawsuit
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has approved a $400,000 settlement from Nevada over allegations that the Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas wrongfully and intentionally bused patients with mental illnesses to the area and did not cover the costs of their care. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Report Finds Disparities in Time, Resources Spent Seeking Care
A new report funded by the California HealthCare Foundation finds that U.S. residents in 2010 spent an average of about two hours traveling to, waiting for and seeing a doctor. However, there were racial and economic disparities in the time and resources spent in seeking care. HealthyCal.
More Organizations Using Population Health Management Initiatives, but Barriers Remain
While health care organizations increasingly are engaging in population health management initiatives, several barriers remain, according to a survey by the eHealth Initiative. The survey found that organizations are implementing population health initiatives in a variety of settings — such as patient-centered medical homes and pay-for-performance programs — and many are working to address chronic conditions, high-cost cases and readmission risk. However, more than 50% of respondents cited interoperability as a barrier to their population health management initiatives. Further about 40% of respondents cited issues with competing health IT priorities and workflow. Health IT Analytics, FierceHealthIT.
Experts Say Drugmakers Should Align Rx Prices With Value
A panel of health experts on Friday said drugmakers should rein in prices for prescription medications so that they align with the value the medications provide for patients. Lowell Schnipper, chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Value in Cancer Care Task Force, called for a system to determine whether new cancer drugs are of low, medium or high value to patients, arguing that patients should pay only for drugs that work. Steven Pearson, president of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, also called for a system that would determine drugs’ values. Reuters.