Reform Supporters See Kaiser as Model for Health Care Delivery
Proponents of health care reform in the U.S. and other countries cite Kaiser Permanente as a model for overhauling the health care system, pointing to the Oakland-based HMO's achievements in preventive care, outcomes and other areas, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Kaiser has 8.6 million members in nine states. Annually, the HMO conducts 34 million outpatient visits, performs 452,000 surgeries, fills 113 million prescriptions and delivers 85,000 infants.
In California specifically, Kaiser is pursuing a $10 billion effort to open new facilities and replace older hospital buildings to meet state earthquake safety rules.
According to the Times, the HMO is poised to grow even more significantly as President Obama's administration pushes for health care reform.
Kaiser Hits Some Bumps
Although Kaiser is continuing to push its growth strategy, the company posted a net loss of $794 million last year because of investment losses and reported a drop in membership of 30,000 (Girion, Los Angeles Times, 4/1). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.