Archived California Healthcare News

In Brief: CDPH Publishes Expectations List For Hospital Surveyors Premium Content
Jun 14, 2018

The California Department of Public Health has published a list of “expectations” that it staff of hospital surveyors are expected to follow when making site visits.

            The two-page list includes an assertion that CDPH surveyor staff “will demonstrate professional conduct at all times” conduct unbiased surveys and not accept food, drinks, gifts and transportation from consumers and providers. It also agreed to make two attempts to contact any complainants prior to making any onsite inspections of hospitals or other healthcare facilities.

California Per Capita Annual Healthcare Spending by Category Free
Jun 12, 2018

Inpatient: $1,240
Outpatient: $1,232
Professional Procedures: $1,966
Prescriptions: $761
Total: $5,219

Note: 2016 Data; Published 2018 by HCCI

Source: Health Care Cost Institute

Seven California Hospitals Receive F in Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades Premium Content
May 4, 2018

Only ten states, including California, had hospitals receiving an F grade in the Spring 2018 edition of the Leapfrog biannual Hospital Safety Grades. Seven California hospitals received the F grade, including:
  - Adventist Health Sonora - Sonora
  - Hemet Valley Medical Center - Hemet
  - Memorial Hospital of Gardena - Gardena
  - Mission Community Hospital - Panorama City
  - Olympia Medical Center - Los Angeles
  - Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center - Riverside
  - San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital - Banning

CDPH Fines Hospitals Nearly $800,000 For Medical Errors Premium Content
May 3, 2018

 

The California Department of Public Health has fined eight hospitals a total of $791,662 after the agency determined their staffs committed medical errors that put patients into immediate jeopardy of losing their lives. Five patients died as a result of the errors. Another hospital was also cited and fined for repeated incidents of sexual abuse inflicted on a patient by a member of staff.

The incidents include:

Gaps In Mental Health Services Surface In Rand Study Premium Content
May 3, 2018

African-Americans in California are more likely to experience mental health problems than other ethnic groups, and they are less likely to get the care they need, according to a study released this week.

The study, by Santa Monica-based Rand Corp., shows a connection between untreated mental health problems and multiple absences from work, which can take an economic toll on individuals and families in the form of lost pay and even lost jobs. That dynamic disproportionately affects communities of color.

In Brief: El Camino Performs First Robotic Bronchoscopy Premium Content
May 3, 2018

The first robotic bronchoscopy in the United States was performed at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View on March 30. The procedure was part of the test of a new robotic platform by Auris Health.

In Brief: Auditor Slams Nursing Home Oversight Premium Content
May 3, 2018

A new report by the California Auditor has slammed the state’s regulatory oversight of nursing homes, saying they are not holding them to account for subpar care while they continue to ratchet up their profits.

            According to the report, the number of deficiencies in nursing homes detected by the California Department of Public Health rose by a third between 2006 and 2015, and violations that placed patients in immediate jeopardy of losing their lives rose by 35%.

California Is Leading Voice Of Defiance On Healthcare Premium Content
Apr 26, 2018

These days, when the federal government turns in one direction, California veers in the other — and in the case of healthcare, it’s a sharp swerve.

In the nation’s most populous state, lawmakers and other policymakers seemingly are not content simply to resist Republican efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. They are fighting to expand health coverage with a series of steps they hope will culminate in universal coverage for all Californians — regardless of immigration status and despite potentially monumental price tags.

Study Shows Flexible Endoscopes Nearly Impossible To Sterilize Premium Content
Apr 26, 2018

In an ominous sign for patient safety, 71% of reusable medical scopes deemed ready for use on patients tested positive for bacteria at three major U.S. hospitals, according to a new study.

The paper, published last month in the American Journal of Infection Control, underscores the infection risk posed by a wide range of endoscopes commonly used to peer deep into the body. It signals a lack of progress by manufacturers, hospitals and regulators in reducing contamination despite numerous reports of superbug outbreaks and patient deaths, experts say.

In Brief: Kaiser Study Says Transgender Youth More Likely To Have Mental Health Diagnoses Premium Content
Apr 26, 2018

A new study by Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California division has concluded that youths who consider themselves transgender are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with mental health issues than other portions of the population.

The study examined 1,347 transgender and gender-nonconforming youth 3 to 17 years who are members of Kaiser in California and Georgia.

In Brief: DMHC Issues Cease And Desist Order Against Landmark Healthplan Premium Content
Apr 26, 2018

The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has issued a rare cease and desist order against a Sacramento-based insurer for delegating too many tasks to a third party.

The order was issued April 13 against Landmark Healthplan, which offers coverage for chiropractic and acupuncture services.

Sources of California's $400 Billion Healthcare Spend Free
Mar 27, 2018

Employer Sponsored Insurance: $125 billion
Medi-Cal: $100 billion
Medicare: $75 billion
Individual Insurance Premiums: $11 billion 
Federal Marketplace Subsidies: $6 billion
Other: $40 billion 
           
Source:  Sacramento Bee

California Health Coverage and Uninsured Rates 2016-2017 Free
Mar 2, 2018

California Uninsured Rate:   2017 - 10.1% |  2016  -  9.7%
California Public Coverage:  2017 - 25.2% |  2016  - 24.7%
California Private Coverage: 2017 - 65.3% |  2016  - 66.6% 

Source: National Center for Health Statistics
 

In Brief: UCSF: Package, Label Marijuana Like Cigarettes Premium Content
Mar 1, 2018

A new study by researchers at UC San Francisco recommends that commercially available marijuana products be labeled similarly to cigarettes. That would include placing warning labels about the potential effects of marijuana use on the the products, reducing the packaging’s visual appeal to minors, eliminating flavorings in non-edible products and barring any ingredients that may promote product addiction.

In Brief: CHA Will Team To Create Digital Dashboard To Cut Preventable Patient Deaths Premium Content
Mar 1, 2018

The California Hospital Association (CHA) is teaming with the Hospital Quality Institute and the Patient Safety Movement Foundation to create a transparent digital dashboard intended to reduce preventable patient deaths in the state’s hospitals.

California’s Health Plans Have Heart Premium Content
Mar 1, 2018

In the age of Black Panther, Thor and Captain America, California’s health insurance plans bring you … A giant, androgynous red heart.

The health insurers debuted their bubbly superhero this week in front of California’s stately Capitol building. The heart, who wore black booties and white, Michael Jackson-esque gloves, had no name. No matter. S/he bopped. S/he waved at school children. S/he flashed the thumbs-up. S/he made the Capitol feel a bit like Disneyland.

Flu Vaccination Rates Vary Widely At State’s Hospitals Premium Content
Mar 1, 2018

How well are doctors, nurses and other workers at your local hospital vaccinated against the flu?

That depends on the hospital.

According to data from the California Department of Public Health, flu vaccination rates among health care staffers at the state’s acute care hospitals range from a low of 37 percent to 100 percent.

Five Proposed Health Insurance Bills Before Legislature Free
Feb 27, 2018

SB 910:
Would prohibit the sale of short-term health insurance policies starting in 2019 
SB 974: 
Would allow low-income adults who are in the U.S. illegally to sign up for Medi-Cal
SB 538:
Would prohibit anti-competitive contracts between hospitals and insurers
AB 595: 
Gives the state oversight of potential mergers between health insurance plans
AB 587:
Would expand the state's bulk prescription drug purchasing program by allowing counties and local governments to join

California Medi-Cal Physician Supply and Reimbursement Free
Feb 13, 2018

Covered California added 423,484 new plan selections for just ended fifth annual open enrollment, including 50,000 people during the final three days. The new selections were a 3% increase over last year's open enrollment, However, renewals experienced a decline, yielding an overall decrease of -2.26% in total enrollment for 2017-2018 with a total of 1,521,525 enrollees. 

California HMO Penetration Rates Free
Feb 2, 2018

The overall HMO penetration rate for California is 59.2%, compared to 31.6% nationally. The California Commercial HMO penetration rate is 47.0% (12.8% U.S.); the Medicaid penetration rate is 77.7% (70.5% U.S.) and Medicare Advantage rate is 41.5% (32.4% U.S.)

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts
 

Pages