Iowa Health System Renames Itself
The former Iowa Health System has changed its name to UnityPoint Health.
Archived California Healthcare News
UCSF To Buy Stake In Pacific Partners
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Apr 17, 2013
UCSF Medical Center has agreed to purchase a stake in the management services organization for the 800-physician Santa Clara County IPA, part of what officials said this week is a plan to create an integrated and risk-bearing healthcare system in the Bay Area.
UCSF signed a letter of intent late last month to acquire a minority stake in the Foster City-based Pacific Partners Management Service. The deal is expected to close by mid June, according to Randall Frakes, Pacific Partners\' chief executive officer.
Heritage ACO Focuses On Renal Care
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Apr 17, 2013
The Heritage California ACO in Los Angeles has teamed with Fresenius Medical Care to provide targeted services to its enrollees with end-stage renal disease.
Under the agreement, Fresenius will create a population health management program for Heritage California\'s enrollees who have the condition.
DMHC Freezes Loma Linda Enrollment
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Apr 17, 2013
The Department of Managed Health Care has suspended enrollment in Loma University Health Care\'s risk-bearing organization after it failed to file financial disclosures in a timely manner.
The DMHC stopped enrollment as part of an enforcement action it took on April 3. No monetary penalty was assessed, according to records.
CHA Merges Hospital Quality Initiatives
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Apr 17, 2013
The California Hospital Association and the state\'s three other regional hospital lobbies have launched a new organization focused on quality initiatives at acute care facilities.
The Hospital Quality Institute will absorb the various quality improvement efforts currently managed by the Hospital Association of Southern California, the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California and the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties.
In Brief: Dignity Health Sells Lab Business; CMA Sponsors Bills To Address Physician Shortage
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Apr 17, 2013
Dignity Health Sells Lab Business
San Francisco-based hospital operator Dignity Health has come to terms to sell its laboratory outreach business – that portion of its volume performed for purposes outside of the hospital setting – to New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics.
Missouri Hospitals: Without Medicaid Expansion, Uncompensated Care Will Explode
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Apr 15, 2013
The Missouri Hospital Association has cautioned that if the state does not participate in the Medicaid expansion that is part of the Affordable Care Act, the levels of uncompensated care provided by hospitals will nearly triple by the end of the decade.
MHA called the potential rise in uncompensated care a “hidden†tax expected to be borne by many of the Show Me State\'s 6 million residents through cost-shifting to those with insurance.
Physician-Owned Hospitals Rake In Quality Bonuses
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Apr 15, 2013
Doctor-owned hospitals – many of which are in the Midwest – are earning many of the largest bonuses from the federal health law\'s new quality programs, even as the law halts their growth.
The hospitals, many of which specialize in heart or orthopedic surgeries, have long drawn the ire of federal lawmakers and competitors. They say physicians often direct the best-insured and more lucrative cases to their own facilities, while leaving the most severely ill patients to others.
Even Under ACA, Some Could Get Hit With Huge Out-Of-Pocket Costs
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Apr 15, 2013
Some consumers may continue to face out-of-pocket health costs of $12,500 or more next year – double the amount allowed by the health law – because the Obama administration won’t enforce that provision for some plans for another year.
\"This is a very important consumer protection that is being undermined,\" said Stephen Finan, policy director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. \"Someone with a high drug bill could have out-of-pocket costs well in excess of the law.\"
In Brief: Kindred Acquires St. Louis Hospital, Cardinal Health, Ohio State Team On Campus Drug Abuse
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Apr 15, 2013
Kindred To Acquire, Relocate St. Louis Hospital
Kindred Healthcare has entered into an agreement to acquire Mercy Continuing Care Hospital, a 54-bed transitional care hospital in St. Louis.
CalOptima’s $90,000 Mystery Payment
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Apr 10, 2013
The chief executive officer of the recently created Covenant Health Network sent CalOptima late last month a check of more than $90,000 to reimburse the Medi-Cal managed care plan for use of its employees and office space by another organization to secure a federal grant.
CalOptima on Wednesday released a March 28 letter Richard Afable, M.D., sent to CalOptima. It was accompanied by a cashier\'s check for $90,391.
In Brief: Physician Wins Judgment Against Anthem Blue Cross; CDPH Fines Nursing Home
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Apr 10, 2013
Physician Wins $3.8 Million Judgment Against Anthem Blue Cross
A Los Angeles family practice physician has won a $3.8 million jury verdict against Anthem Blue Cross of California for his claims the insurer intentionally barred him from their provider network.
Caution On Hospital “Alarm Fatigueâ€
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Apr 9, 2013
The Joint Commission has issued a warning about too many warnings.
The Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based organization that surveys and accredits most of the nation\'s hospitals alerted its membership on Monday about the dangers posed by an excess of alarms that go off in inpatient settings.
In Brief: Henry Ford Redesigns Patient Gowns; Mental Health Services For Teens Falling Short
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Apr 8, 2013
Henry Ford Redesigns Patient Gowns
Henry Ford Hospital has introduced a new patient gown officials say restore their dignity and help them stay warm.
Joint Commission Issues Advisory On Medical Alarms
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Apr 8, 2013
The Joint Commission has issued a warning about too many warnings.
The Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based organization that surveys and accredits most of the nation\'s hospitals alerted its membership on Monday about the dangers posed by an excess of alarms that go off in inpatient settings.
Minneapolis-Area Clinics Form ACO
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Apr 8, 2013
A group of federally-qualified health clinics in the Minneapolis area have banded together to create one of the nation\'s first accountable care organizations that focuses specifically on outpatients and providing safety net care.
The 10 clinics have formed what is known as the Federally Qualified Health Center Urban Health Network, or FUHN. It has entered into a contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to provide care to 22,000 Medicaid enrollees. The clinics provide service at 40 sites across seven counties in the Twin Cities region.
Walgreens Expands Retail Clinics To Treat Chronic Conditions
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Apr 8, 2013
It’s not just sore throats and flu shots anymore. Chicago-based drugstore giant Walgreens has become the first retail store chain to expand its healthcare services to include diagnosing and treating patients for chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and high cholesterol.
Walgreens officials say they will have nurse practitioners and physician assistants at more than 300 Take Care Clinics in 18 states and the District of Columbia to do tests and make diagnoses – and also write prescriptions, refer patients for additional tests and help them manage their conditions.
In Brief: UnitedHealthcare Grants $5.2 Million; HealthSouth To Build New Hospital
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Apr 3, 2013
UnitedHealthcare Grants $5.2 Million To Providers
UnitedHealthcare has awarded $5.2 million in grants to nine non-profit organizations in California to improve healthcare services and wellness programs.
Up And Down For Exchange Enrollees
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Apr 3, 2013
A new actuarial report has determined that tax subsidies will be the deciding factor in whether consumers enjoy a price break when purchasing coverage through the Covered California health insurance exchange.
The report by Milliman, Inc. projects that premiums will increase an average of 9% between 2013 and 2014, driven primarily by changes linked to the Affordable Care Act, including mandates for increased benefits.
Jones Blasts Another Premium Increase
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Apr 3, 2013
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has locked horns with Anthem Blue Cross of California again, blasting the insurer for another premium hike he has declared unreasonable.
At a press conference in Sacramento on Tuesday, Jones called an average rate hike of 5.2% by Anthem Blue Cross levied April 1 on more than 45,000 individual policyholders and 7,000 small business owners as unreasonable and excessive.
