As it nears the end of what will be nearly a decade-long exile from providing inpatient care, Martin Luther King Medical Center has appointed the top physician at the nation’s largest public health plan to oversee its reemergence as a full-fledged hospital in 2014.
Elaine Batchlor, M.D., chief medical officer at L.A. Care Health Plan, was named as MLK’s new chief executive officer earlier this week. She will begin work on Oct. 15.
Although Batchlor has not had any prior experience as a hospital administrator – most of her career has been on the payer side of the equation – she has long been a fixture in local and regional public health circles. She has overseen the treatment of nearly 1 million Medi-Cal and Healthy Family enrollees during her tenure at L.A. Care.
Archived California Healthcare News
In Brief: IHS Self-Study Focuses On Wellness Program
Free
Aug 27, 2012
A study by Chicago-based firm Interactive Health Solutions found a correlation between the use of a wellness program and reduced healthcare costs.
In Brief: Minnesota Blues, Innovalon Renew Pact
Premium Content
Aug 27, 2012
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota has renewed its contract with Inovalon to improve patient outcomes.
The Eagan-based health plan and Bowie, Md.-based Inovalon, which was formerly known as MedAssurant, reached terms on what Inovalon called a “multi-year engagement.”
In Brief: Case Western Links Insomnia To More Aggressive Breast Cancers
Free
Aug 27, 2012
Researchers at Case Western University and its affiliated hospital in Cleveland have linked lack of sleep to more aggressive tumors in breast cancer victims.
The research team examined more than 400 post-menopausal breast cancer victims and queried about their sleep habits. Those women who had reported less than six hours of sleep a night on average were more likely to have tumors with a genetic makeup more likely to make them recur.
Anthem Ohio In CPC Initiative
Free
Aug 27, 2012
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio will begin working with 75 physician practices in the Cincinnati and Dayton regions as part of a Medicare pilot project.
Ohio Awards SPD HMO Contracts
Free
Aug 27, 2012
The State of Ohio has awarded contracts to five insurers to provider care to 114,000 Medicare-Medicaid seniors and persons with disabilities under a pilot program that begins in 2013.
Health Care REIT Acquires Sunrise
Free
Aug 27, 2012
A May 2012 study in the journal Health Services Research found a 10% increase in assisted living capacity between 1993 and 2007. At the same time there was a 1.4% decline in private pay occupancy in nursing homes.
In Brief: UnitedHealthcare Drops Out of BadgerCare Program
Free
Aug 20, 2012
UnitedHealthcare has opted to end its Medicaid managed care contract with BadgerCare, citing continued cuts in reimbursement by Wisconsin regulators.
UnitedHealth cares for 174,000 Medicaid lives in Wisconsin and was paid $284 million for its service in the last fiscal year, which ended on June 30. Its contract terminates on Oct. 31.
In Brief: Minnesota Auditors Drop Thousands From State Insurance Roles
Free
Aug 20, 2012
The state of Minnesota has dropped health insurance coverage for more than 3,000 dependents of state employees after an eligibility audit was conducted by the state’s Management and Budget Agency.
However, there have been complaints that more than half of those dropped lost their coverage peremptorily without any prior notification or request for clarification, or they may have thrown out paperwork necessary to maintain their coverage because the thought it was junk mail.
In Brief: HCCA Says Not-For-Profits Much More Likely To Be Audited
Free
Aug 20, 2012
Not-for-profit healthcare institutions experience audits from outside entities at a rate more than 50% higher for-profits, according to a new study by the Minneapolis-based Health Care Compliance Association.
Not-for-profits experienced an average of six audits per calendar year, compared to fewer than four audits per calendar year among for-profits.
Upton Queries CMS On Exchanges
Free
Aug 20, 2012
Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich. sent a letter on Monday to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services seeking more information on regulations regarding insurance exchanges and Medicaid.
Retail Clinic Use Continues To Grow
Free
Aug 20, 2012
A recent study by the Rand Corp. has found that retail-based health clinics are providing more preventive care and being used more frequently by older patients.
Feds Expanding Home Healthcare
Premium Content
Aug 20, 2012
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has undertaken a project to expand home health services to the elderly.
WellPoint At Bottom of Hospitals\' Payer List
Free
Aug 20, 2012
It is a truth universally acknowledged that health insurance companies can be a pain for patients. What may be a surprise is that hospitals often complain, too. For the same reasons: Denied claims. Low reimbursement. Late reimbursement. Thickets of red tape.
In Brief: Kaiser\'s Farmers Markets Top 50
Free
Aug 15, 2012
Kaiser Permanente, which has encouraged the growth of farmers’ markets as a way to promote healthier lifestyles, has recently opened its 50th market nationwide.
The latest market is being operated outside of Kaiser’s Oakland headquarters weekly.
Kaiser has also opened markets throughout California and in Ohio, Maryland, Hawaii, Oregon and Maryland.
“We are thrilled that our markets are thriving and expanding,” said Preston Maring, M.D., a Kaiser physician who helped conceive the project about a decade ago.
In Brief: Employer Groups More Focused On Wellness Incentives
Free
Aug 15, 2012
A new study by Aon Hewitt concludes that many employer groups are relying on incentives to get their workers to participate in wellness programs.
In Brief: DMHC Seizes Dental Plan
Free
Aug 15, 2012
The Department of Managed Health Care has seized the assets of an Arcadia-based dental plan.
The DMHC also appointed a conservator for American HealthGuard Corp., which also operates as CentaGuard Dental Plan. It provides both commercial and Denti-Cal coverage. The DMHC took action on Aug. 10.
Accountable IPA Issues Statement
Free
Aug 15, 2012
A Signal Hill IPA ordered by a state regulator to stop using non-medical professionals to make prior authorization care decisions for patients has simultaneously defended its conduct while saying it is trying to resolve the matter.
Investment Dip Hits Kaiser Earnings
Free
Aug 15, 2012
Kaiser Permanente reported a bump upward in revenue and enrollment for the second quarter ending June 30, but its overall net income was down by 22%.
DOI Puts $1.7M Toward Fraud Fight
Premium Content
Aug 15, 2012
The California Department of Insurance has granted $1.7 million to county-level prosecutors for combating what it says is an increasing number of health and disability frauds.
