A 61-page report from the state auditor calls for the California Legislature to give nonprofit hospitals more specific instructions on reporting costs for uncompensated care and evaluating community benefits. According to the auditor, uniform guidelines are needed in reporting the dollar valuations of community care.
Officials of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta have filed a certificate of need with the state to construct a $43 million building downtown. The costs will be covered by private donations, and Children's Healthcare has already raised $34 million toward the project.
A state panel has approved a range of changes for next year for the rapidly growing subsidized health insurance program in Massachusetts. The changes will probably cut payments to doctors and hospitals, reduce choices for patients, and possibly increase how much patients have to pay.
The American Hospital Association says that a letter recently sent to presidential candidates about specialty hospitals is "all fiction, no facts." In response, the AHA and the Iowa Hospital Association sent their own letter to the candidates that says limited-service facilities drive up the nation's healthcare costs and threaten to dismantle vital community resources for patients.
Simi Valley (CA) Hospital has terminated its state contract to accept Medi-Cal patients and will now treat such patients only on an emergency or outpatient basis. The state's Medi-Cal reimbursement rate was too low, so the 153-bed hospital ended its contract, said hospital representatives.
California's top insurance regulator has accused Blue Shield of 1,262 violations of claims-handling laws and regulations that resulted in more than 200 people losing their medical coverage. Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is seeking a $12.6-million fine.