California's health insurance exchange has awarded $184 million in contracts without the competitive bidding and oversight that is standard practice across state government, including deals that sent millions of dollars to a firm whose employees have long-standing ties to the agency's executive director. Covered California's no-bid contracts were for a variety of services, ranging from public relations to paying for ergonomic adjustments to work stations, according to an Associated Press review of contracting records obtained through the state Public Records Act.
Escalating its battle with organized labor, Prime Healthcare Services Inc. reached a deal to acquire six nonprofit Catholic hospitals in California, including St. Vincent and St. Francis medical centers in Los Angeles County. Under the agreement announced Friday by the Daughters of Charity Health System, Prime Healthcare said it would keep all six hospitals open and maintain their existing services, including emergency rooms and trauma centers, for at least five years. For workers, Prime said it would take on nearly $300 million in pension liabilities for current and retired employees at the six hospitals, which have been struggling financially.
Across the Sunshine State, hospitals in record numbers —148 in all— are feeling the sting of millions of dollars in Medicare fines for having too many patients return within a month for additional treatments, federal records released this month show. The average fine levied against Florida hospitals for readmitting patients nearly doubled since last year, from about a quarter of 1 percent of Medicare payments to more than a half of 1 percent, according to data analyzed by Kaiser Health News.
A New Mexico woman is suing a hospital and its parent company, saying their negligence led to hackers obtaining personal information belonging to her and more than 4 million other patients. The Albuquerque Journal reported that attorneys are seeking class-action status for a lawsuit filed on behalf of Briana Brito. The suit, which was filed Sept. 19, alleges Brito had personal data stolen while hospitalized at Alta Vista Regional Hospital in Las Vegas.
In a way, it is remarkable that Fallbrook Hospital held on as long as it did. The financial pressures that will ultimately close the 47-bed facility on Nov. 17 have forced nearly 100 other hospitals in California out of business since 1996. Last week, facing continued losses that reached nearly $6 million in 2013, the Fallbrook Healthcare District's board of directors opted to cease admitting patients and instead align with Palomar Health and Tri-City Medical Center, both public health districts, to offer a range of outpatient services in the community.
For years, Flint-based McLaren Health Care has lost battle after battle in its quest to build a new $300 million hospital in this northern Oakland County community – but it hasn't given up. Despite opposition at nearly every turn, McLaren is now turning to the state Legislature in its push to move 200 beds from its Pontiac hospital to a new hospital it hopes to build just south of Clarkston – a move that McLaren says will improve hospital access to a growing population.