California Hospitals Lose Ground in Quality of Care, Report Card Shows
Nearly half of California hospitals received a grade of C or lower for patient safety on a national report card aimed at prodding medical centers to do more to prevent injuries and deaths.
Physician Group Creates Ethical Guidelines for EHR Use
The use of electronic health records (EHR) should be guided by ethical principles that put patient care at the forefront, according to a position paper published by the American College of Physicians (ACP).
MA Nurses Support Bill to Protect Healthcare Workers
Workplace violence continues to be an issue in hospitals across the country; the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) recently found that 86% of Massachusetts nurses have experienced some form of violence while at work, in the last two years.
While Washington Fiddles, CA Leaders Forge Ideas for Universal Healthcare
As the nation’s Republican leaders huddle to reconsider their plans to “repeal and replace” the nation’s health law, advocates for universal health coverage press on in California, armed with renewed political will and a new set of proposals.
Self-Reported Quality Measures Don’t Add Up, Study Says
Data from The Leapfrog Group’s doesn’t match Medicare data and suggests a lack of reliability in self-reported data, researchers say. Leapfrong says it “goes to extreme lengths” to verify survey data.
CMS: Don’t Put off Newly Required Emergency Exercises
Medical facilities still have the better part of a year before the new emergency preparedness rule is implemented this fall, but they should not wait any longer to begin complying, CMS warned last week.
AAMC: U.S. Physician Shortage Could Surpass 100,000 by 2030
The United States could face a shortage of 40,800–104,900 physicians by 2030, according to a study published earlier this month by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
NQF Recommends Reduction of Quality Metrics
The organization recommended eliminating around 51 out of 240 of all federal quality metrics used to determine payment in seven federal healthcare programs. This is meant to make the requirements for providers more efficient and streamlined.
Justice Department Joins Lawsuit Alleging Massive Medicare Fraud by UnitedHealth
Two whistleblower complaints allege that UnitedHealth has had a practice of asking the government to reimburse it for underpayments, but did not report claims for which it had received too much money.
Late Move to Dump ‘Essential’ Benefits Could Strand Chronically Ill
A last-minute attempt by conservative Republicans to dump standards for health benefits in plans sold to individuals would probably lower the average consumer’s upfront insurance costs, such as premiums and deductibles, said experts on both sides of the debate to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.