Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hospital Roundup: Texas Providers May Lose Federal Funds; Atlanta VA Facility Battles Air Quality Issues
The Dallas Morning News: Dallas’ Parkland Hospital Could Lose Federal Windfall
Federal officials have clamped down on a Medicaid windfall for private nursing home chains and scores of county hospital districts in Texas that have rushed to assume ownership, at least on paper, of nearly 250 nursing homes. The stampede by chains to “flip” their licenses to public hospitals, while continuing to operate them, began after the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in October 2012 approved a little-noticed Texas twist to its Medicaid program for the poor. (Garrett, 7/24)
WSB-TV: Air Quality Problem Growing At Atlanta VA Hospital
In a written statement, the VA said the [Atlanta] hospital experienced an, "environmental issue in the operating suite between June 27 and July 6" and corrective measures were taken. But sources told Diamant more than 50 workers have gotten sick so far from a ventilation problem, not just in that second floor operating room suite near a construction site, but also on the first floor as recently as Thursday. With no answers from the VA about the problem's source, union leaders contacted federal investigators. (Diamant, 7/22)
Health News Florida: Health First Arms Security Guards After Deadly Shooting
Central Florida hospitals are increasing security in the wake of a deadly shooting inside a Brevard County hospital. Thursday was the first day some security guards at Health First Hospitals started carrying guns and batons. Health First has four hospitals in Brevard County, but doesn’t own Parrish Medical Center, where last Sunday’s deadly shooting happened. Parrish Medical Center is also considering new security measures like metal detectors. (Aboraya, 7/22)
Star Tribune: Mothers Emerge As A Force For Change At Minnesota State Mental Hospital
What began as a small group of mothers airing their grievances has evolved into something broader and more permanent. Between 20 and 40 people attend the council’s monthly meetings in St. Peter, including family and friends of patients as well as hospital administrators. Sharing a mutual concern for patients, they have become a vital part of the hospital’s efforts to improve care and could become a model for the rest of the mental health system, state officials say. (Serres, 7/24)
Kansas Health Institute: Osawatomie State Hospital: A Leading Light For Mental Health Care Slowly Dims
The final federal inspections of Osawatomie State Hospital in 2015 painted a picture of a place where both employees and patients were in danger and low staffing levels compromised care. It wasn’t always that way. At one time, the hospital was considered by some to be a leading light in treating people with serious mental illnesses. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services decertified OSH in December 2015 because inspections found dangerous conditions for patients and staff. Since then, the decertification has cost the state about $1 million per month in federal payments. (Hart, 7/22)
The Washington Post: Health-Care Exec: Expect An ‘Oligopoly Of Hospitals’ For The Future
Health-care service is changing not only in Prince George’s County but across the nation. The shifts are so dramatic that small hospitals in communities across the nation will likely not survive what is coming their way, says Neil Moore, chief executive of the private nonprofit Dimensions Healthcare Systems — which operates hospitals in Prince George’s County. (Hernández, 7/22)
