State Highlights: Critics Urge Scrutiny Of Conn. Health System Market Concentration; Members React To Kaiser Permanente Acquisition Plan
News outlets report on health care developments in Connecticut, Washington, Idaho, California, Texas, Minnesota and Puerto Rico.
The Connecticut Mirror:
Critics Seek Hard Look At Yale–L+M Deal, Hospital Market Power
A group of unions and advocacy organizations are calling for state regulators to take a hard look at the growth in power and market concentration of large health systems in Connecticut – and what that means for patients – when they review the Yale New Haven Health System’s proposed acquisition of New London’s Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. (Levin Becker, 12/8)
The Seattle Times:
Group Health Acquisition By Kaiser Draws Worry And Praise
Reaction was swift — and mixed — Friday after the announcement that Seattle’s homegrown medical cooperative, Group Health, may be acquired by the California behemoth Kaiser Permanente. Callers buzzed phone lines at Group Health’s administrative offices as well as the satellite centers throughout Washington and Northern Idaho, officials said. Employees huddled with colleagues and managers. Hundreds of conversations ensued, even as officials said no change in care or coverage is immediately planned. (Aleccia, 12/7)
Connecticut Mirror:
CT Deficit Plan Taps Many Special Funds And One-Time Sources
While the General Assembly is expected to adopt a plan in special session Tuesday to close most or all of this fiscal year’s budget deficit, restore some funds for hospitals and finance modest business tax breaks, almost 40 percent of the plan diverts resources from specialized funds and various one-time sources. (Phaneuf, 12/7)
The Seattle Times:
Norovirus Outbreak Suspected At Downtown Seattle Tower
The cafeteria inside Russell Investments Center in downtown Seattle closed Friday amid a possible outbreak of norovirus that may involve hundreds of people. Public Health — Seattle & King County first began getting calls about illnesses Thursday afternoon, and on Friday visited the building at 1301 Second Ave. Officials are looking at the cafeteria, which closed voluntarily, as one place the virus could have spread, Public Health spokesman James Apa said. The cafeteria is not open to the public. There have been no reports of seriously ill people or hospitalizations, he said. (Garnick, 12/6)
KQED:
Catholic Hospital In Redding Denies Two Women Tubal Ligation
Redding’s Mercy Medical Center has refused — for the second time in four months — to allow doctors to perform sterilization on two pregnant women. The women requested the procedure be done immediately after they give birth next year. The hospital cited religious reasons. The American Civil Liberties Union and Physicians for Reproductive Health have sent a letter to Dignity Health, which owns Mercy Medical, saying they will go to court if the issue is not resolved by Wednesday evening. (Aliferis, 12/7)
The Associated Press:
Catholic Hospital Under Fire For Denying Sterilizations
A Northern California Catholic hospital is under fire again for refusing to allow doctors to perform sterilizations on two pregnant women after they give birth, citing religious reasons. The two women may go to court unless Mercy Medical Center changes its mind by Wednesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday. (12/7)
The Associated Press:
McClellan, Ex-US Food And Drug Administration Head, Joins UT
An ex-commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has joined the new medical school at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Mark McClellan was named Monday to the faculty of Dell Medical School, which will enroll its first class next summer. (12/7)
Bloomberg:
Puerto Rico Says Sick Will Head North Without Health-Care Fix
Puerto Rico’s elected officials have a message for their counterparts on the mainland: Fix health-care funding disparities or care for our poor and elderly in your hospitals.
Almost 70 percent of the island’s 3.5 million people get health care through Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Funding formulas for these federal programs shortchange Puerto Rico because it’s not a state, commonwealth officials say. (Braun, 12/7)
Minnesota Public Radio:
MN Study: Hospital Ventilator Noise Puts Preemie Hearing At Risk
It's an exceptionally busy day at the Minneapolis neonatal intensive care unit at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. But even in the midst of a harried shift, the staff tries to keep the unit as quiet as possible for their struggling newborns. At the center of the room is an infant who will spend months in here. She was born three months early and is no bigger than her nurse's hands. (Benson, 12/7)
