State Highlights: N.C. Mayor Walks To D.C. To Highlight Rural Hospitals; Sacramento County Wants To Reopen Clinics For Immigrants
News outlets report on health care developments in North Carolina, California, Connecticut, Washington, Michigan, New York, D.C., West Virginia and Ohio.
North Carolina Health News:
N.C. Mayor Arrives In D.C. On Quest To Support Rural Hospitals
For the second year running, Belhaven Mayor Adam O’Neal has walked to Washington, D.C. Last year, O’Neal made the journey to raise the red flag over the closure of the hospital in his small eastern North Carolina town. This year, he walked to raise awareness of rural hospitals facing closure across the country. He arrived at the Capitol on Monday morning. (Hoban, 6/15)
Los Angeles Times:
In Reversal, Sacramento County Wants To Restore Clinic Access To Immigrants
Facing a $55-million deficit during the Great Recession, Sacramento County officials made a choice: To save money, they would close their free health clinics to people who entered the country illegally. Six years later, they want to reverse that decision. (Karlamangla, 6/15)
Hartford Courant:
Yale-New Haven: Taxes, Cuts To Force Closings In Branford, East Haven
Clinics in East Haven and Branford are scheduled to close as Yale-New Haven Health System contends with higher state taxes and lower Medicaid reimbursement rates from the state, hospital executives said Monday. Yale-New Haven wants to close the two clinics to save about $1 million annually in lease payments for office space, said Vin Petrini, senior vice president of public affairs at Yale New Haven Health System. (Sturdevant, 6/15)
The Associated Press:
State Appeals Judge's Order For Timely Mental Competency Evaluations
The state is appealing part of a federal judge’s ruling that sought to ensure timely competency services for mentally ill defendants. Health officials said they are only appealing the portion that mandates competency evaluations within seven days of a judge’s order. They said one week was not enough time to allow some defendants who may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs to stabilize. Evaluators send people to hospitals before their mental state is fully understood, officials said. (Bellisle, 6/15)
The Detroit Free Press:
You Are Paying More For Health Care, Survey Finds
The rise in health care costs is beginning to slow for some southeast Michigan businesses. But not because health care is getting less expensive. A new employer survey shows that businesses and government employers are dealing with the growing expense of employee health care by passing more of the costs on to workers and introducing high-deductible insurance plans. (Reindl, 6/16)
The New York Times:
New York Comptroller, Taking Aim At ‘Three-Quarter’ Homes, Urges City Agencies To End Referrals
The office of the New York City comptroller plans to send letters on Tuesday to City Hall and various agencies demanding that they take steps to ensure that people in need of housing are not sent to illegal boarding homes, known as “three-quarter” houses, and to provide information that will help the office compile a list of such homes. The actions by the comptroller, Scott M. Stringer, who is responsible for auditing city agencies, follow an article published by The New York Times last month on three-quarter homes, flophouses paid for with government money that cater to addicts and those with nowhere else to go. The article examined the practices of the operator of some of the most troubled homes, Yury Baumblit, a felon accused of taking kickbacks on Medicaid fees for drug treatment while forcing people to live in squalor. (Barker, 6/15)
California Healthline:
Prop.13 Changes Could Affect Health Care
Proposed changes to Proposition 13, California's landmark property tax initiative, could generate as much as $9 billion a year for state and local governments. In addition to helping schools, public safety and infrastructure, the money would improve delivery of health care services, proponents say. Opponents say tinkering with the landmark initiative passed in 1978 would harm the state, including the health care delivery system. (Lauer, 6/15)
The Washington Post:
Children’s National Medical Center To Pay $12.9 Million To Settle Fraud Suit
Children’s National Medical Center has agreed to pay $12.9 million to settle a suit claiming the hospital submitted false information to receive Medicaid and federal funding, the U.S. Justice Department announced Monday. (Zauzmer, 6/15)
The San Jose Mercury News:
California Budget: Senate And Assembly Approve A $117.5 Billion Spending Plan
With a midnight deadline hours away, lawmakers on Monday approved a $117.5 billion state budget that pumps more money into child care, health care and higher education. (Calefati, 6/15)
The Associated Press:
Senators Announce Funding For W.VA. Seniors Program
West Virginia program that protects seniors from health care fraud and abuse is getting a boost from the federal government. U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito on Monday announced just over $242,000 in federal funding for the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services for Senior Medicare Patrol Program projects. The program offers education and training to increase s awareness and understanding of health care programs. (6/16)
Cincinnati Enquirer:
Cincinnati Health Briefs: New UC Operating Room
University of Cincinnati Medical Center opened an expanded state-of-the-art "hybrid" operating room last week. The suite is designed to make heart surgery less invasive, offer non-surgical valve replacement and repair, introduce catheter-based treatment of stroke and blood vessel aneurysms and reduce recovery time for patients.
The 854-square-foot room is on the hospital's second floor and connects the existing catheterization laboratory with the operating room. The expansion is a $6 million investment for UC Health. (Saker, 6/15)
Los Angeles Times:
Doctor Linked To Drug Deaths Allowed To Practice On Probation
An Orange County doctor accused of gross negligence in the care of two patients who fatally overdosed on drugs he prescribed has been placed on probation by the Medical Board of California. Van H. Vu, who owns a busy pain clinic in Huntington Beach, agreed not to contest the board's accusation, to take classes in prescribing and record keeping and to submit to an outside practice monitor for five years. In exchange, the board allowed Vu to keep his license and continue prescribing potent painkillers. (Girion, 6/15)
