Salinas Valley Memorial Becomes Salinas Valley Health

A doctor showing the report to the senior female patient

A Salinas hospital which has served the community well over decades has decided to change its name.  Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System has announced that it has changed its name to Salinas Valley Health.  The 263-bed hospital employs more than 2,000 people.  ““We are extraordinarily proud of the legacy and impact our organization has had in our community,” said Pete Delgado, president/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “As we rise to meet the promise of an even brighter future, Salinas Valley Health is celebrating the connection between community health and individual well-being. We’re rising together in good health.”

Medicare Insurers Took $9.2 Billion In Federal Payments In One Year Via Controversial Billing Practices : By Derek Baine

There seems to be no end to the tricks insurers will come up with in order to suck more money out of Medicare.  According to the findings of the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, it analyzed 20 companies and investigators found that one received about 40% of the questionable payments, or $3.7 billion, while enrolling only 22% of Medicare Advantage customers.  It wouldn’t name the company, but BMO Capital Market looked at federal data and showed that the enrollment share closely matches UnitedHealth Group Inc. during the period the investors looked at.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/most-of-9-2-billion-in-questionable-medicare-payments-went-to-20-insurers-federal-investigators-say-11632303001

Tech Giants Jump Into Rapidly Growing Healthcare Business : By Derek Baine

A doctor holding a stethoscope with his hand

Google parent Alphabet Inc. and hospital chain HCA Healthcare struck a deal this week to develop algorithms using patient records which could help physicians make more informed decisions about patient care.  They aren’t the only ones to jump into the rapidly growing healthcare space.  JPMorgan Chase is investing $250 million in startups and technologies which are meant to make healthcare more efficient and effective.  Amazon.com and Walmart have also partnered on primary care which will enable them to push their prescription pharmaceuticals business.  The U.S. is projected to spend about $4 trillion on healthcare this year (according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). That’s roughly 20% of GDP so it’s no big surprise that these big companies are jumping into this fast growing sector.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-and-walmart-have-an-rx-for-healthcare-the-cure-wont-be-easy-11622194240

Haven Wanted To Develop Innovative Healthcare Solutions, Is Now Shutting Down

Haven, the company backed by Amazon.com, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase surprisingly started informing employees today that it will shut down by the end of next month.  Many of the company’s 57 workers will be offered new jobs at one of the three founders of the non-profit.  The problem, insiders say, is that rather than working together, the three companies developed their own products on their own.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/04/haven-the-amazon-berkshire-jpmorgan-venture-to-disrupt-healthcare-is-disbanding-after-3-years.html

Monterey, CA Nursing Homes Hit Hardest By COVID-19

A man covering his mouth and nose with N95 Mask

I recently wrote about the fact that although the number of cases of coronavirus in nursing homes is low as a percentage of all cases, they account for a full 40% of deaths from COVID-19.  California’s Department of Public Health has listed 21 skilled nursing and assisted-living facilities that have reported COVID-19 cases.  The worst by far is Windsor Monterey Care Center at 78, followed by Pacific Coast Post Acute at 72, and Windsor The Ridge Rehab Center which has had 67 patient cases and 62 staff members carrying the virus.  Cypress Ridge Care Center has had 49 patients with coronavirus and 40 staff members, while Windsor Skyline Care Center has had 47 patients and 14 staff members with the virus.

This data shows why local hospitals are discharging many patients to their homes rather than have them go to a rehab center prior to going home.

https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-coronavirus-cases-tracking-outbreak/monterey-county/

https://familyinhomecaregiving.com/long-term-care-facilities-account-for-40-of-covid-19-deaths/