catholic healthcare west

A maverick California cardiologist continues to expand his burgeoning hospital empire, which now stands to challenge some of the biggest chains in the state. While the rapid pace of his acquisition is drawing attention--he's acquired six hospitals during the past year alone--what's really got the industry buzzing is the fact he's canceling all of the hospitals' contracts with health insurance plans.

Dr. Prem Reddy's Prime Healthcare Services now owns eight hospitals in California, …

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) has begun running a series of ads advocating healthcare reform in California. The health system, which operates 42 hospitals in California, Arizona and Nevada, plans to run print ads in several national and regional publications, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Newsweek. The ads don't detail a specific reform scheme, but rather, agitate for broad healthcare accessibility. CHW also belongs to a pro-reform …

In an effort to stay in the good graces of the state's Attorney General, Minnesota hospitals have agreed to extend existing pricing discounts for uninsured patients for the next five years. The hospitals will also continue to meet debt-collection requirements, including the establishment of payment plans and riding herd on collection agency tactics. Hospitals must also take several steps prior to pursuing patients legally, including verifying their debt and confirming that any relevant …

Catholic Healthcare West, which operates 42 hospitals across California, Arizona and Nevada, has set plans to spend $9 billion on capital projects over the next 10 years. CHW plans to use the money to build new hospitals, add seismic improvements to hospitals in earthquake zones, add health information technology and buy new clinical equipment, as well as making acquisitions where it makes sense. This plan, which would allocate $900 million for each year, represents a big jump in spending …

Minneapolis, MN-based Allina Hospitals & Clinics and Fairview Health Services have settled a 2004 class action suit alleging that the two systems overcharged uninsured patients. Under the terms of the settlement, Allina and Fairview have agreed to discount the outstanding balances of uninsured patients who were seen between early February 1999 and August 2005 by 25 percent. If the patient has paid in more than 75 percent, the systems will give the patient a voucher for credit against …

A San Francisco County Superior Court has given final approval for the $423 settlement of a class-action lawsuit against Catholic Healthcare West. The suit accused CHW of charging uninsured patients up to five as times as much as those with insurance or access to Medicare or Medicaid. "This settlement provides much-needed relief to hundreds of thousands of uninsured patients by …

There's lots of activity in the air this week regarding hospital pricing, particularly toward those who don't have insurance companies footing the bill. For example, California passed a new law …

Uninsured patients seen by Catholic Healthcare West hospitals from July 1, 2001, through September 25, 2006 are now entitled to a 35 percent discount or refund on their bill, following a ruling amending an existing class-action suit. In May, CHW had reached an agreement on the suit, which alleged that it engaged in price gouging of uninsured patients, but the new ruling restructured the payout to ensure that all affected patients received the same benefits. CHW will pay out …

A tentative agreement on a new contract has been reached between two locals of the Service Employees International Union and Catholic Healthcare West, the operator of several Central Valley hospitals as well as others throughout California. The contract affects 12,000 certified nursing assistants, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, dietary aides and other employees at 24 hospitals in the state. The union and hospital chain had reached an agreement in March but negotiations …

It's been an eventful week for healthcare watchers. There were a number of noteworthy events, both good and bad. A large non-profit hospital chain, Catholic Healthcare West of San Francisco, announced a settlement in a class action suit over the rates it charges uninsured patients. Evidence--as if any were needed--that the litigation issue isn't going away any time soon. Earlier in …