Health
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- Written by: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The new Medicare cards no longer contain a person’s Social Security number, but rather a unique, randomly-assigned Medicare number that protects the identities of people with Medicare, reduces fraud, and offers better safeguards of important health and financial information.
“Removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards is one of the many ways CMS is committed to putting patients first and improving the consumer healthcare experience,” said Greg Dill, CMS regional administrator for California. “This change not only protects Medicare patients from fraud, but also safeguards taxpayer dollars by making it harder for criminals to use Social Security numbers to falsely bill Medicare for care services and benefits that were never performed.”
Work on this important initiative was made possible by the enactment of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.
CMS today began mailing the new Medicare cards to people who currently have Medicare benefits in California.
Additionally, Californians who are new to Medicare started to receive their new Medicare cards in April along with others across the country when the mailing first began.
As soon as people receive their new Medicare card, they should safely and securely destroy their old Medicare card and keep their new Medicare number confidential.
The current mailing strategy allows the agency to complete the mailings of new cards to all people with Medicare, both new and current enrollees, over the next year.
The new Medicare card will not change any of the program benefits and services that eligible people enrolled in Medicare receive. People with Medicare and their caregivers can visit medicare.gov/newcard to find out when new Medicare cards will be mailed to their area. They can also sign up for email notifications about the new card mailing and check the status in their state.
Health care providers, suppliers, and people with Medicare will be able to use secure lookup tools that allow quick access to the new Medicare numbers when needed.
There will be a 21-month transition period for healthcare providers and suppliers to use either the former Social Security-based Medicare number or the new Medicare number to ensure a seamless transition.
As the new Medicare cards are being mailed, people with Medicare should look out for scams and follow these tips:
– Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare number or other personal information so you can obtain your new Medicare card.
– Don’t pay for your new Medicare card. It’s free. If anyone calls or approaches you and says you need to pay for it, that’s a scam.
– Guard your card. When you get your new card, safeguard it like you would health insurance or credit cards.
– Only give your new Medicare number to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, your insurers, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.
For more information including press materials, please visit https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8277951-cmsnmc/.
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- Written by: Editor
In order to enhance hospital patient safety, Senate Bill 1288 would require the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to conduct unannounced visits to hospitals to inspect for compliance with nurse staffing requirements.
The proposal empowers CDPH to enforce the nurse staffing ratios by fining hospitals that repeatedly create unsafe conditions for patient care.
In 1999, Gov. Gray Davis signed into law Assembly Bill 394, the nation’s first law mandating nurse-to-patient ratios in California.
In 2004, regulations implementing AB 394 went into effect, which set the minimum ratio of nurses to patient by unit, including one-to-one in operating rooms and one-to-five in general medical-surgical units. Enforced by CDPH, these ratios are outlined in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
Though these ratios are mandated by law, hospitals repeatedly violate staffing requirements. From 2008 to 2017, there were 632 out-of-ratio deficiencies reported to CDPH. Violating nurse staffing ratios can potentially endanger the health and safety of hospital patients.
“It is critically important that hospitals prioritize the safety of patients by following the nurse-to-patient staffing ratios required by law. SB 1288 ensures that hospitals meet the letter of the law and, if and when they repeatedly ignore nurse staffing ratios, CDPH has the ability to fine those facilities so that they do not continue to jeopardize the safety of patients,” Senator Leyva said. “I thank my Senate colleagues for approving this legislation today that protect patients by making sure that hospitals comply with existing law.”
Co-sponsored by SEIU California, SEIU Local 121RN and United Nurses Associations of California / Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC / UHCP) and supported by the California Labor Federation, California Nurse Association / National Nurses United, California School Nurse Organization, Congress of California Seniors, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, SB 1288 now advances to the California State Assembly for consideration.
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- Written by: Office of Congressman Mike Thompson
“My legislation included in bills passed by the committee today will help remove barriers to care and increase treatment options for those suffering from addiction,” said Thompson. “Some costly prescriptions need to be approved by insurers before patients can access them. The current system uses faxes and phone calls, causing delays in treatment that can make conditions worse and leave patients dependent on painkillers. My legislation automates this process, helping patients access prescribed treatments quickly and efficiently.
“In addition, Medicare offers beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions the option to use Medicare Therapy Management programs where patients work closely with providers and pharmacists to develop and monitor their treatment plan. This program teaches patients about different drug interactions, alternative therapies, and small steps they can take like adding over the counter medications that will improve their health outcomes. My bill expands eligibility for MTM programs so that those at risk for abuse or addiction can have better access to specialized care to manage their treatment plans.
“The legislation we approved today represents an important step forward, but our work to combat the opioid epidemic must continue. We need to continue studying all the causes of this crisis and exploring all possible legislative options – including funding for communities and local programs – to promote access to treatment and help the thousands of Americans still suffering,” Thompson said.
The Committee on Ways and Means passed bipartisan health bills during today’s markup, each of which focus on a strategy to address the opioid crisis.
Thompson’s legislation was included in H.R. 5773, the PASS Act, which requires Medicare prescription drug plans to establish drug management programs for at-risk beneficiaries, standardizes electronic prior authorization for covered Part D drugs, and to provides for other program integrity measures under parts C and D of the Medicare program
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- Written by: Adventist Health Clear Lake
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – May 6 to 12 is National Hospital Week, and this year Adventist Health Clear Lake is beginning celebrations of its 50th anniversary as part of the nationwide observance.
Under the theme “What Together Can Do,” the hospital is recognizing this milestone with events throughout the year in recognition of the community spirit that created and sustains the hospital.
Adventist Health Clear Lake, then known as Redbud Community Hospital, saw its first patient on April 22, 1968.
Adventist Health purchased the hospital from the Redbud Health Care District in 1997 and the hospital’s name was changed to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake in 2008.
It was rebranded as Adventist Health Clear Lake in 2017 to better reflect its affiliation with the 19-hospital health care system and service area in the towns around Clear Lake.
“For 50 years, this hospital has been a proud example of what a community can accomplish when they come together for the better of all,” said David Santos, Adventist Health Clear Lake president. “This year isn’t just a celebration of the hospital and our team, but also for the county as a whole as we reflect on what we’ve been able to accomplish together. As we look toward the future, we will continue focusing on patient experience and quality while we take our mission outside our walls to create a healthier, hope-filled community.”
When Dr. John Weeks began practicing in Clearlake in 1979, just over a decade after the hospital was established, the town was a physician shortage area.
Dr. Weeks was the only residency-trained family practice doctor in Lake County, the only physician providing obstetric care and one of only two physicians who provided pediatric or orthopedic services. Now, he works in one of the busiest rural health clinics in the nation.
“The changes we’ve seen in health care over the past five decades are remarkable,” said Weeks. “They are matched with the changes to what is now Adventist Health Clear Lake. During my time here, my colleagues on the medical staff have focused on making our community healthier for our neighbors and our own families.”
Today, Adventist Health Clear Lake is home to a busy emergency department, which underwent a $12.1 million renovation in 2013, and is a 25-bed acute care critical access hospital offering surgery, intensive care, diagnostic radiology, laboratory and women’s care/family birth services.
Outpatient locations in Middletown, Kelseyville, Hidden Valley Lake, Lower Lake, Lakeport and Clearlake offer primary care, specialty care, dental care, behavioral health, physical therapy and other services from over 50 physicians and providers. Innovative community partnerships and wellness programs are taking the organization’s mission outside its walls to create a healthier community in Lake County’s homes, parks, streets and schools.
Adventist Health Clear Lake is one of Lake County’s five largest employers with over 530 team members. The organization spent over $6.5 million on community development in 2016 and over $30,000 in 2017 to support local nonprofits, schools and programs such as the Southshore Little League, Lake Family Resource Center and Lions Club Fourth of July Fireworks.
Hospital Week celebrations in recognition of the hospital’s 50th anniversary include a fifties-themed staff barbeque, the annual service awards banquet honoring employees reaching milestone years of service to Adventist Health and a “blessing of the hands” from the hospital chaplain, Jack Mentges, as well as the recognition of nursing staff as part of National Nurses Week, which coincides with Hospital Week.
Fiftieth anniversary celebrations will continue for the community and staff throughout the year. Local residents can learn more by following the hospital’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/adventisthealthclearlake.