Healthcare spending in California is well below the national
average, according to new federal data — largely because of high
numbers of uninsured and low Medi-Cal reimbursement rates,
analysts say.
A state agency released data Wednesday on the financial health of
hospitals in California, showing a dramatic rise in labor costs
across the industry and an increase in uncompensated care at
public hospitals.
Attempts at health care reform have aimed to increase access. The
U.S. is one of the few industrialized nations in the world that
does not provide universal health care to its citizens, and the
emergency department (ER) is widely believed to be the place
where no one can be denied care there. So — in essence –
everyone can get free health care if they need it. That, of
course, is not true.
My mother had been in pain for sometime in her abdomen and in
her back. Eventually, the pain became so bad that I took her to
St Mary’s emergency room…
Every 4 seconds, someone enters a California emergency room
seeking treatment.The average wait time in a California emergency
room is now more than 4 hours.
13 Million
The number of Californians who received life-saving care in one
of California’s ERs in 2009.During the same year, more
than 500,000 babies were born in California’s community
hospitals.
40
More than 40 hospitals and emergency rooms in California have
closed in the past 10 years.
7.5 Million
The number of Medi-Cal patients who sought care ina
