721 Hospitals Penalized For Patient Safety

Medicare is penalizing 721 hospitals with high rates of potentially avoidable mistakes that can harm patients, known as “hospital-acquired conditions.” Penalized hospitals will have their Medicare payments reduced by 1 percent over the fiscal year that runs from October 2014 through September 2015. To determine penalties, Medicare evaluated three types of HACs. One is central-line associated bloodstream infections, or CLABSIs. The second is catheter-associated urinary tract infections, or CAUTIs. The final one, Serious Complications, is based on eight types of injuries, including blood clots, bed sores and falls. Here are the hospitals that are being penalized:

Hospital
City
State
County
Alaska Regional Hospital
Anchorage
AK
Anchorage
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Anchorage
AK
Anchorage
Brookwood Medical Center
Birmingham
AL
Jefferson
Crestwood Medical Center
Huntsville
AL
Madison
D C H Regional Medical Center
Tuscaloosa
AL
Tuscaloosa
East Alabama Medical Center And SNF
Opelika
AL
Lee
Highlands Medical Center
Scottsboro
AL
Jackson
Huntsville Hospital
Huntsville
AL
Madison
Northeast Alabama Regional Med Center
Anniston
AL
Calhoun
Russellville Hospital
Russellville
AL
Franklin
Springhill Medical Center
Mobile
AL
Mobile
University Of Alabama Hospital
Birmingham
AL
Jefferson
University Of South Alabama Medical Center
Mobile
AL
Mobile
Baptist Health Medical Center – NLR
North Little Rock
AR
Pulaski
Chambers Memorial Hospital
Danville
AR
Yell
Harris Hospital Inc
Newport
AR
Jackson
Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas
Rogers
AR
Benton
Physicians’ Specialty Hospital
Fayetteville
AR
Washington
St Bernards Medical Center
Jonesboro
AR
Craighead
UAMS Medical Center
Little Rock
AR
Pulaski
White River Medical Center
Batesville
AR
Independence
Arizona Orthopedic And Surgical Specialty Hospital
Chandler
AZ
Maricopa
Banner Gateway Medical Center
Gilbert
AZ
Maricopa
Banner Ironwood Medical Center
San Tan Valley
AZ
Pinal
Florence Hospital At Anthem, Llc
Florence
AZ
Pinal
Maricopa Medical Center
Phoenix
AZ
Maricopa
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
Gilbert
AZ
Maricopa
Northwest Medical Center
Tucson
AZ
Pima
Phoenix Indian Medical Center
Phoenix
AZ
Maricopa
Sells Indian Health Service Hospital
Sells
AZ
Pima
St Joseph’s Hospital And Medical Center
Phoenix
AZ
Maricopa
St Luke’s Medical Center
Phoenix
AZ
Maricopa
Tucson Medical Center
Tucson
AZ
Pima
University Of Arizona Medical Ctr-University, The
Tucson
AZ
Pima
AHMC Anaheim Regional Medical Center
Anaheim
CA
Orange
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus
Berkeley
CA
Alameda
Antelope Valley Hospital
Lancaster
CA
Los Angeles
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Colton
CA
San Bernardino
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
Bakersfield
CA
Kern
Chapman Medical Center
Orange
CA
Orange
Clovis Community Medical Center
Clovis
CA
Fresno
Coastal Communities Hospital
Santa Ana
CA
Orange
Community Regional Medical Center
Fresno
CA
Fresno
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
Martinez
CA
Contra Costa
Doctors Medical Center – San Pablo
San Pablo
CA
Contra Costa
East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital
Los Angeles
CA
Los Angeles
El Centro Regional Medical Center
El Centro
CA
Imperial
Emanuel Medical Center Inc
Turlock
CA
Stanislaus
Fairview Developmental Center
Costa Mesa
CA
Orange
Fresno Surgical Hospital
Fresno
CA
Fresno
Good Samaritan Hospital
San Jose
CA
Santa Clara
Good Samaritan Hospital
Los Angeles
CA
Los Angeles
Hemet Valley Medical Center
Hemet
CA
Riverside
John Muir Medical Center – Concord Campus
Concord
CA
Contra Costa
John Muir Medical Center – Walnut Creek Campus
Walnut Creek
CA
Contra Costa
Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Antioch
Antioch
CA
Contra Costa
Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Baldwin Park
Baldwin Park
CA
Los Angeles
Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Redwood City
Redwood City
CA
San Mateo
Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Vacaville
Vacaville
CA
Solano
Kaiser Foundation Hospital And Rehab Center
Vallejo
CA
Solano
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Fremont/Hayward
Fremont
CA
Alameda
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Oakland/Richmond
Oakland
CA
Alameda
Kaiser Foundation Hospital-San Jose
San Jose
CA
Santa Clara
Keck Hospital Of USC
Los Angeles
CA
Los Angeles
Lac/Harbor-UCLA Med Center
Torrance
CA
Los Angeles
Lac/Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation  Ctr
Downey
CA
Orange
LAC+USC Medical Center
Los Angeles
CA
Los Angeles
Lanterman Developmental Center
Pomona
CA
Los Angeles
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Loma Linda
CA
San Bernardino
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Long Beach
CA
Los Angeles
Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center
Thousand Oaks
CA
Ventura
Marin General Hospital
Greenbrae
CA
Marin
Mission Community Hospital
Panorama City
CA
Los Angeles
Motion Picture & Television Hospital
Woodland Hills
CA
Los Angeles
Natividad Medical Center
Salinas
CA
Monterey
Northridge Hospital Medical Center
Northridge
CA
Los Angeles
Pacifica Hospital Of The Valley
Sun Valley
CA
Los Angeles
Palomar Health Downtown Campus
Escondido
CA
San Diego
Pih Hospital – Downey
Downey
CA
Los Angeles
Placentia Linda Hospital
Placentia
CA
Orange
Pomerado Hospital
Poway
CA
San Diego
Porterville Developmental Center
Porterville
CA
Tulare
Providence Holy Cross Medical Center
Mission Hills
CA
Los Angeles
Providence Tarzana Medical Center
Tarzana
CA
Los Angeles
Queen Of The Valley Medical Center
Napa
CA
Napa
Rideout Memorial Hospital
Marysville
CA
Yuba
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles
CA
Los Angeles
Saddleback Memorial Medical Center
Laguna Hills
CA
Orange
Saint Agnes Medical Center
Fresno
CA
Fresno
San Antonio Community Hospital
Upland
CA
San Bernardino
San Francisco General Hospital
San Francisco
CA
San Francisco
San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
San Gabriel
CA
Los Angeles
San Joaquin Community Hospital
Bakersfield
CA
Kern
Santa Monica – UCLA Med Ctr & Orthopaedic Hospital
Santa Monica
CA
Los Angeles
Scripps Green Hospital
La Jolla
CA
San Diego
Scripps Memorial Hospital – Encinitas
Encinitas
CA
San Diego
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego
CA
San Diego
Seton Medical Center
Daly City
CA
San Mateo
Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr
Coronado
CA
San Diego
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego
CA
San Diego
Sierra View District Hospital
Porterville
CA
Tulare
Simi Valley Hospital & Health Care Services
Simi Valley
CA
Ventura
St Helena Hospital
Saint Helena
CA
Napa
St Johns Regional Medical Center
Oxnard
CA
Ventura
St Joseph Hospital
Orange
CA
Orange
Stanislaus Surgical Hospital
Modesto
CA
Stanislaus
Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz
CA
Santa Cruz
Twin Cities Community Hospital
Templeton
CA
San Luis Obispo
University Of California Davis Medical Center
Sacramento
CA
Sacramento
University Of California San Diego Medical Center
San Diego
CA
San Diego
Ventura County Medical Center
Ventura
CA
Ventura
Western Medical Center Santa Ana
Santa Ana
CA
Orange
White Memorial Medical Center
Los Angeles
CA
Los Angeles
Centura Health-Porter Adventist Hospital
Denver
CO
Denver
Centura Health-St Anthony  Hospital
Lakewood
CO
Jefferson
Hca-Healthone Dba Swedish Medical Center
Englewood
CO
Arapahoe
Littleton Adventist Hospital, Centura Health
Littleton
CO
Arapahoe
Medical Center Of Aurora, The
Aurora
CO
Arapahoe
Montrose Memorial Hospital
Montrose
CO
Montrose
OrthoColorado Hospital At St Anthony Med Campus
Lakewood
CO
Jefferson
Parkview Medical Center Inc
Pueblo
CO
Pueblo
Presbyterian St Lukes Medical Center
Denver
CO
Denver
Rose Medical Center
Denver
CO
Denver
St Mary Corwin Med Ctr, Centura Health
Pueblo
CO
Pueblo
Sterling Regional Medcenter
Sterling
CO
Logan
University Of Colorado Hospital Anschutz Inpatient
Aurora
CO
Adams
Vail Valley Medical Center
Vail
CO
Eagle
Valley View Hospital Association
Glenwood Springs
CO
Garfield
Bridgeport Hospital
Bridgeport
CT
Fairfield
Danbury Hospital
Danbury
CT
Fairfield
Hartford Hospital
Hartford
CT
Hartford
John Dempsey Hospital
Farmington
CT
Hartford
Johnson Memorial Hospital
Stafford Springs
CT
Tolland
Manchester Memorial Hospital
Manchester
CT
Hartford
Norwalk Hospital Association
Norwalk
CT
Fairfield
Rockville General Hospital
Rockville
CT
Tolland
Stamford Hospital
Stamford
CT
Fairfield
The Connecticut Hospice Inc.
Branford
CT
New Haven
The Hospital Of Central Connecticut
New Britain
CT
Hartford
Waterbury Hospital
Waterbury
CT
New Haven
Windham Community Memorial Hospital
Willimantic
CT
Windham
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven
CT
New Haven
George Washington Univ Hospital
Washington
DC
District Of Columbia
Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
Washington
DC
District Of Columbia
Medstar Washington Hospital Center
Washington
DC
District Of Columbia
Providence Hospital
Washington
DC
District Of Columbia
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Washington
DC
District Of Columbia
Bayhealth – Kent General Hospital
Dover
DE
Kent
Nanticoke Memorial Hospital
Seaford
DE
Sussex
Baptist Hospital Of Miami Inc
Miami
FL
Miami-Dade
Broward Health Coral Springs
Coral Springs
FL
Broward
Broward Health Imperial Point
Fort Lauderdale
FL
Broward
Broward Health Medical Center
Fort Lauderdale
FL
Broward
Cape Coral Hospital
Cape Coral
FL
Lee
Central Florida Regional Hospital
Sanford
FL
Seminole
Citrus Memorial Hospital
Inverness
FL
Citrus
Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital
Macclenny
FL
Baker
Florida Hospital Carrollwood
Tampa
FL
Hillsborough
Florida Hospital Waterman
Tavares
FL
Lake
Gulf Coast Medical Center Lee Mem Health System
Fort Myers
FL
Lee
Heart Of Florida Regional Medical Center
Davenport
FL
Polk
Jackson Health System
Miami
FL
Miami-Dade
Jupiter Medical Center
Jupiter
FL
Palm Beach
Kendall Regional Medical Center
Miami
FL
Miami-Dade
Lee Memorial Hospital
Fort Myers
FL
Lee
Leesburg Regional Medical Center
Leesburg
FL
Lake
Manatee Memorial Hospital
Bradenton
FL
Manatee
Memorial Hospital Jacksonville
Jacksonville
FL
Duval
North Shore Medical Center
Miami
FL
Miami-Dade
Palmetto General Hospital
Hialeah
FL
Miami-Dade
Sacred Heart Hospital
Pensacola
FL
Escambia
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Sarasota
FL
Sarasota
Shands Jacksonville
Jacksonville
FL
Duval
South Lake Hospital
Clermont
FL
Lake
St Anthony’s Hospital
Saint Petersburg
FL
Pinellas
St Cloud Regional Medical Center
Saint Cloud
FL
Osceola
St Petersburg General Hospital
Saint Petersburg
FL
Pinellas
Tampa General Hospital
Tampa
FL
Hillsborough
Venice Regional Medical Center
Venice
FL
Sarasota
Wuesthoff Melbourne
Melbourne
FL
Brevard
Athens Regional Medical Center
Athens
GA
Clarke
Atlanta Medical Center
Atlanta
GA
Fulton
Candler Hospital
Savannah
GA
Chatham
Cartersville Medical Center
Cartersville
GA
Bartow
Coliseum Medical Centers, Llc
Macon
GA
Bibb
Coliseum Northside Hospital
Macon
GA
Bibb
Crisp Regional Hospital
Cordele
GA
Crisp
Dekalb Medical Center At Hillandale
Lithonia
GA
Dekalb
Doctors Hospital
Augusta
GA
Richmond
Doctors Specialty Hospital
Columbus
GA
Muscogee
Emory University Hospital
Atlanta
GA
Dekalb
Emory University Hospital Midtown
Atlanta
GA
Fulton
Emory-Adventist Hospital
Smyrna
GA
Cobb
Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center
Augusta
GA
Richmond
Grady Memorial Hospital
Atlanta
GA
Fulton
Hutcheson Medical Center
Fort Oglethorpe
GA
Catoosa
Irwin County Hospital
Ocilla
GA
Irwin
Mayo Clinic Health System In Waycross
Waycross
GA
Ware
Meadows Regional Medical Center
Vidalia
GA
Toombs
Memorial University Medical Center
Savannah
GA
Chatham
Piedmont Henry Hospital
Stockbridge
GA
Henry
Piedmont Hospital
Atlanta
GA
Fulton
Saint Joseph’s Hospital Of Atlanta, Inc
Atlanta
GA
Fulton
Southeast Georgia Health System — Camden Campus
Saint Marys
GA
Camden
Southern Regional Medical Center
Riverdale
GA
Clayton
Tift Regional Medical Center
Tifton
GA
Tift
Union General Hospital
Blairsville
GA
Union
Wellstar Cobb Hospital
Austell
GA
Cobb
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
Marietta
GA
Cobb
Skiff Medical Center
Newton
IA
Jasper
Trinity – Bettendorf
Bettendorf
IA
Scott
University Of Iowa Hospital & Clinics
Iowa City
IA
Johnson
Madison Memorial Hospital
Rexburg
ID
Madison
Portneuf Medical Center
Pocatello
ID
Bannock
St Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
Boise
ID
Ada
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Chicago
IL
Cook
Anderson Hospital
Maryville
IL
Madison
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Decatur
IL
Macon
Franciscan Alliance, Inc., Dba, Franciscan St. James Health
Olympia Fields
IL
Cook
Holy Cross Hospital
Chicago
IL
Cook
John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital Of Cook County
Chicago
IL
Cook
Little Company Of Mary Hospital
Evergreen Park
IL
Cook
Loretto Hospital
Chicago
IL
Cook
Mercy Hospital And Medical Center
Chicago
IL
Cook
Northshore University Healthsystem – Evanston Hospital
Evanston
IL
Cook
Northwest Community Hospital
Arlington Heights
IL
Cook
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Lake Forest
IL
Lake
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago
IL
Cook
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
Rockford
IL
Winnebago
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Peoria
IL
Peoria
Ottawa Regional Hospital Dba OSF Saint Elizabeth Mdl Ctr
Ottawa
IL
La Salle
Palos Community Hospital
Palos Heights
IL
Cook
Richland Memorial Hospital
Olney
IL
Richland
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago
IL
Cook
Saint Anthony Hospital
Chicago
IL
Cook
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
Mattoon
IL
Coles
St Elizabeth’s Hospital
Belleville
IL
Saint Clair
St Johns Hospital
Springfield
IL
Sangamon
The Carle Foundation Hospital
Urbana
IL
Champaign
Trinity – Rock Island
Rock Island
IL
Rock Island
University Of Illinois Hospital
Chicago
IL
Cook
Westlake Community Hospital
Melrose Park
IL
Cook
Community Heart And Vascular Hospital
Indianapolis
IN
Marion
Community Hospital North
Indianapolis
IN
Marion
Community Howard Regional Health Inc.
Kokomo
IN
Howard
Dupont Hospital Llc
Fort Wayne
IN
Allen
Eskenazi Health
Indianapolis
IN
Marion
Franciscan Healthcare – Munster
Munster
IN
Lake
Franciscan Saint Anthony Health – Crown Point
Crown Point
IN
Lake
Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital (Indianapolis)
Indianapolis
IN
Marion
Memorial Hospital And Health Care Center
Jasper
IN
Dubois
Methodist Hospitals Inc
Gary
IN
Lake
Physicians’ Medical Center Llc
New Albany
IN
Floyd
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center – Plymouth
Plymouth
IN
Marshall
Union Hospital Inc.
Terre Haute
IN
Vigo
Witham Health Services
Lebanon
IN
Boone
Coffeyville Regional Medical Center
Coffeyville
KS
Montgomery
Hutchinson Regional Medical Center Inc
Hutchinson
KS
Reno
Kansas Heart Hospital
Wichita
KS
Sedgwick
Menorah Medical Center
Overland Park
KS
Johnson
Miami County Medical Center
Paola
KS
Miami
Overland Park Reg Med Ctr
Overland Park
KS
Johnson
Saint John Hospital
Leavenworth
KS
Leavenworth
Saint Luke’s South Hospital
Overland Park
KS
Johnson
South Central Ks  Med Center
Arkansas City
KS
Cowley
Sumner Regional Medical Center
Wellington
KS
Sumner
University Of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City
KS
Wyandotte
Jackson Purchase Medical Center
Mayfield
KY
Graves
Jewish Hospital & St Mary’s Healhcare
Louisville
KY
Jefferson
Lourdes Hospital
Paducah
KY
Mccracken
Muhlenberg Community Hospital
Greenville
KY
Muhlenberg
Norton Hospitals, Inc
Louisville
KY
Jefferson
Saint Joseph East
Lexington
KY
Fayette
St Elizabeth Edgewood
Lakeside Park
KY
Kenton
St Elizabeth Florence
Florence
KY
Boone
University Of Kentucky Hospital
Lexington
KY
Fayette
University Of Louisville Hospital
Louisville
KY
Jefferson
Charity Hospital & Medical Center Of Louisiana At
New Orleans
LA
Orleans
Christus St Frances Cabrini Hospital
Alexandria
LA
Rapides
Glenwood Regional Medical Center
West Monroe
LA
Ouachita
Leonard J Chabert Medical Center
Houma
LA
Terrebonne
Monroe Surgical Hospital
Monroe
LA
Ouachita
Our Lady Of The Lake Regional Medical Center
Baton Rouge
LA
East Baton Rouge
St Elizabeth Hospital
Gonzales
LA
Ascension
Tulane Medical Center
New Orleans
LA
Orleans
University Health Shreveport
Shreveport
LA
Caddo
University Hospital & Clinics
Lafayette
LA
Lafayette
Willis Knighton Medical Center
Shreveport
LA
Caddo
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth
Plymouth
MA
Plymouth
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston
MA
Suffolk
Boston Medical Center
Boston
MA
Suffolk
Brigham And Women’s Hospital
Boston
MA
Suffolk
Falmouth Hospital
Falmouth
MA
Barnstable
Heywood Hospital
Gardner
MA
Worcester
Holyoke Medical Center
Holyoke
MA
Hampden
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington
Burlington
MA
Middlesex
Mercy Medical Center
Springfield
MA
Hampden
North Shore Medical Center
Salem
MA
Essex
Saints Medical Center
Lowell
MA
Middlesex
Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Attleboro
MA
Bristol
Tufts Medical Center
Boston
MA
Suffolk
Aroostook Medical Center
Presque Isle
ME
Aroostook
Eastern Maine Medical Center
Bangor
ME
Penobscot
Inland Hospital
Waterville
ME
Kennebec
Maine Medical Center
Portland
ME
Cumberland
Mainegeneral Medical Center
Augusta
ME
Kennebec
St Marys Regional Medical Center
Lewiston
ME
Androscoggin
Borgess Medical Center
Kalamazoo
MI
Kalamazoo
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital
Battle Creek
MI
Calhoun
Carson City Hospital
Carson City
MI
Montcalm
Crittenton Hospital Medical Center
Rochester
MI
Oakland
Detroit Receiving Hospital
Detroit
MI
Wayne
Forest Health Medical Center
Ypsilanti
MI
Washtenaw
Genesys Regional Medical Center – Health Park
Grand Blanc
MI
Genesee
Harper University Hospital
Detroit
MI
Wayne
Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit
MI
Wayne
Henry Ford Macomb Hospital
Clinton Township
MI
Macomb
Hurley Medical Center
Flint
MI
Genesee
Mclaren – Greater Lansing
Lansing
MI
Ingham
Mclaren Flint
Flint
MI
Genesee
Mclaren Macomb Hospital
Mount Clemens
MI
Macomb
Mercy Memorial Hospital System
Monroe
MI
Monroe
Oakwood Hospital – Southshore
Trenton
MI
Wayne
Oakwood Hospital And Medical Center
Dearborn
MI
Wayne
Portage Health
Hancock
MI
Houghton
Spectrum Health-Butterworth Campus
Grand Rapids
MI
Kent
St Joseph Mercy Port Huron
Port Huron
MI
Saint Clair
William Beaumont Hospital-Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe
MI
Wayne
Cambridge Medical Center
Cambridge
MN
Isanti
Essentia Health St Joseph’s Medical Center
Brainerd
MN
Crow Wing
Essentia Health Virginia
Virginia
MN
Saint Louis
Fairview Northland Regional Hospital
Princeton
MN
Sherburne
Hennepin County Medical Center
Minneapolis
MN
Hennepin
Maple Grove Hospital
Maple Grove
MN
Hennepin
Olmsted Medical Center
Rochester
MN
Olmsted
Regions Hospital
Saint Paul
MN
Ramsey
Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
Bemidji
MN
Beltrami
St Cloud Hospital
Saint Cloud
MN
Stearns
St Lukes Hospital
Duluth
MN
Saint Louis
University Of Minnesota  Medical Center, Fairview
Minneapolis
MN
Hennepin
Barnes Jewish Hospital
Saint Louis
MO
Saint Louis City
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Creve Coeur
MO
Saint Louis
Bothwell Regional Health Center
Sedalia
MO
Pettis
Centerpoint Medical Center Of Independence, Lcc
Independence
MO
Jackson
Christian Hospital Northeast
Saint Louis
MO
Saint Louis
Lee’s Summit Medical Center
Lees Summit
MO
Jackson
Mercy Hospital Lebanon
Lebanon
MO
Laclede
Moberly Regional Medical Center
Moberly
MO
Randolph
Ozarks Community Hospital
Springfield
MO
Greene
Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Rolla
MO
Phelps
Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center
Poplar Bluff
MO
Butler
Research Medical Center
Kansas City
MO
Jackson
Saint Francis Medical Center
Cape Girardeau
MO
Cape Girardeau
Southeast Missouri Hospital
Cape Girardeau
MO
Cape Girardeau
Ssm St Joseph Hospital West
Lake Saint Louis
MO
Saint Charles
St Louis University Hospital
Saint Louis
MO
Saint Louis City
St Lukes Hospital Of Kansas City
Kansas City
MO
Jackson
St Marys Medical Center
Blue Springs
MO
Jackson
Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill
Kansas City
MO
Jackson
Anderson Regional Medical Center South Campus
Meridian
MS
Lauderdale
Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto
Southaven
MS
Desoto
Bolivar Medical Center
Cleveland
MS
Bolivar
Choctaw Health Center
Choctaw
MS
Choctaw
Crossgates River Oaks Hospital
Brandon
MS
Rankin
Delta Regional Medical Center
Greenville
MS
Washington
Garden Park Medical Center
Gulfport
MS
Harrison
Highland Community  Hospital
Picayune
MS
Pearl River
Jasper General Hospital
Bay Springs
MS
Jasper
Och Regional Medical Center
Starkville
MS
Oktibbeha
South Central Reg Med Ctr
Laurel
MS
Jones
University Of Mississippi Med Center
Jackson
MS
Hinds
Northern Montana Hospital
Havre
MT
Hill
St James Healthcare
Butte
MT
Silver Bow
St. Patrick Hospital
Missoula
MT
Missoula
Alamance Regional Medical Center
Burlington
NC
Alamance
Cape Fear Valley Medical Center
Fayetteville
NC
Cumberland
Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville
Charlotte
NC
Mecklenburg
Caromont Regional Medical Center
Gastonia
NC
Gaston
Carteret General Hospital
Morehead City
NC
Carteret
Catawba Valley Medical Center
Hickory
NC
Catawba
Cleveland Regional Medical Center
Shelby
NC
Cleveland
Nash General Hospital
Rocky Mount
NC
Nash
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
Charlotte
NC
Mecklenburg
Rutherford Hospital Inc
Rutherfordton
NC
Rutherford
Sentara Albemarle Medical Center
Elizabeth City
NC
Pasquotank
Southeastern Regional Medical Center
Lumberton
NC
Robeson
University Of North Carolina Hospital
Chapel Hill
NC
Orange
Vidant Medical Center
Greenville
NC
Pitt
Wakemed, Cary Hospital
Cary
NC
Wake
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus
Raleigh
NC
Wake
Wilmington Treatment Center
Wilmington
NC
New Hanover
Essentia Health
Fargo
ND
Cass
Alegent Creighton Health-Creighton University Medical Center
Omaha
NE
Douglas
Faith Regional Health Services
Norfolk
NE
Madison
Great Plains Health
North Platte
NE
Lincoln
St Francis Medical Center
Grand Island
NE
Hall
The Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha
NE
Douglas
The Nebraska Methodist Hospital
Omaha
NE
Douglas
Winnebago Ihs Hospital
Winnebago
NE
Thurston
Catholic Medical Center
Manchester
NH
Hillsborough
Elliot Hospital
Manchester
NH
Hillsborough
Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital
Lebanon
NH
Grafton
Bergen Regional Medical Center
Paramus
NJ
Bergen
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell
Pennington
NJ
Mercer
Centrastate Medical Center
Freehold
NJ
Monmouth
Chilton Medical Center
Pompton Plains
NJ
Morris
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack
NJ
Bergen
Inspira Medical Center Vineland
Vineland
NJ
Cumberland
JFK Medical Ctr – Anthony M. Yelencsics Community
Edison
NJ
Middlesex
Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center
Secaucus
NJ
Hudson
Memorial Hospital Of Salem County
Salem
NJ
Salem
Monmouth Medical Center
Long Branch
NJ
Monmouth
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark
NJ
Essex
Ocean Medical Center
Brick
NJ
Ocean
Overlook Medical Center
Summit
NJ
Union
Palisades Medical Center
North Bergen
NJ
Hudson
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
New Brunswick
NJ
Middlesex
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – Somerset
Somerville
NJ
Somerset
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton
Hamilton
NJ
Mercer
Saint Peter’s University Hospital
New Brunswick
NJ
Middlesex
Shore Medical Center
Somers Point
NJ
Atlantic
Southern Ocean Medical Center
Manahawkin
NJ
Ocean
St Mary’s Hospital, Passaic
Passaic
NJ
Passaic
The University Hospital
Newark
NJ
Essex
University Medical Center Of Princeton At Plainsboro
Plainsboro
NJ
Middlesex
Artesia General Hospital
Artesia
NM
Eddy
Eastern New Mexico Medical Center
Roswell
NM
Chaves
Gila Regional Medical Center
Silver City
NM
Grant
Holy Cross Hospital A Div Of Taos Health Systems
Taos
NM
Taos
Los Alamos Medical Center
Los Alamos
NM
Los Alamos
Memorial Medical Center Inc
Las Cruces
NM
Dona Ana
Northern Navajo Medical Center
Shiprock
NM
San Juan
Presbyterian Hospital
Albuquerque
NM
Bernalillo
Roosevelt General Hospital
Portales
NM
Roosevelt
San Juan Regional Medical Center
Farmington
NM
San Juan
University Of New Mexico Hospital
Albuquerque
NM
Bernalillo
Harmon Hospital
Las Vegas
NV
Clark
Mountainview Hospital
Las Vegas
NV
Clark
North Vista Hospital
North Las Vegas
NV
Clark
Northern Nevada Medical Center
Sparks
NV
Washoe
NYE Regional Medical Center
Tonopah
NV
Nye
Southern Hills Hospital And Medical Center
Las Vegas
NV
Clark
St Rose Dominican Hospitals – Siena Campus
Henderson
NV
Clark
UMC Of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas
NV
Clark
Valley Hospital Medical Center
Las Vegas
NV
Clark
Brookdale Hospital Medical Center
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
Brooklyn Hospital Center At Downtown Campus
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
Burdett Care Center
Troy
NY
Rensselaer
Carthage Area Hospital, Inc
Carthage
NY
Jefferson
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Ctr
Plattsburgh
NY
Clinton
Columbia Memorial Hospital
Hudson
NY
Columbia
Coney Island Hospital
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
Crouse Hospital
Syracuse
NY
Onondaga
Ellis Hospital
Schenectady
NY
Schenectady
Faxton-St Luke’s Healthcare
Utica
NY
Oneida
Highland Hospital
Rochester
NY
Monroe
Jacobi Medical Center
Bronx
NY
Bronx
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Jamaica
NY
Queens
Kaleida Health
Buffalo
NY
Erie
Kings County Hospital Center
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
Lenox Hill Hospital
New York
NY
New York
Lutheran Medical Center
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
Massena Memorial Hospital
Massena
NY
Saint Lawrence
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx
NY
Bronx
Mount Sinai St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital
New York
NY
New York
New York Methodist Hospital
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
New York University Langone Medical Center
New York
NY
New York
Northern Westchester Hospital
Mount Kisco
NY
Westchester
NS/LIJ HS Plainview Hospital
Plainview
NY
Nassau
NS/LIJ HS Southside Hospital
Bay Shore
NY
Suffolk
NS/LIJ HS-North Shore University Hospital At Manhasset
Manhasset
NY
Nassau
Putnam Hospital Center
Carmel
NY
Putnam
Saratoga Hospital
Saratoga Springs
NY
Saratoga
St Barnabas Hospital
Bronx
NY
Bronx
St Elizabeth Medical Center
Utica
NY
Oneida
St James Mercy Hospital
Hornell
NY
Steuben
St John’s Episcopal Hospital At South Shore
Far Rockaway
NY
Queens
St Joseph’s Medical Center
Yonkers
NY
Westchester
Strong Memorial Hospital
Rochester
NY
Monroe
Suny/Downstate University Hospital Of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
Suny/Stony Brook University Hospital
Stony Brook
NY
Suffolk
University Hospital S U N Y Health Science Center
Syracuse
NY
Onondaga
Westchester Medical Center
Valhalla
NY
Westchester
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
Brooklyn
NY
Kings
Wyoming County Community Hospital
Warsaw
NY
Wyoming
Adena Regional Medical Center
Chillicothe
OH
Ross
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland
OH
Cuyahoga
Euclid Hospital
Euclid
OH
Cuyahoga
Flower Hospital
Sylvania
OH
Lucas
Good Samaritan Hospital
Dayton
OH
Montgomery
Mary Rutan Hospital
Bellefontaine
OH
Logan
Marymount Hospital
Garfield Heights
OH
Cuyahoga
Mercy St Charles Hospital
Oregon
OH
Lucas
Mercy St Vincent Medical Center
Toledo
OH
Lucas
Metrohealth System
Cleveland
OH
Cuyahoga
Miami Valley Hospital
Dayton
OH
Montgomery
Mount Carmel St Ann’s
Westerville
OH
Franklin
Ohio State University State Health System
Columbus
OH
Franklin
Robinson Memorial Hospital
Ravenna
OH
Portage
St Vincent Charity Medical Center
Cleveland
OH
Cuyahoga
Summa Health System Barberton Hospital
Barberton
OH
Summit
Trumbull Memorial Hospital
Warren
OH
Trumbull
University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center
Beachwood
OH
Cuyahoga
University Of Cincinnati Medical Center, Llc
Cincinnati
OH
Hamilton
University Of Toledo Medical Center
Toledo
OH
Lucas
Van Wert County Hospital
Van Wert
OH
Van Wert
Woods At Parkside,The
Columbia
OH
Franklin
Cherokee Nation W W Hastings Indian Hospital
Tahlequah
OK
Cherokee
Chickasaw Nation Medical Center
Ada
OK
Pontotoc
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center
Poteau
OK
Le Flore
Hillcrest Hospital Cushing
Cushing
OK
Payne
Hillcrest Hospital South
Tulsa
OK
Tulsa
Integris Blackwell Regional Hospital
Blackwell
OK
Kay
Newman Memorial Hospital
Shattuck
OK
Ellis
Ou Medical Center
Oklahoma City
OK
Oklahoma
Southwestern Medical Center
Lawton
OK
Comanche
Southwestern Regional Medical Center
Tulsa
OK
Tulsa
St Anthony Hospital
Oklahoma City
OK
Oklahoma
Summit Medical Center
Edmond
OK
Oklahoma
Asante Ashland Community Hospital
Ashland
OR
Jackson
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Portland
OR
Multnomah
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
Portland
OR
Multnomah
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
Gresham
OR
Multnomah
Mid-Columbia Medical Center
The Dalles
OR
Wasco
Providence Medford Medical Center
Medford
OR
Jackson
Providence St Vincent Medical Center
Portland
OR
Washington
Santiam Memorial Hospital
Stayton
OR
Marion
Silverton Hospital
Silverton
OR
Marion
Acmh Hospital
Kittanning
PA
Armstrong
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Philadelphia
PA
Philadelphia
Aria Health
Philadelphia
PA
Philadelphia
Barix Clinics Of Pennsylvania
Langhorne
PA
Bucks
Brandywine Hospital
Coatesville
PA
Chester
Bryn Mawr Hospital
Bryn Mawr
PA
Delaware
Butler Memorial Hospital
Butler
PA
Butler
Chambersburg Hospital
Chambersburg
PA
Franklin
Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital
Johnstown
PA
Cambria
Eastern Regional Medical Center
Philadelphia
PA
Philadelphia
Ephrata Community Hospital
Ephrata
PA
Lancaster
Geisinger Medical Center
Danville
PA
Montour
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
Wilkes Barre
PA
Luzerne
Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital
Lewistown
PA
Mifflin
Grand View Hospital
Sellersville
PA
Bucks
Heritage Valley Beaver
Beaver
PA
Beaver
Hospital Of Univ Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
PA
Philadelphia
Lehigh Valley Hospital
Allentown
PA
Lehigh
Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg
Bethlehem
PA
Lehigh
Lower Bucks Hospital
Bristol
PA
Bucks
Magee Womens Hospital Of Upmc Health System
Pittsburgh
PA
Allegheny
Memorial Hospital
York
PA
York
Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Hershey
PA
Dauphin
Nason Hospital
Roaring Spring
PA
Blair
Palmerton Hospital
Palmerton
PA
Carbon
Paoli Hospital
Paoli
PA
Chester
Pennsylvania Hospital
Philadelphia
PA
Philadelphia
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center
Pottstown
PA
Montgomery
Saint Vincent Hospital
Erie
PA
Erie
Soldiers And Sailors Memorial Hospital
Wellsboro
PA
Tioga
St Joseph Medical Center
Reading
PA
Berks
St Joseph’s Hospital
Philadelphia
PA
Philadelphia
St Luke’s Hospital Bethlehem
Bethlehem
PA
Northampton
St Lukes Quakertown Hospital
Quakertown
PA
Bucks
Surgical Specialty Center At Coordinated Health
Allentown
PA
Lehigh
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia
PA
Philadelphia
UPMC Passavant
Pittsburgh
PA
Allegheny
UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside
Pittsburgh
PA
Allegheny
Waynesboro Hospital
Waynesboro
PA
Franklin
Our Lady Of Fatima Hospital
North Providence
RI
Providence
Rhode Island Hospital
Providence
RI
Providence
Westerly Hospital
Westerly
RI
Washington
Women And Infants Hospital Of Rhode Island
Providence
RI
Providence
Aiken Regional Medical Center
Aiken
SC
Aiken
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital
Beaufort
SC
Beaufort
Conway Medical Center
Conway
SC
Horry
Kershaw Health
Camden
SC
Kershaw
Mcleod Medical Center – Dillon
Dillon
SC
Dillon
MUSC Medical Center
Charleston
SC
Charleston
Novant Health Gaffney Medical Center
Gaffney
SC
Cherokee
Oconee Medical Center
Seneca
SC
Oconee
Palmetto Health Baptist
Columbia
SC
Richland
Palmetto Health Baptist Easley
Easley
SC
Pickens
Palmetto Health Richland
Columbia
SC
Richland
Spartanburg Regional Medical Center
Spartanburg
SC
Spartanburg
TRMC Of Orangeburg & Calhoun
Orangeburg
SC
Orangeburg
Black Hills Surgical Hospital Llp
Rapid City
SD
Pennington
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Inc
Watertown
SD
Codington
Sanford Usd Medical Center
Sioux Falls
SD
Minnehaha
Spearfish Regional Surgery Center
Spearfish
SD
Lawrence
Baptist Memorial Hospital
Memphis
TN
Shelby
Cumberland River Hospital
Celina
TN
Clay
Erlanger Medical Center
Chattanooga
TN
Hamilton
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Knoxville
TN
Knox
Gateway Medical Center
Clarksville
TN
Montgomery
Lafollette Medical Center
La Follette
TN
Campbell
Methodist Healthcare Fayette Hospital
Somerville
TN
Fayette
Parkwest Medical Center
Knoxville
TN
Knox
Regional One Health
Memphis
TN
Shelby
Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital
Nashville
TN
Davidson
Tristar Hendersonville Medical Center
Hendersonville
TN
Sumner
Tristar Southern Hills Medical Center
Nashville
TN
Davidson
Tristar Stonecrest Medical Center
Smyrna
TN
Rutherford
University Of Tn Medical Center
Knoxville
TN
Knox
Baylor All Saints Medical Center At Fort Worth
Fort Worth
TX
Tarrant
Baylor Medical Center At Carrollton
Carrollton
TX
Denton
Baylor Medical Center At Frisco
Frisco
TX
Collin
Baylor Medical Center At Mckinney
Mc Kinney
TX
Collin
Baylor Medical Center At Waxahachie
Waxahachie
TX
Ellis
Baylor Regional Medical Center At Grapevine
Grapevine
TX
Tarrant
Baylor University Medical Center
Dallas
TX
Dallas
Cleveland Regional Medical Ctr
Cleveland
TX
Liberty
College Station Medical Center
College Station
TX
Brazos
Covenant Hospital Levelland
Levelland
TX
Hockley
Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center
Houston
TX
Harris
Dallas County Hospital District
Dallas
TX
Dallas
East Texas Medical Center Jacksonville
Jacksonville
TX
Cherokee
El Paso Specialty Hospital
El Paso
TX
El Paso
Goodall Witcher Hospital
Clifton
TX
Bosque
Gulf Coast Medical Center
Wharton
TX
Wharton
Hill Regional Hospital
Hillsboro
TX
Hill
JPS Health Network
Fort Worth
TX
Tarrant
Kingwood Medical Center
Kingwood
TX
Harris
Medical Center Of Arlington
Arlington
TX
Tarrant
Medical Center Of Plano
Plano
TX
Collin
Medical City Dallas Hospital
Dallas
TX
Dallas
Nix Health Care System
San Antonio
TX
Bexar
North Hills Hospital
North Richland Hills
TX
Tarrant
Odessa Regional Hospital
Odessa
TX
Ector
Permian Regional Medical Center Andrews County Ho
Andrews
TX
Andrews
Rio Grande Regional Hospital
Mcallen
TX
Hidalgo
Scott & White Memorial Hospital
Temple
TX
Bell
Seton Medical Center Austin
Austin
TX
Travis
St David’s South Austin Medical Center
Austin
TX
Travis
St Lukes Lakeside Hospital
The Woodlands
TX
Montgomery
St Marks Medical Center
La Grange
TX
Fayette
Texas Health Center For Diagnostics & Surgery
Plano
TX
Collin
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance
Fort Worth
TX
Tarrant
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
Dallas
TX
Dallas
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman
Kaufman
TX
Kaufman
The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano
Plano
TX
Collin
U.T. Southwestern University Hospital – St. Paul
Dallas
TX
Dallas
University Hospital
San Antonio
TX
Bexar
University Medical Center At Brackenridge
Austin
TX
Travis
University Medical Center Of El Paso
El Paso
TX
El Paso
University Of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
Galveston
TX
Galveston
Westbury Community Hospital, Llc
Houston
TX
Harris
Alta View Hospital
Sandy
UT
Salt Lake
Ashley Regional Medical Center
Vernal
UT
Uintah
Bear River Valley Hospital
Tremonton
UT
Box Elder
Castleview Hospital
Price
UT
Carbon
Davis Hospital And Medical Center
Layton
UT
Davis
Intermountain Medical Center
Murray
UT
Salt Lake
LDS Hospital
Salt Lake City
UT
Salt Lake
Mckay Dee Hospital
Ogden
UT
Weber
Ogden Regional Medical Center
Ogden
UT
Weber
Park City Medical Center
Park City
UT
Summit
Riverton Hospital
Riverton
UT
Salt Lake
Salt Lake Regional Medical Center
Salt Lake City
UT
Salt Lake
St Marks Hospital
Salt Lake City
UT
Salt Lake
The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
Murray
UT
Salt Lake
University Health Care/Univ Hospitals And  Clinics
Salt Lake City
UT
Salt Lake
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center
Provo
UT
Utah
Bon Secours Depaul Medical Center
Norfolk
VA
Norfolk City
Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center
Mechanicsville
VA
Hanover
Carilion Medical Center
Roanoke
VA
Roanoke City
Catawba Hospital
Catawba
VA
Roanoke
Centra
Lynchburg
VA
Lynchburg City
Culpeper Regional Hospital
Culpeper
VA
Culpeper
Danville Regional Medical Center
Danville
VA
Danville City
Halifax Regional Hospital
Halifax
VA
Halifax
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Falls Church
VA
Fairfax
Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Of Williamsburg
Williamsburg
VA
James City
Riverside Tappahannock Hospital
Tappahannock
VA
Essex
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital
Gloucester
VA
Gloucester
Stafford Hospital
Stafford
VA
Stafford
University Of Virginia Medical Center
Charlottesville
VA
Charlottesville City
VCU Health System
Richmond
VA
Richmond City
Cascade Valley Hospital
Arlington
WA
Snohomish
Deaconess Medical Center
Spokane
WA
Spokane
Harborview Medical Center
Seattle
WA
King
Kadlec Regional Medical Center
Richland
WA
Benton
Multicare Auburn Medical Center
Auburn
WA
King
Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital
Puyallup
WA
Pierce
Northwest Hospital & Medical Center
Seattle
WA
King
Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center
Bellingham
WA
Whatcom
Providence Holy Family Hospital
Spokane
WA
Spokane
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
Spokane
WA
Spokane
Providence St Mary Medical Center
Walla Walla
WA
Walla Walla
Swedish Medical Center – First Hill/Ballard
Seattle
WA
King
Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill
Seattle
WA
King
Trios Health
Kennewick
WA
Benton
Valley Medical Center
Renton
WA
King
Wenatchee Valley Hospital
Wenatchee
WA
Chelan
Yakima Regional Medical And Cardiac Center
Yakima
WA
Yakima
Appleton Medical Ctr
Appleton
WI
Outagamie
Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Wausau
WI
Marathon
Aurora Medical Center Kenosha
Kenosha
WI
Kenosha
Holy Family Memorial
Manitowoc
WI
Manitowoc
Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire Hospital
Eau Claire
WI
Eau Claire
Mercy Medical Ctr Of Oshkosh
Oshkosh
WI
Winnebago
Meriter Hospital
Madison
WI
Dane
Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
Franklin
WI
Milwaukee
Mile Bluff Medical Center
Mauston
WI
Juneau
St Joseph’s Hospital
Marshfield
WI
Wood
St Marys Janesville Hospital
Janesville
WI
Rock
St Michael’s Hospital
Stevens Point
WI
Portage
St Vincent Hospital
Green Bay
WI
Brown
University Of WI  Hospitals & Clinics Authority
Madison
WI
Dane
Watertown Memorial Hospital
Watertown
WI
Dodge
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare  All Saints
Racine
WI
Racine
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare St Francis
Milwaukee
WI
Milwaukee
Wheaton Franciscan St Joseph
Milwaukee
WI
Milwaukee
Cabell Huntington Hospital Inc
Huntington
WV
Cabell
Camden Clark Medical Center
Parkersburg
WV
Wood
Ohio Valley Medical Center
Wheeling
WV
Ohio
Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
Weston
WV
Lewis
Thomas Memorial Hospital
South Charleston
WV
Kanawha
Wetzel County Hospital
New Martinsville
WV
Wetzel
Ivinson Memorial Hospital
Laramie
WY
Albany
Memorial Hospital Sweetwater County
Rock Springs
WY
Sweetwater
Mountain View Regional Hospital
Casper
WY
Natrona

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Thank You Nurses

Presented by: The Right Solutions The journey is long and difficult, but it comes with the joy of knowing you are saving lives every day. We want to thank all nurses for comforting and restoring lives across the nation! Here is a special music video as a gift to all nurses.

The post Thank You Nurses appeared first on The Gypsy Nurse.

For Some Families, Coverage With Separate Deductibles Might Be The Best Choice

When shopping for health plans, the dollar amount of the deductible is usually easy to find in plan materials. But with family coverage it may be necessary to dig deeper to find out how much you’ll owe before insurance kicks in to cover your costs. Is there one deductible for the whole family or separate deductibles for each family member embedded within the family deductible? The answer could make a big difference in your out-of-pocket costs.

In a typical plan with a single $3,000 deductible, for example, a three-person family will generally have to collectively spend that amount out of pocket for medical services before the plan starts paying, with few exceptions. But some plans have both a total deductible and separate deductibles for each family member. In that case, the same $3,000 deductible family plan might have separate $1,000 deductibles for each family member.

A plan with an embedded deductible can be a good option if a family knows one of them will likely require more medical care than the others over the course of the year, says Sabrina Corlette, project director at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms.

In the example above, if one family member covered by the embedded-deductible plan has a chronic condition and expects to rack up $2,000 in medical bills, insurance will start paying after the person spends $1,000 even if the family has not reached a total of $3,000 in out-of-pocket payments. But if a plan has a single $3,000 deductible, insurance generally wouldn’t pay until the family has spent the entire $3,000.

The Center on Health Insurance Reforms addressed this issue recently in a blog post, after receiving queries from state marketplace navigators to whom they provide help answering complicated consumer questions as part of a project with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“Embedded deductibles aren’t for everybody, but for some families they can be very important,” says Corlette.

Under the health law, insurers have to provide consumers with a document that summarizes plan coverage details. But the deductible information doesn’t necessarily spell out whether a plan has one aggregate deductible or multiple embedded deductibles, says Corlette. Consumers may have to call the plan directly to find out.

Please contact Kaiser Health News to send comments or ideas for future topics for the Insuring Your Health column.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Medicare Cuts Payments To 721 Hospitals With Highest Rates Of Infections, Injuries

In its toughest crackdown yet on medical errors, the federal government is cutting payments to 721 hospitals for having high rates of infections and other patient injuries, records released Thursday show.

Medicare assessed these new penalties against some of the most renowned hospitals in the nation, including the Cleveland Clinic, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.

One out of every seven hospitals in the nation will have their Medicare payments lowered by 1 percent over the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 and continues through September 2015. The health law mandates the reductions for the quarter of hospitals that Medicare assessed as having the highest rates of “hospital-acquired conditions,” or HACs.  These conditions include infections from catheters, blood clots, bed sores and other complications that are considered avoidable.

The penalties are falling particularly hard on academic medical centers: Roughly half of them will be punished, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis.

Dr. Eric Schneider, a Boston health researcher who has interviewed patient safety experts for his studies, said research has demonstrated that medical errors can be reduced through a number of techniques. But “there’s a pretty strong sense among the experts we talked to that they are not widely implemented,” he said. Those methods include entering physician orders into computers rather than scrawling them on paper, better hand hygiene and checklists on procedures to follow during surgeries. “Too many clinicians fail to use those techniques consistently,” he said.

The penalties come as the hospital industry is showing some success in reducing avoidable errors. A recent federal report found the frequency of mistakes dropped by 17 percent between 2010 and 2013, an improvement U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell called “a big deal, but it’s only a start.” Even with the reduction, one in eight hospital admissions in 2013 included a patient injury, according to the report from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ.

The new penalties are harsher than any prior government effort to reduce patient harm. Since 2008, Medicare has refused to pay hospitals for the cost of treating patients who suffer avoidable complications. Legally, Medicare can expel a hospital with high rates of errors from its program, but that punishment is almost never done, as it is a financial death sentence for most hospitals. Some states issue their own penalties — California, for instance, levies fines as high as $100,000 per incident on hospitals that are repeat offenders.

The government has also been giving money to some hospitals and quality groups to help improve patient safety efforts.

The HAC program has “put attention to the issue of complications and that attention wasn’t everywhere,” said Dr. John Bulger, Geisinger’s chief quality officer. However, he said hospitals such as his now must spend more time reviewing their Medicare billing records as the government uses those to evaluate patient safety. The penalty program, he said, “has the potential to take the time that could be spent on improvement and making sure the coding is accurate.”

Hospitals complain that the new penalties are arbitrary, since there may be almost no difference between hospitals that are penalized and those that narrowly escape falling into the worst quarter.

“Hospitals may be penalized on things they are getting safer on, and that sends a fairly mixed message,” said Nancy Foster, a quality expert at the American Hospital Association.

Hospital officials also point out those that do the best job identifying infections in patients may end up looking worse than others. “How hard you look for something influences your results,” said Dr. Darrell Campbell Jr., chief medical officer at the University of Michigan Health System. “We have a huge infection control group, one of the largest in the country. I tell them to go out and find it.” Campbell’s hospital had a high rate of urinary tract infections but was not penalized because it had fewer serious complications than most hospitals, records show.

The penalties come on top of other financial incentives Medicare has been placing on hospitals. This year, Medicare has already fined 2,610 hospitals for having too many patients return within a month of discharge. This is the third year those readmission penalties have been assessed. This is also the third year Medicare gave bonuses and penalties based on a variety of quality measures, including death rates and patient appraisals of their care. With the HAC penalties now in place, the worst-performing hospitals this year risk losing more than 5 percent of their regular Medicare reimbursements.

In determining the HAC penalties, Medicare judged hospitals on three measures: the frequency of central-line bloodstream infections caused by tubes used to pump fluids or medicine into veins, infections from tubes placed in bladders to remove urine, and rates of eight kinds of serious complications that occurred in hospitals, including collapsed lungs, surgical cuts, tears and reopened wounds and broken hips. Medicare tallied that and gave each hospital a score on a 10-point scale. Those in the top quarter — with a total score above 7 — were penalized.

About 1,400 hospitals are exempt from penalties because they provide specialized treatments such as psychiatry and rehabilitation or because they cater to a particular type of patient such as children and veterans. Small “critical access hospitals” that are mostly located in rural areas are also exempt, as are hospitals in Maryland, which have a special payment arrangement with the federal government.

The AHRQ study found that the biggest decreases in errors among those it studied occurred in the two categories of infections Medicare used in setting the penalties. Central-line associated bloodstream infections decreased by 49 percent and catheter-associated urinary tract infections dropped by 28 percent between 2010 and 2013. By contrast, pneumonia cases picked up by patients on ventilators that help them breathe – a condition not covered by the new penalties — decreased by only 3 percent during the same period.

Some of the errors on which the Medicare HAC penalties are based are rare compared to other mistakes the government tracks. For instance, AHRQ estimated that in 2013 there were 760,000 bad drug reactions to medicine that controls blood sugar in diabetics, but only 9,200 central-line infections. Infections from tubes inserted into urinary tracts are more common — AHRQ estimated there were 290,000 in 2013 — but those infections tend to be easier to treat and less likely to be lethal.

On the other measures, the study estimated there were 240,000 falls and more than 1 million bedsores.

In evaluating hospitals for the HAC penalties, the government adjusted infection rates by the type of hospital. When judging complications, it took into account the differing levels of sickness of each hospital’s patients, their ages and other factors that might make the patients more fragile. Still, academic medical centers have been complaining those adjustments are insufficient given the especially complicated cases they handle, such as organ transplants.

Medicare penalized 143 of 292 major teaching hospitals, the KHN analysis found. Penalized teaching hospitals included Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles; Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta; Northwestern Memorial Hospital and University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago; George Washington University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

“We know some of the procedures we do — heart transplants or resecting cancerous portions of the esophagus — are going to be just more prone to having some of these adverse events,” said Dr. Atul Grover, the chief public policy officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. “To lump in all of those things that are very complex procedures with simple things like pneumonia or hip replacements may not be giving an accurate result.”

Medicare levied penalties against a third or more of the hospitals it assessed in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington and the District of Columbia, the KHN analysis found.

The penalties are reassessed each year and Medicare plans to add in more kinds of injuries. Starting next October, Medicare will assess rates of surgical site infections to its analysis. The following year, Medicare will examine the frequency of two antibiotic-resistant germs: Clostridium difficile, known as C. diff, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

More from the People’s Climate Summit in Peru

Last week, we participated in the People’s Climate Summit march in Lima, Peru. The march wove through busy Lima streets, blocking traffic and shutting down large parts of the downtown area. It ended at Plaza San Martin, a central plaza surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings. The plaza was filled with drumming, music, and chanting. Banners and flags waved in the air calling for climate justice.

Thousands participated including indigenous from the Andes and the Amazon of Peru and across South America. People from all parts of the world were present. We were happy to see large numbers of international labor organizations participating and the showing of labor from Peru was impressive. There were thousands of union workers in the streets from all industries – public services, construction, transportation, health and many more.

The Peruvian nurses are known for their presence in demonstrations and for supporting climate justice, as well as other social causes. We met nurses from Lima and from many other villages in Peru. Yesterday, we had the opportunity to sit down with Zoila Cotrina Diaz, the president of the Peruvian Nurses Federation, and some of her colleagues. Their union is exclusively for registered nurses and they represent 20,000 nurses from across the country.

As we heard about their struggles, we were reminded that nursing issues are very similar no matter where you are on the globe. While Peru has a public health system, it is fragmented and leaves out the most vulnerable. Two million Peruvians are without access to health care. They are mostly indigenous and those from remote villages.

The Peruvian nurses are running campaigns essentially the same as our single-payer fight, demanding equal access and quality care for everybody. Their contract disputes are with the government and while they have many hard-won victories under their belts, they are still fighting. They have had multiple strikes, some which have lasted for over a month. The biggest issue at the bargaining table is safe staffing, which should sound familiar.

They’re working hard to achieve ratio language and have achieved 1:2 in adult intensive care units and some limits in acute care as well. The problem is that the hospitals frequently don’t follow the ratios. We heard stories of nurses taking up to 40 patients with only the help of an unlicensed technician at times.

The nurses of Peru are very active in fighting the climate crisis. The air pollution in Lima is extremely bad. Despite its coastal location, the high mountains behind the city trap the air in place, leaving a visible smog hanging over the city constantly. Two other issues Peru faces is the rapid deforestation of the Amazon by logging companies (many of them operating illegally) and the excessive mining industry, which is contaminating air and water supplies.

They are sharing the same message that we are with the world: The climate crisis is a health care crisis and we must stop using fossil fuels and move to clean renewable energy.

They also believe that energy should be controlled by the people, not corporations and share in our vision of energy democracy.

I was grateful to meet our sisters and brothers in Peru and I am touched to know that we have allies fighting alongside us from south of the equator.

33 Holiday Movies Travel Nurses Will Love

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travel nurse watching holiday movies

Settle in and click through our list of 33 Holiday Movies Travel Nurses Will Love.

Throughout much of the country, the cold of winter calls for bountiful blankets and copious covers, which tend to go great with movie marathons! And, during this festive time of year, what better fare to snuggle up with than a Holiday flick? Even if it’s still 70° and sunny in your location, here are 33 Holiday movies Travel Nurses will love (in no particular order):

1. A Christmas Story — Considered the ultimate modern classic by many, this 1983 comedy brought leg lamps, bunny suits, and the term “You’ll shoot your eye out!” into fashion.

Xmas Story

Behold! Ralphie and co. light up this Christmas favorite.

2. The Muppet Christmas Carol — Everybody’s favorite motley crew, The Muppets, take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas — Tim Burton’s musical fantasy takes viewers from “Halloween Town” to “Christmas Town.”

4. Eight Crazy Nights — Although it’s an animated feature, Adam Sandler’s musical comedy focusing on the Hanukkah season is an adults-only affair.

5. Bad Santa — Also meant for adults, Billy Bob Thornton stars as an alcoholic, thieving Santa, in this comedy caper.

6. Elf — Will Ferrell charms as one of Santa’s elves who travels to New York City to meet his biological father, delivering childlike Christmas cheer everywhere he goes.

7. Mixed Nuts — Hilarity and hijinks ensue in this Nora Ephron-directed screwball comedy set in and around a crisis hotline at Christmastime. Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Rob Reiner, Rita Wilson, Juliette Lewis, Anthony LaPaglia, Jon Stewart, Parker Posey, and others star.

8. Gremlins — A cautionary tale for those looking for unusual Christmas gifts, this classic ’80s monster mash is set against a Holiday backdrop.

gremlins

You definitely don’t want to feed these carolers after midnight!

9. A Charlie Brown Christmas — One of the season’s most beloved traditions, for kids of all ages.

10. The Polar Express — Take a trip to the North Pole, as seen through a child’s eyes, in this computer-animated fantasy.

11. Home for the Holidays — Technically a Thanksgiving movie, but this comedy, directed by Jodie Foster and starring Holly Hunter, is a great examination of family festivities.

12. The Black Candle — This award-winning documentary on Kwanzaa is narrated by the late Maya Angelou.

xmas vacation

Oh, Cousin Eddie!

 

13. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — Chevy Chase and family are back and in the spirit of the season in this third installment of National Lampoon’s Vacation series — a major crowd favorite.

14. One Magic Christmas — An angel (played by Harry Dean Stanton) helps show a hardworking, downtrodden mom the true meaning of Christmas in this ’80s classic.

15. Home Alone — When Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left behind by his family who are traveling to Europe, he must protect their home from a pair of bungling burglars.

16. Die Hard — A Christmas party turns nightmarish for an NYPD officer (Bruce Willis) when he must save his wife and other hostages being threatened by a terrorist group.

17. Love, Actually — A mosaic of stories come together in this across-the-pond rom-com, starring a huge ensemble cast including Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, and others.

18. The Hebrew Hammer — According to IMDb, “An orthodox Jewish blaxploitation hero saves Hanukkah from the clutches of Santa Claus’ evil son.” Starring Adam Goldberg, Andy Dick, and Judy Greer.

19. Little Fockers — Christmas and Hanukkah factor into this third installment of the comic Meet the Parents series, starring Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Robert DeNiro, Blythe Danner, Barbra Streisand, and Owen Wilson.

20. How the Grinch Stole Christmas — Whether you prefer the animated classic or the 2000 Jim Carrey version, this holiday classic will make your heart grow three sizes.

it's a wonderful life

It really is a wonderful life!

21. It’s a Wonderful Life — James Stewart stars as George Bailey, a man in despair who gets help from an angel to realize his life is meaningful and necessary. Widely loved and watched, this film is one of the American Film Institute’s 100 best films ever made.

22. While You Were Sleeping — Christmastime in Chicago is the backdrop for this family-centric rom-com starring Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, and Peter Gallagher.

23. This Christmas — Starring Idris Elba, Regina King, and Loretta Devine, this Christmas comedy/drama details a family’s first holiday together in four years.

24. Trading Places — Christmas and New Year’s are important characters in this scathingly funny John Landis film, starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd.

25. Holiday Inn — Starring Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, the classic Holiday tune ‘White Christmas” was written for this film.

26. White Christmas — Another classic featuring music by Irving Berlin. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.

27. Black Christmas — On the other end of the spectrum, whether the original 1974 or the 2006 remake, this Holiday slasher flick centers on sorority sisters being stalked by a killer during a winter storm.

scrooged

Gotcha!

28. Scrooged — Bill Murray is wonderfully persnickety in this modern spin on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This ’80s Christmas comedy classic also stars Karen Allen, Carol Kane, and Bobcat Goldthwait.

29. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer — This stop motion animation classic tells the story of everyone’s favorite misfit reindeer and his friend Hermey who set out to find a place where they’ll be accepted just as they are. It first aired in 1964, but never gets old!

30. Meet Me in St. Louis — Sure, this classic spans an entire year, but it’s best known for its Christmas scenes, especially Judy Garland’s Esther singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to her sorrowful kid sister, Tootie.

200 cigarettes

Happy New Year’s, from 1981.

31. 200 Cigarettes — With a ’90s ensemble cast boasting Ben Affleck, Dave Chappelle, Janeane Garofalo, Christina Ricci, Paul Rudd, Courtney Love, Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Martha Plimpton, and others, this flick follows multiple characters throughout New Year’s Eve 1981.

32. Four Rooms — Set in a hotel on New Year’s Eve, Tim Roth plays a bellhop who appears in all four segments of this bizarre anthology comedy.

33. When Harry Met Sally — This textbook rom-com spans the seasons, but its capstone New Year’s Eve scene is rightfully famous. (See also, Sleepless in Seattle, with Meg Ryan’s vehicular singing of “Jingle Bells” — “horses, horses, horses, horses … ” for another festive scene.)

Did we leave your favorite off the list of 33 Holiday movies Travel Nurses will love? Let us know in the comments which movie(s) you’d add to the list, and, be sure to check out this blog with tips on other festive ways to make your location home for the holidays.

Even With Coverage Expansion, Access To Mental Health Services Poses Challenges

Even though more Americans have access to health insurance because of the health law, getting access to mental health services can still be challenging.

A new report concludes that despite the 2008 mental health parity law, some state exchange health plans may still have a way to go to even the playing field between mental and physical benefits. The report, released by the advocacy group Mental Health America, was paid for by Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A. and Lundbeck U.S.A, a pharmaceutical company that specializes in neurology and psychiatric treatments.

The report listed the states with the lowest prevalence of mental illness and the highest rates of access to care as Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, North Dakota and Delaware. Those with the highest prevalence of mental illness and most limited access are Arizona, Mississippi, Nevada, Washington and Louisiana.

Among its other findings:

– 42.5 million of adults in America, 18.19 percent, suffer from a mental health issue.

– 19.7 million, or 8.46 percent, have a substance abuse problem.

– 8.8 million, or 3.77 percent of Americans have reported serious thoughts of suicide.

– The highest rates of emotional, behavioral or developmental issues among young people occur just west of the Appalachian Mountains, where poverty and social inequality are pervasive.

Part of MHA’s examination focused on the exchange market and its essential health benefit requirements that guided 2014 coverage. The group found that, while information provided through plans’ “explanation of benefits” might show that there aren’t limits on mental health coverage, limitations including treatment caps and other barriers still exist.

“Parity is in its infancy. Most plans know the numerical requirements around cost-sharing, but few have taken seriously the requirements around equity — around access through networks and barriers to care through prior authorization,” said Mike Thompson, health care practice leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers. “And, in practice, we have a history of imposing much more stringent medical necessity standards on mental health care than other health care.”

However, Susan Pisano, vice president of communications for America’s Health Insurance Plans, an insurance trade group, said the report doesn’t reflect the fact that many health plans have rolling renewals. That means the plans have until Jan. 1, 2015, to fully comply with the parity law.

“Our members are committed to mental health parity, and we’re supportive of legislation, and what isn’t apparent is that benchmark plans represented a snapshot in time … so that doesn’t give us the full picture,” Pisano said. “Our plans have really been working to get in compliance.”

Chuck Ingoglia, senior vice president of public policy at the National Council for Behavioral Health, a Washington-based trade group for community mental health and substance use treatment organizations, said the report’s findings aren’t surprising — though they are troubling. Implementation of the parity law remains a work in progress, he said.

“The law is based on a sound policy premise — that addiction and mental health treatment decisions and management should be comparable to physical health conditions,” he said. “But this also creates a tremendous barrier to proving violations as it requires a consumer to obtain access to plan documents for both types of care, which is frequently handled by different plans,” Ingoglia said.

In addition, the report found that some plans didn’t set out what and how many services were covered. That means consumers would only find out a treatment wouldn’t be paid for by their insurer after they’d already received care.

Americans with mental disorders have the lowest rates of health insurance coverage, so obtaining  insurance is a good first step, according to Al Guida, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist who works on mental health issues with Guide Consulting Services. But the only way a denial can be reversed is through an appeal, which can be a long and arduous process.

“The vast majority of insurance plans offered on Affordable Care Act federal and state exchanges have close to no transparency, which could lead to abrupt changes in both mental health providers and psychotropic drug regimens with the potential for serious clinical consequences,” Guida said.

Meanwhile, there is a shortage of mental health care professionals — nationally there is only one provider for every 790 people, according to the report.

All of these factors can cause minor mental illnesses to grow more severe, according to Mental Health America CEO Paul Gionfriddo.

He suggested that mental illness should be screened for and covered in the same way cancer, kidney disease and other illnesses are.

“Right now we’re trapped in a stage where we wait for a crisis, when they’re in advanced stages and then we treat it, and we wonder why it’s so hard to treat it more cheaply,” Giofriddo said.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.