CHS Ordered to Pay $2 Million For Ohio RN Fired and Defamed for Patient Advocacy, Union Activity
A civil jury has ordered an Ohio hospital, part of one of the most notorious anti-union hospital chains in the U.S., to pay over $2 million in damages for its actions against Ann Wayt, an Ohio nurse it fired, illegally sought to have her nursing license revoked, and then defamed in retaliation for her outspoken patient advocacy and support for her union.
National Nurses Organizing Committee - Ohio
Feb 6, 2015
Gilroy Council Backs Hospital Daughters of Charity Sale
The Gilroy City Council this week joined a growing list of voices in support of the $843 million sale of Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, De Paul Medical Center in Morgan Hill and four others to Prime Healthcare, putting the city squarely in the middle of one of the region’s hottest issues.
Chris Foy, The Gilroy Dispatch
Community Health Systems to pay $75 million for alleged New Mexico Medicaid scheme
Investor-owned hospital chain Community Health Systems and three affiliated New Mexico hospitals will pay the federal government $75 million to settle allegations that they made illegal donations to county governments to reap more federal dollars under a now-discontinued matching program.
Lisa Schencker, ModernHealthCare.com
Verdugo Hills Hospital nurses bring their case to COO
Disgruntled employees from USC-Verdugo Hills Hospital on Wednesday marched to the office of the hospital’s chief operating officer, Paul Czajka, where they delivered a community petition bearing as many as 1,300 signatures collected in Glendale, Montrose and La Cañada.
Sara Cardine, Glendale News Press
Unbought Slate Wins Against Democrats-for-Chevron
It's not often that a city council race in a city of 100,000 draws national attention. It happened in Richmond, California, this fall because one big corporation was so shameless in its open attempt to buy the election.
Jane Slaughter, Labor Notes
Populist Movement’s “Ground Zeroâ€: The Effort To Reclaim Chicago
Since the midterm elections, the media has been buzzing about the growing schism between Wall Street Democrats and the populist wing of the party. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s recent victories give evidence for the idea that the populists are rising. With their eyes fixed on 2016, many are asking how we can stop a coronation and nominate a populist alternative to former Sen. Hillary Clinton for president.
Jacob Swenson-Lengyel, Campaign for America's Future
Medical Debt Still a Problem Under Health Law — Despite Protections
In 2013, medical debt was the largest cause of personal bankruptcy – 1.7 million people lived in households experiencing bankruptcy because of health costs. But the law hasn’t eliminated the problem. Many states haven’t expanded Medicaid and even those with insurance can rack up big bills, a problem exacerbated by the growing number of plans with high deductibles.
Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News
Salinas RNs Endorse Community Mediator to Settle Contract Dispute
Following 10 months of contentious talks that have failed to produce movement by stubborn hospital officials on demands that registered nurses say would jeopardize patient safety, including a management plan to eliminate about 10 percent of all bedside nurses at the hospital, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital RNs said today that they support a proposal by State Assembly member Luis Alejo for a community mediator to work to resolve the dispute.
Feb 3, 2015
EPA should strengthen the standards for clean air
When I was just starting as a nurse, I had a patient that had never touched a cigarette but struggled daily with the simple act of breathing. Her health issues were not because of her ancestors, poor decisions or back luck; it was because she lived near polluting oil refineries.
Heather Albright, RN, Sacramento Bee
Book Review: America's Bitter Pill, by Steven Brill
A look at Steven Brill's new book in which he tackles the Gordian knot of the American Healthcare System: what he got right and what he got wrong.
Michael Lighty and Charles Idelson, with contributions by Michelle Mahon