What We're Reading: Medicare for All; Irma Hospital Closures; Hospital Safety Violations

Bernie Sanders to Reveal Single-Payer Bill

While Congress considers how to best stabilize the individual insurance market, Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, plans to unveil his “Medicare for All” bill. According to The Hill, the idea of a single-payer healthcare system is gaining traction within the Democratic Party, and Senator Kamala Harris, D-California, has already announced support for the bill. Sanders made a single payer system a focus of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Irma Forced 35 Hospitals to Close

As Hurricane Irma has approached the United States, its path has changed multiple times, causing trouble for hospitals potentially in the path. Hospitals in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have order total or partial evacuations, with Florida evacuating nearly 1900 patients, reported STAT. However, the Florida Hospital Association reported that the majority of its member hospitals stayed open, because they felt they could weather the storm.

Hospital Accredited Despite Safety Violations

Despite serious safety issues at a hospital in Massachusetts, the Joint Commission made no change in the hospital’s accreditation. In an investigative piece, The Wall Street Journal took a look at how the Joint Commission approves accreditation for hospitals with serious problems. In 2014, 350 accredited hospitals were in violation or requirements and one-third of them had additional violations in the next 2 years. Even in instances where CMS cut off funding because of violations, the Joint Commission may not revoke accreditation.