Organization

A new study led by CHAMP trainee Stacy Chen along with faculty reveals that nearly half of U.S. primary care practices do not consistently provide professional language services for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), despite federal requirements mandating their availability. Using data from over 1,200 physician practices, CHAMP researchers found that practices participating in Accountable Care Organizations, those owned by hospitals or health systems, and Federally Qualified Health Centers were significantly more likely to always offer language services...

A new commentary published in JAMA Network Open by CHAMP co-director Dr. Hector Rodriguez highlights concerning findings about health system acquisitions of physician practices and their impact on vulnerable patient populations.

The commentary discusses recent research showing that when physician organizations affiliate with health systems, care disparities between dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries and other Medicare patients can actually widen for certain quality measures, including diabetic eye examinations and follow-up after acute events.

"These...

Hospitals acquired by Catholic health systems unlikely to eliminate obstetrics, other services, such as reproductive care, may be prohibited

Berkeley, CA — A new study from UC Berkeley School of Public Health researchers shows that Catholic health care systems that acquired hospitals were less likely than their non-Catholic counterparts to eliminate obstetrics care.

The study, published in Medical Care Research and Review, is the first national analysis to rigorously compare how hospital operations change following acquisition by...

A new publication first-authored by CHAMP founder and Professor Emeritus, Stephen Shortell highlights the critical need for a renewed focus on “practical wisdom” in U.S. health care reform.

Despite spending nearly 17 percent of its GDP—totaling $4.9 trillion annually—on health care, the United States continues to rank among the lowest-performing countries in the OECD on key health outcomes. Stark disparities in infant and maternal mortality, hospital safety, and overall care quality persist, especially among minority populations.

The study argues that while numerous reform...