ID:

66

Date:

2005-07-24

Headline:

Inefficient Spending Plagues Medicare; Quality Often Loses Out as 40-Year-Old Program Struggles to Monitor Hospitals

Reporter's name:

Gilbert M. Gaul

Delay/denial:

No

Lawsuit:

No

Fees:

No

Media outlet:

The Washington Post

City:

Washington, DC

Summary:

The Washington Post obtained under FOIA records that revealed Medicare, the federal insurance for seniors, is plagued by financial inefficiency, and that the heart unit at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Florida was plagued by infections. One patient died; others required additional operations or returned to the hospital as a result of the infections.

Keywords:

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; Medicare; Medicaid; National Quality Forum

Agencies:

HHS

States:

US

Categories:

health care