California agency issues 'report cards' on insurers, medical groups

The California Office of the Patient Advocate Wednesday released the report cards, which are based on 2013 claims data and patient surveys, a month ahead of Covered California's 2015 open enrollment period.

Los Angeles Times: Kaiser Leads HMOs In Providing Recommended Care In State
Kaiser Permanente was the only HMO to earn a top four-star rating for providing recommended care, according to California's latest report card on insurers and medical groups. The scores issued Wednesday focus on California's 10 largest HMOs, the six biggest preferred-provider organization plans and more than 200 physician groups covering 16 million consumers. Anthem Blue Cross, the state's largest for-profit insurer, and Cigna Corp. led the way among PPO plans with three-star ratings. The data is drawn from claims data and patient surveys in 2013 (Terhune, 10/15).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Calif. 'Report Cards' Are Out In Time For Open Enrollment
The California Office of the Patient Advocate Wednesday released "report cards" that rate major health plans on selected clinical care services, including cancer treatment, mental health, chronic disease management and patient satisfaction. The assessments, which also include data on selected medical groups, are available online in multiple languages. The state timed the release of this year's report cards to coincide with the second round of open enrollment in Covered California, the state's online health exchange, which kicks off Nov. 15. Several plans included in the report cards are offered on the exchange (Hernandez , 10/16).

Meanwhile, in other news -

The California Health Report: State Refuses To Identify Hospitals It Says Have Harmed Patients
California has been withholding money from 66 hospitals it holds culpable for medical errors, but state officials refuse to describe the mistakes or publicly identify the hospitals, all of which have allegedly harmed patients. California Department of Health Care Services spokesman Norman Williams said the agency is withholding disciplinary records to protect patients' private medical information, but patient advocates are criticizing the lack of transparency (Richard, 10/15).