It’s a serious concern for doctors, hospitals and now health insurance payers. There were 1,538 serious and preventable events last year in the state, including 132 in the Sacramento region — or 11 per month. That’s about 300 more than a year ago statewide, and 40 more for the region.
Medicare, the government program for seniors, has stopped paying for these errors, and many major medical insurance companies are also making it tougher on hospitals to get reimbursed for botched procedures.
Many hospitals have established much-tougher practices in an effort to reduce such errors. A decade ago, a national report estimated about 98,000 people died every year from preventable errors in hospitals.
State lawmakers approved a bill that requires hospitals to report errors in 2006.
Medicare, the government program for seniors, has stopped paying for these errors, and many major medical insurance companies are also making it tougher on hospitals to get reimbursed for botched procedures.
Many hospitals have established much-tougher practices in an effort to reduce such errors. A decade ago, a national report estimated about 98,000 people died every year from preventable errors in hospitals.
State lawmakers approved a bill that requires hospitals to report errors in 2006.