Anthem Blue Cross is teaming up with high-profile hospitals to create a new health plan in Southern California, aiming to be 10% cheaper than Kaiser Permanente. Can it be done? Also, new research shows that schizophrenia is not one disorder, but eight genetically distinct disorders. Then, should you tip hotel housekeepers?
New HMO plan wants to keep prices low, make money, and take on Kaiser. Is it possible?
Anthem Blue Cross is teaming up with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the UCLA Health System along with several other high-profile hospitals to create a new health plan in Southern California. The plan, called Vivity, has its first major customer in the form of pension fund CALPERS, which is also the nation’s second-largest healthcare buyer.
MemorialCare Health System, Good Samaritan Hospital, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Torrance Memorial Medical Center and PIH Health are also part of the new joint venture. All participating hospitals’ facilities and doctors also fall under the plan.
The Vivity plan, according to the Los Angeles Times, will be about 10% cheaper than Kaiser’s HMO plan. It promises no deductibles and low co-payments and high quality of service for patients in trying to take on industry leader Kaiser. Can it be done?
Guest:
Steve Valentine, president of The Camden Group, a healthcare consulting firm based in Los Angeles with offices all over the country
Betsy Imholz, Special Projects Director, Consumer Reports
LAPD Chief Beck takes your questions on Watts case, troubled union talks and more
LAPD detention and ID procedures are under close examination after the weekend's handcuffing of actress Daniele Watts in Studio City.
Police were called to investigate a complaint of public indecency between Watts and her boyfriend. Watts refused to provide identification and reportedly tried to leave the scene, which led to her detainment.
Tabloid coverage of the incident stoked outrage over LAPD's handling of African Americans, but also against Watts for her behavior during the incident. Chief Beck has defended the officer who handcuffed Watts, and told Larry Mantle charges could be filed against the couple. He joins AirTalk to talk more about that, LAPD union negotiations and answer questions from listeners.
Interview Highlights:
Larry Mantle: “Django Unchained” actress Danielle Watts and her boyfriend were approached by officers after a 911 call claimed the couple was having sex in an open car. Watts claimed she was treated with suspicion because she was black and her boyfriend was white. She said she wasn’t required to show ID to police. Why would identification be necessary to investigate whether the couple had committed a lewd act in public?
Well, Larry, in order to prosecute a crime, you need a person’s identification. If the officers are doing a thorough investigation, they will identify people alleged to be involved in a crime. Before we go too far, I have to say that Ms. Watts has initiated a personnel complain, so that’s something I have to adjudicate. Because of that, everything I say is based just on the things I know now. I may have a different opinion after I review all the information in the personnel complaint that will be completed.
LM: Would you say even in a case like this, where it’s reasonable suspicion, not probable cause law enforcement officers can hold someone because if they refuse to present ID?
I think you know that’s not true. What is true is this: If it’s germane to the officer’s investigation that they identify the individual, then they can hold them, and that’s case law — that’s not Charlie’s law, that is case law.
LM: The audio recording sounded very clear. Did that tape come from his on-body microphone?
It didn’t come from a department issued on-body microphone. It may have come from his personal recording device, which many officers carry. It’s very effective in gathering evidence, as it was in this case.
LM: I wanted to ask you about the city being in tough negotiations with officers over salary increases and the union criticizing you over what they say is inconsistent discipline. What's your response to that claim?
Well, we are engaged in discussions as late as today with the Protective League about what they would like to see different in the discipline system. The discipline system is something that is part of the City Charter. It is very specific as to how it is used and how it is put forward. We want to have discussions on them to see what they think would be more fair. Hopefully, we'll come to some mutual agreement on those things.
LM: Does that mean you think there really isn't discord over your discipline — that this is just a bargaining strategy?
No, I'm not saying that. The union, at least some portion of their membership, is not happy with discipline. That is a fairly natural thing. No organization that has a structured discipline system is going to have universal acceptance of it, but that doesn't mean we can't change things. I want to have a system that is as supportive as it can be ... with the realization that discipline in any profession is never popular.
LM: The union claims turnover is very high within the department because of low salaries and that has hurt morale as well. Do you agree with that conclusion that comparatively low pay at LAPD is causing you to have higher than historic turnover?
Certainly, what's been termed the 20 percent — the folks that have been hired since 2010 with a starting salary lower than everybody else's — that was an issue with retention and with hiring. The city has corrected that. We have restored those young officer's pay to their rightful schedule beginning this past month. I was very, very grateful and very happy to have that happen. This is part of a contract that was negotiated before I was chief of police. I never thought it was a good idea, and I'm glad we changed it. That piece has been met.
What maybe you're referring is a cost of living increase, and that is something that is still a topic of negotiation. I'm not as sure about that piece relative to retention.
Guest:
Charlie Beck, Chief, Los Angeles Police Department
New research: The eight disorders that comprise schizophrenia
New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that schizophrenia is not one disorder, but eight genetically distinct disorders. Each has its own set of symptoms, and beginning to distinguish between them could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment.
The groundbreaking research identified genetic variations and the way they impact symptoms including hallucinations and delusions. Schizophrenia has long been correlated with genetic inheritance, but further honing in on a particular disorder could change treatment for the debilitating disease.
The team at Washington University said their findings came out of a new approach to schizophrenia research, which typically focuses on single genes -- instead, the investigators looked at groups of genes working together.
How could these findings change the approach to diagnosing and treating schizophrenia? What impact will the research have on the mental health community?
Guest:
Dr. Dragan Svrakic, MD, Ph.D, professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, senior author of the schizophrenia study
NASCAR racer Tony Stewart to face grand jury for fatal hit of fellow driver
Prosecutors in upstate New York will ask a grand jury to decide whether NASCAR driver Tony Stewart should face criminal charges for the death of a fellow driver on a track last month.
Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo could have dropped the case or filed a direct indictment after reviewing the evidence. It was August 9, when Kevin Ward, Jr. was walking on the track to flag down Stewart after their cars had a minor collision. Stewart's car hit Ward who was declared dead 45 minutes later. Video of the collision went viral - dividing viewers on who was at fault.
Guests:
Jim Peltz, Covers NASCAR for the Los Angeles Times
Peter Mesich, Attorney based in San Diego
New campaign looks to boost tips for hotel workers
For many consumers, hotel tipping is an imperfect science. Now, Marriott brand hotels have teamed up with Maria Shriver in a campaign to boost tips for hotel housekeepers.
The effort, titled “The Envelope Please,” places envelopes in 160,000 rooms across North America with the intention of facilitating tipping for housekeepers by hotel guests.
Critics argue that unlike restaurant workers, who can be paid less than the minimum wage because they are expected to earn tips, hotel workers do earn the minimum hourly rate. They say that Marriott and thus other hotel chains are not responsible for the tips that their workers may or may not receive.
Do you tip the hotel housekeeping staff? Would you be compelled to do so if envelopes are provided?
Guest:
Roberta Nedry, founder of Hospitality Excellence, a guest experience consultancy that works with the hospitality business as well as other industries based in Florida