'Obamacare' backed by local hospitals

The only setback for the Obama administration was the high court's ruling that the federal government can't penalize states that refuse to go along with a planned expansion of Medicaid, particularly by broadening eligibility standards.

“We recognize that the health reform bill is not perfect, but it should help lower the number of uninsured and increase access to care,” Glendale Adventist Medical Center Chief Executive Kevin A. Roberts said in a statement.

He pointed to the hospital's recent launch of its Adventist Health Physicians Network, “which provides a much broader, community-based way to care for our patients and this community.”

Michael Hunn, senior vice president and regional chief executive for Providence Health & Services, Southern California, also pointed to several programs in which his network of hospitals collaborate with other agencies and providers to expand access to healthcare.

Providence has five Southern California medical centers, including Providence St. Joseph in Burbank, Providence Holy Cross in Mission Hills and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance.

Part of that collective work, he said, must include cost reduction.

“Ultimately, we have to reduce the total cost of care,” Hunn said. “The Supreme Court decision doesn't change that.”

Staff writers Mark Kellam, Joe Piasecki, Daniel Siegal and Maria Hsin contributed reporting.