The federal Medicare agency has released results of hospital quality and patient satisfaction measures that give St. David’s HealthCare an edge — and more financial bonuses — than Seton Healthcare Family hospitals.  Among 15 hospitals in Central Texas where Seton and St. David’s operate the largest and second-largest systems, respectively, Seton Northwest Hospital and Seton Medical Center Austin will receive reduced payments in the coming year for each Medicare patient, according to an analysis by Kaiser Health News. In addition, Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, which Seton partly owns, is being penalized, as is Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos.   Other Seton hospitals will get a Medicare payment bonus for good performance, as will all of the St. David’s hospitals, Scott & White Hospital-Round Rock, Austin Surgical Hospital and the Hospital at Westlake Medical Center.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/austin-area-hospitals-getting-bonuses-penalties-fo/nThQb/