Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Plans Expected To Expand ACA Exchange Offerings in 2015
Some insurers — including Cigna, UnitedHealth Group and not-for-profits — say they plan to expand their offerings through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges during the next open enrollment period, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 15. Insurers in most states have until May or June to submit their plan options. Modern Healthcare.
CalPERS Increases State’s Contribution for Retiree Benefits by $450M
CalPERS officials have announced that the state contribution rate to the pension fund will increase by $450 million, to $4.3 billion, beginning July 1. The move comes after the CalPERS board in February voted to immediately begin phasing in higher retiree contribution rates to account for the costs associated with longer life spans. Sacramento Business Journal.
Covered Calif. Sign-Ups Reach 1.4M at End of Open Enrollment
Nearly 1.4 million California residents obtained health coverage during the state insurance exchange’s first open enrollment period and an additional 1.9 million state residents signed up for Medicaid coverage. Enrollments through Covered California accounted for 17.5% of insurance exchange enrollments nationwide. AP/San Jose Mercury News et al.
San Diego County Committee Grants Preliminary Approval to Stricter Medical Marijuana Regulations
On Wednesday, the San Diego City Council’s Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee unanimously approved a list of proposed rules for medical marijuana dispensaries. The proposed rules would amend an ordinance governing business operations to allow the city to randomly test marijuana for harmful bacteria, such as mold or mildew, and require delivery drivers to carry a county-issued identification card. The rules must be approved by the full committee before they become law. U-T San Diego.
Health insurers are encouraging U.S. residents who missed the deadline to enroll in coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges to sign up for short-term health insurance plans. However, Marian Mulkey, with the California HealthCare Foundation, said buyers still should examine such policies closely before signing up because they likely are less comprehensive as other plans consumers might have had in the past, such as employer-sponsored coverage. San Jose Mercury News.
Census Bureau Chief: Revamped Survey Will Better Analyze ACA’s Effect on Uninured Rates
Census Bureau Director John Thompson on Wednesday said he thinks changes to the health insurance questions in the Census Bureau’s annual survey will help, not hurt, efforts to analyze the effect of the Affordable Care Act on uninsured rates. Thompson said that the new questions specifically were designed to help measure the number of individuals uninsured in 2013, the year before the ACA took effect. Washington Post.
Nextdoor Partners With S.F. Emergency Management
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management is partnering with San Francisco-based startup Nextdoor, which allows users to post safety advisories and other notices on a closed network only accessible to other users in their area. Through the partnership, the department will be able to post disaster advisories on the networks, which include 99% of neighborhoods in the city. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Stanford Study Finds Rx Drug Samples Lead Dermatologists To Prescribe Higher-Cost Medications
Researchers at Stanford University have published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association Dermatology that finds dermatologists are more likely to prescribe higher-cost medications when they receive free samples to hand out to patients. The study compared the prescribing practices of dermatologists at medical centers that allow free samples with those that prohibit them.
Some Insurance Analysts Expect Lower Premium Increases in 2015
Some insurance experts say premium rates will likely increase by an average of just 7% in 2015, far below the double-digit increases that some observers have predicted in recent months. The new predictions are bolstered by industry reports that show a reduction in health care costs. USA Today.
Calif. Panel, VA Recommend Costly Hepatitis Drugs for Sicker Patients
Despite the high cost of two new hepatitis C drugs, the California Technology Assessment Forum and the Department of Veterans Affairs this week recommended their use to treat individuals with advanced liver disease or those awaiting transplants. The drugs can cost up to $1,000 per pill. Kaiser Health News.