Latest California Healthline Stories
Assembly Panel OKs Bill To Boost Safety at Long-Term Care Facilities
The state Assembly Committee on Health unanimously approved legislation by Assembly Member Mariko Yamada that would require the state to complete investigations of complaints of suspected abuse at long-term health care facilities within 40 days. The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations committee. Daily Democrat.
Covered California Sees Significant Growth in Latino Enrollment
Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee said the number of Latinos enrolling in plans through the state’s insurance exchange surged in the final month of open enrollment. In total, 252,000 of the exchange’s 1.2 million enrollees identified as Latino, close to Covered California’s goal of 265,000. Los Angeles Times et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of April 4, 2014
UC-San Francisco Medical Center will open the San Francisco area’s first dedicated women’s hospital in 2015. Meanwhile, La Palma Intercommunity Hospital sent a letter notifying patients that their medical records and personal information might have been illegally accessed in 2012 by a former hospital employee.
L.A. County Says Another 170K Affected by Health Data Breach at Sutherland Healthcare Solutions
On Thursday, Los Angeles County officials reported that an additional 170,200 patients were affected by a February break-in at Sutherland Healthcare Solutions’ Torrance office, bringing the total number of affected patients to 338,700. Officials said the theft involved data stored on eight computers that contained patients’ names, Social Security numbers and certain medical and billing information and also may have included addresses, birth dates and medical diagnoses. The breach is currently under investigation. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now,” AP/Sacramento Bee.
L.A. County Reports Eight Bacterial Meningitis Cases
So far this year, eight Los Angeles County residents have been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, according to health officials. The county is urging men who have sex with men to get a meningitis vaccination, as four of the eight cases involved men who have sex with men. Starting Thursday, the county will provide no-cost vaccinations to uninsured residents. AP/Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
CalPERS Paid Out $13B in Benefits in FY 2011-2012
On Wednesday, CalPERS reported that it spent $13 billion in benefits in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2012. According to CalPERS, those payments generated an additional $17.6 billion in business revenue and about $30 billion in economic activity. Sacramento Business Journal.
CMS Confirms April 15 as HealthCare.gov Extension Date
On Wednesday, CMS spokesperson Aaron Albright confirmed that U.S. residents who tried to enroll in coverage via HealthCare.gov prior to March 31 but were unable to complete their applications because of technical difficulties have until April 15 to submit their applications. Specifically, consumers who encounter technical issues will have at least 60 days from the last incidence of the issue to submit their applications. Wall Street Journal.
State Senate Committee Approves Bill To Require California School Districts To Stock EpiPens
On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bill by Sen. Bob Huff that would require school districts to stock emergency epinephrine auto-injectors, or EpiPens, so trained personnel are able to provide emergency care to individuals suffering from a severe allergic reaction. Health care and allergy groups support the bill, while the California Teachers Association, the California School Employees Association and the California Federation of Teachers oppose the measure. The bill now heads to the Senate Health Committee. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
State’s ‘Deferred Action’ Immigrants Less Likely To Use Health Care
A study by researchers from several University of California affiliates finds that young Latino immigrants who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are less likely to use health care services than U.S.-born young adults despite being more likely to report poor health. Payers & Providers.
Many Covered Calif. Enrollees Likely To Leave Exchange
A new UC-Berkeley Labor Center report estimates that 20% of Covered California enrollees will leave the exchange because they will find a job that offers health coverage and another 20% will leave the exchange because their incomes will drop, making them eligible for Medicaid. KQED’s “State of Health.”