Latest California Healthline Stories
3M California Residents Applied, Enrolled Through Exchange
Covered California announced that three million California residents have applied for or completed enrollment for health plans through the state health insurance exchange, including nearly one million who have newly enrolled in private coverage and about 1.1 million who likely are eligible for Medi-Cal. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” Covered California release.
California Launches Program To Reduce Toxic Chemicals in Products
Yesterday, regulators at the state Department of Toxic Substances launched a program that will require manufacturers to reduce or eliminate certain chemicals known to cause illnesses, including cancer, from their products. The first part of the program will target chemicals found in bedding, furniture, paint remover and other products. Contra Costa Times.
GOP Committee Members Seek Federal Exchange Enrollee Data
House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans have sent letters to insurers with health plans on the Affordable Care Act’s federal exchange requesting detailed enrollee information, including their ages and previous insurance status. The Obama administration has yet to be able to provide such information. Wall Street Journal‘s “Washington Wire” et al.
ACO Formed by Blue Shield of California, Inland Empire To Serve 27,300 Members
On Wednesday, Blue Shield of California and EPIC Health Plan announced the launch of an accountable care organization with the Inland Empire. The ACO will include six medical groups affiliated with EPIC Management and will serve approximately 27,300 members. Under the agreement, the ACO will run through the end of 2015 with the potential to extend beyond that timeframe. EHR Intelligence.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 14, 2014
State investigators have concluded that Children’s Hospital Oakland adequately complied with medical regulatory standards in the case of a 13-year-old patient who was declared brain dead. A St. Joseph Health employee improperly emailed the protected health information of about 11,800 home health patients.
Users of Self-Tracking Devices Value Privacy, Security Before Sharing Health Data With Researchers
A new survey of individuals who use health tracking devices finds that 57% of respondents said their privacy would have to be ensured in order for them to comfortably share their data, and more than 90% said they would want their data to remain anonymous. The survey was completed by the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology in San Diego and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. MobiHealthNews.
Rate of Work-Sponsored Insurance Coverage Increases Only Slightly in Past Year, Survey Finds
Average enrollment in employer-sponsored plans increased by just 0.2 percentage points between January 2013 and January 2014, while the average number of workers eligible for such coverage increased by 0.3 percentage points during the same period, according to a survey by benefits firm Mercer. The low eligibility growth rate could suggest that businesses opted to wait to expand their employee health plans, in part because the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate on businesses with 50 workers or more was delayed by one year, to 2015. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules.”
Ventura County Behavioral Health Dept. Awarded $7.6M Grant To Expand, Create New Services
The California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission has awarded the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department a $7.6 million grant to fund 20 new staff positions in an effort to enable the department to expand its existing services and develop new offerings. On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors retroactively gave the department approval to apply for the grant and accept the funding. Ventura County Star.
Contra Costa Fire Chief Proposes Implementing $400 Fee for Emergency Medical Calls
Contra Costa County Fire Chief Jeff Carman has proposed charging more than $400 for the assessment and treatment of patients who obtain treatment from first responders. Such a fee could raise about $1 million annually. The move comes as the county fire protection district faces a $10.2 million projected deficit in its fiscal year 2014-2015 budget. Contra Costa Times.
No Extension to Insurance Exchange Open Enrollment, Sebelius Says
During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing yesterday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that there will be no extension beyond March 31 to the open enrollment period for U.S. residents to enroll in coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges. New York Times et al.