Latest California Healthline Stories
Obama Administration Further Delays ACA’s Employer Mandate
Yesterday, the Obama administration released a final rule delaying parts of the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate. Mid-sized businesses now have another year — until 2016 — to provide health insurance coverage to employees, while large employers only need to offer coverage to 70% of workers in 2015, rather than 95%, to avoid fines. New York Times et al.
Report: Cal-OSHA’s Low Staffing Levels Put Workers’ Health at Risk
A new report finds that California has fewer workplace inspectors than it did 25 years ago, putting the health and safety of state workers at risk. The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility said it will file a complaint against the California Division of Occupational Health & Safety. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Calif. Granted Two Additional Years To Meet Prison Population Cap
Three federal judges approved Gov. Brown’s request for an additional two years to reduce the state prison population, as called for under a court order. The judges extended the deadline to February 2016 and mandated the appointment of a compliance officer to monitor the state’s progress. Sacramento Bee‘s “Sacto911” et al.
ACA Coverage Unaffordable for Millions of U.S. Residents, Experts Say
Experts warn that paying the penalty for remaining uninsured under the Affordable Care Act will be less costly than purchasing coverage for many middle-income families. They estimate that ACA coverage will be unaffordable for nearly three million U.S. residents with annual incomes three to four times the federal poverty level. Kaiser Health News/USA Today.
Bay Area Schools Take Aim at Teens’ E-Cigarette Use
Many Bay Area school districts are adjusting their tobacco policies to address the growing use of e-cigarettes among teens. A the end of 2013, Alameda and Contra Costa county boards of education changed their policies to ban the electronic smoking devices, while Antioch and San Ramon Valley school districts will take action on the issue this week. Contra Costa Times.
CMS Fixes HealthCare.gov Medicaid, CHIP Coverage Glitch
On Friday, CMS said it had resolved a technical problem with HealthCare.gov that prevented parents from adding their Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program-eligible children to subsidized family plans. The problem arose because parents in some states must meet certain annual income thresholds to obtain Medicaid coverage for themselves, which are higher than those set to get Medicaid coverage for just their children. AP/ABC News.
Report: 43% of Identity Thefts Are Related To Health Care
An Identity Theft Resource Center report finds that 43% of all reported identity thefts in the U.S. last year were health care-related. According to an analyst, one million medical records were reported stolen in 2013, but the number likely is much higher because some providers do not report such data breaches. USA Today et al.
Valley Fever Has Sickened More Than 100 Employees at Two Calif. Prisons Since 2009, Report Finds
More than 100 employees at two California prisons contracted Valley Fever between January 2009 and June 2013, and three died from the fungal illness, according to a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report released Thursday. The institute confirmed 65 cases of Valley Fever among employees at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Fresno County and 38 cases among employees at Avenal State Prison in Kings County. AP/U-T San Diego.
19 Covered Calif. Employees Earn at Least $100K Annually
Nineteen Covered California employees earn annual salaries of $100,000 or more, according to data compiled by state Controller John Chiang. The highest-paid workers at the exchange were Executive Director Peter Lee, who earns $257,496 annually, and Chief Deputy Executive Director Yolanda Richardson, who earns $210,000 annually. AP/Sacramento Bee.
CMS Mulling Changes to Federal Rules on Third-Party Payments
CMS could amend federal rules to require insurers to accept third-party payments from federal programs designed to help people with HIV/AIDS. The possible change comes after a Louisiana insurer began rejecting checks from the Ryan White program that helps hundreds of people with HIV/AIDS pay for treatment and premiums. Reuters.