Latest California Healthline Stories
Study: Large Variation in Cost of Giving Birth at Calif. Hospitals
A study released today by UC-San Francisco finds that the cost of giving birth in a California hospital can vary by tens of thousands of dollars. According to researchers, the cost differences cannot be explained by hospital and patient characteristics or market factors, such as cost of living. Bloomberg, KQED’s “State of Health.”
Judge Rejects Lawsuit Against Subsidies for Federal Exchange
Yesterday, a federal judge rejected a lawsuit that would have crippled the Affordable Care Act by preventing the federal government from providing subsidies to help U.S. residents purchase health care coverage through the federal health insurance exchange. Washington Post et al.
$1T Omnibus Spending Bill Advances Through Congress
Yesterday, House lawmakers voted to pass a $1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September. The spending package maintains funding to implement the Affordable Care Act and increases NIH funding, among other health care implications. The Hill‘s “Floor Action” et al.
Consumers Face Long Delays at Covered California Call Centers
Consumers are experiencing wait times as long as 97 minutes as they try to connect by phone with Covered California enrollment counselors. In response, the insurance marketplace plans to expand the number of phone lines and staff at its call centers. Ventura County Star.
Flu-Related Death Toll Grows in S.F. Bay Area, San Diego
This week, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced that the H1N1 influenza strain is affecting young people more than usual this year and that at least seven individuals in the area have died from flu-related illnesses. Meanwhile, San Francisco Bay Area health officials said that there have been 20 flu-related deaths in the region. Contra Costa Times et al.
Health Net Extends Policy Payment Deadline to Jan. 31
On Wednesday, Health Net announced it would extend until Jan. 31 its deadline for consumers to pay their first month’s premium for health plans purchased through Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange. Health Net is the third major health insurer in the state to extend its deadline. Contra Costa Times.
LGBT Individuals in Calif. More Likely To Smoke Than Heterosexual Individuals, Study Finds
Gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals in California are more likely to smoke than heterosexual residents in the state, according to a study by the California Department of Public Health. In addition, the Los Angeles County Health Survey found that the smoking rate among gay and bisexual residents is more than 50% higher than heterosexual individuals. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
S.F. City Attorney Teams Up With N.Y. AG To Investigate Marketing of Energy Drinks to Children
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera has partnered with the New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to investigate whether Monster Beverage Corp. has been marketing its highly-caffeinated beverages to children. Herrera previously filed a lawsuit against the Corona-based company claiming that the drinks pose health risks. AP/U-T San Diego.
CMS Renews Optum/QSSI’s HealthCare.gov Contract
In a statement on Tuesday, CMS said that health information technology services provider Optum/QSSI will continue to serve — under a new contract — as a general contractor on HealthCare.gov through Oct. 31. The firm had been hired to build the website’s data hub, but HHS expanded its role to oversee repairs on the problem-plagued site. Washington Post‘s “Post Politics” et al.
LAO Comments on ACA, Prison Estimates in Brown’s Budget Plan
A new Legislative Analyst’s Office report says that fiscal estimates related to Affordable Care Act implementation in Gov. Brown’s fiscal year 2014-2015 budget proposal are “subject to considerable uncertainty and are based on limited data.” The report also said Brown’s plan to reduce prison overcrowding is unclear. AP/Sacramento Bee, LAO Report.