Latest California Healthline Stories
Nearly 500K California Residents Enrolled in Covered Calif. Plans
According to data released yesterday by HHS, nearly 500,000 California residents have enrolled in a health plan through Covered California. That figure surpasses Covered California officials’ minimum estimate of 487,000 state residents signing up for coverage by March 31. KQED’s “The California Report” et al.
Lawmakers Unveil 12 Bills To Improve Assisted-Living Facility Care
Yesterday, state lawmakers introduced a dozen bills designed to address problems at California assisted-living centers. The bills come after an investigation last year found that medical errors are prevalent at such facilities. U-T San Diego, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform release.
$1T Omnibus Spending Plan Maintains ACA Implementation Funding
House and Senate budget negotiators announced a $1.01 trillion omnibus spending bill that would ease some of the sequester’s across-the-board spending cuts and maintain current spending levels to implement the Affordable Care Act. However, it would cut the ACA’s Prevention and Public Health Fund by $1 billion. New York Times et al.
Negotiations on Prison Overcrowding Have Failed, Judges Say
Court-ordered negotiations between California officials and inmates’ lawyers on prison overcrowding have been unsuccessful, according to a panel of federal judges. The judges say they will rule within 30 days on Gov. Brown’s request for a two-year extension to reduce the inmate population. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.
Cigna Ordered To Stop Selling Health Plans That Use Covered California in Name
California Attorney General Kamala Harris has ordered Cigna to stop selling health plans that use Covered California — the state’s health insurance exchange — in their names. Last year, Cigna opted out of participating in Covered California, but it has been selling some policies outside of the exchange that are labeled as Covered California plans. A Cigna spokesperson Karen Eldred said that “at the request of the attorney general, and after agreement from Covered California on a revised name, we started implementing the necessary systems and other changes.” Los Angeles Times.
Rep. George Miller To Retire After 40 Years in Congress
On Monday, Rep. George Miller — who was instrumental in passing the Affordable Care Act — announced that he will retire when his term ends, concluding a 40-year career in Congress. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that Miller “has written some of the most creative legislation of our time — on health care, education, child policy and labor rights, and also on the environment, energy and national parks.” The Hill‘s “Ballot Box,” San Francisco Chronicle.
Alzheimer’s Disease Could Cost Orange County $19M in Lost Productivity by 2030, Report Says
An Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County report predicts that by 2030 Alzheimer’s disease could cost Orange County $19 million annually in lost productivity among family caregivers. The report found that a majority of such caretakers provide care at no cost and most of them have to start work late, leave early or take additional time off. Orange County Register.
UC-Santa Cruz Database Expanded To Include Information on Childhood Cancers
A University of California-Santa Cruz database containing information on thousands of cancer patients has been expanded to include data on childhood cancers. The new data on childhood cancers comes from a National Cancer Institute initiative called Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments, or TARGET, which aims to identify the molecular changes that affect the development and progression of five major types of childhood cancer.
S.F. Bay Area Hospitals, Pharmacies Report Temporary Shortage of Influenza Vaccine
On Friday, state officials said some hospitals and pharmacies in the San Francisco Bay Area are experiencing shortages of the vaccine for influenza. Spokespersons for CVS and Walgreen confirmed that some of their locations would be without the vaccine for 48 hours, until a new shipment could arrive. In addition, patients have faced long lines to obtain the vaccines at local hospitals. San Jose Mercury News.
CMS Eases Use of Medicaid Funds for Home-, Community-Based Care
CMS has issued a final rule under the Affordable Care Act that encourages states to use Medicaid funds to provide home- and community-based care for older U.S. residents and those with mental or physical disabilities. Health care stakeholders have praised the rule, saying it will cut bureaucratic red tape and allow agencies to focus on providing care. Modern Healthcare et al.