Latest California Healthline Stories
Many Latino Residents Left Behind in Initial Exchange Enrollment
Latinos are seen as a key demographic for the success of the Affordable Care Act, but many Latino residents in California did not sign up for health plans through Covered California by the Dec. 24, 2013, deadline for coverage beginning Jan. 1. According to data released last month, just 5% of Covered California enrollees primarily speak Spanish. Kaiser Health News.
$2M in Healthy San Francisco Funds Collected From Restaurants
The San Francisco attorney’s office has collected about $2 million from area restaurants after a yearlong investigation into discrepancies between surcharges placed on diners’ bills to cover the costs of providing employee health benefits under Healthy San Francisco and funds actually expended to provide such coverage. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Observers Expect To See Jump in Use of ACA Coverage Next Week
More people with newly acquired health insurance coverage through the federal and state-operated health insurance exchanges are expected to begin using their coverage next week. However, some individuals who already have attempted to use their new coverage have hit a few snags. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
BART Board Approves Revised Labor Contract
On Tuesday, the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s board voted to approve a revised labor deal to resolve union contract disagreements on overtime, scheduling and other issues. The revised agreement drops a provision allowing BART employees to receive additional paid leave for six of the 12 weeks permitted under the Family Medical Leave Act and grants workers extended bereavement leave and potential bonuses. The unions are expected to vote on the revised deal this month. AP/Sacramento Bee.
California Officials Urge Residents To Get Swine Flu Vaccinations
After an influenza outbreak, California health officials are urging residents to receive swine flu vaccinations. The outbreak has led to at least 12 hospitalizations in Kern County and one death in Southern California. A Kern County official has said only one patient has tested positive for swine flu but such testing has yet to be completed on other patients. AP/U-T San Diego, Ventura County Star.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of January 3, 2014
Children’s Hospital Oakland officials have refused to perform a tracheotomy for breathing and insert a gastric tube for feeding on a pediatric patient who was declared brain dead. St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County announced that it would curb spending by about $30 million and lay off an unspecified number of employees.
A penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages could save California more than $1 billion by reducing rates of diabetes and coronary heart disease, according to a new study by UC-San Francisco researchers. Such a tax would add 12 cents to the cost of a can of soda, or 67 cents to a two-liter bottle. State Sen. Bill Monning is expected to reintroduce efforts to implement a penny-per-ounce sugary drink tax in California when the Legislature is back in session. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Report: Health IT Market To Reach $31.3B by 2017
The North American health IT market is estimated to reach $31.3 billion by 2017, up from $21.9 billion in 2012, according to a recent report from Research and Markets. The report estimated that the North American health IT market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4%. According to the report, the U.S. held 72.6%, the highest share, of the North America health IT market and is projected to reach $22.6 billion by 2017, growing at a CAGR of 7.2%. Healthcare IT News.
Federal, State ACA Enrollment Surpasses 2.1M
On Tuesday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that as of Dec. 28, 2013, more than 2.1 million U.S. residents had enrolled in private health insurance through the federal- and state-run health insurance exchanges. Sebelius noted that about half of those newly enrolled consumers signed up through HealthCare.gov, which covers 36 states. However, the number of new enrollees has fallen short of the Obama administration’s earlier projections that 3.3 million U.S. residents would sign up by the end of December. Wall Street Journal et al.
Covered California Faces $78M Deficit in FY 2015-2016 Budget
Covered California estimates that it will lose $78 million in its 2015-2016 fiscal year budget when Affordable Care Act funds for state health exchanges run out next year. The exchange is planning to save revenue from current federal grants in order to offset the loss. U-T San Diego.