Latest California Healthline Stories
White House Revises Coverage Rules for People With Canceled Plans
The Obama administration has announced that it will allow consumers whose health plans have been canceled because they do not meet the Affordable Care Act’s minimum coverage requirements to purchase bare-bones catastrophic coverage that is being discontinued under the ACA and claim “hardship exemption” status to avoid the individual mandate penalty. New York Times et al.
Report Finds California Falls Short on Several Public Health Indicators
A report by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds that California has failed to meet four of 10 indicators for protecting public health. For example, the state was unable to increase or maintain funding levels for public health services during the previous two fiscal years. Los Angeles Daily News, Trust for America’s Health report.
Covered California Sent 114K Flawed Eligibility Notices
From Nov. 22 to Dec. 7, Covered California sent flawed eligibility notices to nearly 114,000 households. Due to a computer error, the notices contained blank spaces and missing information, such as tax credit accounts and Medi-Cal eligibility. Anne Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the exchange, said anyone who received the notices should check their account summary online. Once the computer error is corrected, the exchange will send corrected notices. AP/Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times.
AHIP: Most Members Extending Exchange Plan Payment Deadline
America’s Health Insurance Plans says that most of its members will give consumers until Jan. 10 to make their first payment for health insurance exchange plans that take effect Jan. 1. Covered California already had given consumers until Jan. 6 to pay the first premium, and a spokesperson said that the Jan. 6 deadline will hold despite AHIP’s announcement. Washington Post et al.
Drop in Psychiatric Hospital Beds Cuts Mental Health Access in Calif.
A movement to shift mental health treatment to community-based settings has led to a sharp drop in the number of hospital beds in California dedicated to treating psychiatric emergencies. About 4,000 of such beds have been removed over the past 15 years, and mental health funding has moved from inpatient facilities to outpatient settings. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Fewer Than 20% of Blue Shield Policyholders Chose To Keep Canceled Plans Under Extension
Fewer than 20% of Blue Shield of California policyholders whose plans were canceled because they do not meet minimum requirements of the Affordable Care Act have opted to keep their current coverage under an extension offered by the insurer. Last month, Blue Shield offered a three-month extension of such plans to policyholders. However, Blue Shield said only 15,000 of its 80,000 policyholders whose plans were canceled chose to keep their current coverage until March 31, 2014. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Co.”
Study Says ‘Death Spiral’ From Low Enrollment in Exchanges Unlikely
A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation discredits concerns that lower-than-expected enrollment of young, healthy individuals through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges will cause insurers to significantly increase premiums. Reuters et al.
Judge Orders $1.1B Award for Safe Removal of Lead Paint
A judge in Santa Clara County has ordered three paint companies to pay $1.1 billion for the safe removal of lead paint from millions of homes across 10 California cities and counties. The judge ruled that the companies marketed the paint knowing that it was harmful to children’s health. Lead exposure has been linked to learning disabilities and other health issues in children. U-T San Diego, Hartford Courant.
Covered California’s Low Hispanic Enrollment Draws Criticism
State lawmakers say they are concerned about low enrollment in California’s health insurance exchange by the state’s Hispanic population. However, Covered California officials say the issue already is being addressed, and the White House says it plans to boost its promotion of insurance exchanges to Latinos in January 2014. Los Angeles Times et al.
ACA Raised Premium Costs, Eliminated Larger Deductibles, GAO Says
A new Government Accountability Office report finds that the Affordable Care Act has raised annual premium costs for many health plans. However, the law also has eliminated some of the largest deductibles that were included in plans before the ACA took effect. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.