Latest California Healthline Stories
Errors Plague ACA Enrollment; White House Discourages Paper Apps
Nearly 25% of enrollment records submitted to insurers through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchange website in October and November might contain errors, but the current error rate has fallen to 10%. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has directed federal navigators to stop using paper applications for consumers because of concerns about whether they would be processed in time. New York Times et al.
Exchange Asks Insurance Agents To Help With Paper Applications
Covered California officials have asked insurance agents to manually enter paper applications into the exchange’s online enrollment system. The move comes as the exchange struggles to process a backlog of 25,000 paper applications before Dec. 23, the deadline for coverage effective Jan. 1, 2014. Orange County Register et al.
Covered Calif. Releases Website Users’ Contact Information
Covered California has given insurance agents the contact information for tens of thousands of consumers who created accounts via the exchange website but did not finish purchasing a health plan. Critics say consumers might not want to be contacted, while exchange officials say some people might need more help enrolling in a plan. Los Angeles Times et al.
California Hospital Association President Duane Dauner has charged that two ballot initiatives filed by Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, California’s largest health care workers’ union, are a means to force cooperation with the union’s organizing efforts. The two measures would limit hospital prices and executive compensation at not-for-profit hospitals. Los Angeles Times.
Stanford Creates ACO-Style Health Plan for Employees
In January, Stanford University, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital will offer an affordable care organization-style health plan for up to 50,000 eligible Stanford employees and dependents. Members of the self-funded program, called Stanford Healthcare Alliance, will have their care coordinated by a primary care provider and will be able to choose among a network of mostly Stanford health care professionals. Stanford aims to sign up nearly 15,000 employees and their dependents. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Appeals Court To Consider Calif.’s DNA Collection Law
On Monday, an 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments over a California law requiring police to collect DNA samples from every person arrested in the state. The law aims to help solve so-called cold cases through matches in a state DNA database, which contains nearly two million samples. The American Civil Liberties Union — which filed a lawsuit against the law in 2009 — argues that the law is unconstitutional because not all arrestees are charged with a crime. However, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and the Obama administration say the court should uphold the law. AP/U-T San Diego.
Pfizer To Open Trial Data to Researchers, Participants
On Wednesday, Pfizer announced plans beginning in 2014 to give independent researchers and patients who participate in studies greater access to the pharmaceutical firm’s clinical trial data. Pfizer — which is the largest pharmaceutical firm in the U.S. — said it hopes its effort to boost clinical trial data transparency will advance medical research and encourage more patients to participate in clinical trials. Reuters.
Majority of GOP-Led States Embrace Obama’s Fix for Canceled Health Plans Under ACA
Twenty-one of 30 states with GOP governors have agreed to comply with President Obama’s administrative fix for health plans that would otherwise be canceled for not meeting minimum coverage standards under the Affordable Care Act. Last month, President Obama announced a plan that would allow insurers in 2014 to continue selling insurance plans even if they do not meet the Affordable Care Act’s requirements. Meanwhile, 10 of 19 states with Democratic governors have rejected the fix. Wall Street Journal.
HHS Announces Nearly $55.5M in Grants To Bolster Health Workforce
HHS has awarded nearly $55.5 million in new grants to help boost the U.S. health care workforce and strengthen training for new and current professionals. Officials say the grants are meant to help a workforce that already is stretched thin and could worsen under the Affordable Care Act. Washington Post‘s “Federal Eye.”
Covered California Struggling With Demand at Website, Call Centers
A Covered California spokesperson says the exchange’s website and call centers are experiencing issues resulting from a high volume of consumers trying to sign up for insurance coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2014. The site has incorrectly displayed premium estimates, in addition to other errors, while average call center wait times have reached 25 minutes. U-T San Diego, Los Angeles Times.