Latest California Healthline Stories
IRS Fraud Detection System Inadequate, Treasury Audit Finds
A new Treasury audit report finds that the Internal Revenue Service’s fraud detection system is inefficiently equipped to securely process federal tax subsidies through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges because of long-term system limitations. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.
Large Health Systems Drive Up Costs in Northern California
Large health systems in Northern California, such as Sutter Health, have used their influence to raise costs and lower competition across the region, according to a New York Times analysis of federal government data. Sutter officials say higher prices are necessary for many reasons, including to provide care for uninsured individuals. New York Times, KQED’s “State of Health.”
Unions Sue BART for Removing Paid Family Leave Language From Labor Contract
On Tuesday, two of Bay Area Rapid Transit’s largest labor unions filed a lawsuit against the transit agency alleging that BART’s board exhibited unfair labor practices by excluding family-leave language from its labor contract. BART management said it agreed in error to a contract provision allowing BART employees to receive additional paid leave for six of the 12 weeks granted under the Family Medical Leave Act. The unions have requested that the Alameda County Superior Court uphold the labor contract with the paid family leave provision. Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Business Times.
A class action lawsuit was filed Nov. 27 against California-based 23andMe for allegedly using false and misleading advertising to promote its personalized DNA test kits. The letter comes after FDA sent 23andMe a warning on Nov. 22 saying that the company was advertising the kits “without market clearance or approval in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.” AP/Modern Healthcare et al.
Leapfrog Group Names 23 California Hospitals as Top Performers
Nearly two dozen California hospitals have been named as top performers in a national survey by the Leapfrog Group. To be designated as a “top hospital,” facilities had to have lower infection rates, higher survival rates for risky procedures and fewer readmissions. Sacramento Bee‘s “Healthy Choices” et al.
Obama Administration Offers Financial Assistance to Insurers That Participate in Health Plan Fix
In a notice published Monday in the Federal Register, Obama administration officials said they would provide financial assistance over three years to insurers that comply with the president’s health policy cancellation fix. 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. Some insurers say that the plan could cause them to experience losses in premium revenue and profits. New York Times.
Report Finds Lack of Rx Drug Documentation in Electronic Health Records at San Francisco VA Facility
Physicians at the San Francisco VA Medical Center did not routinely document prescription drug renewals in electronic health records, according to a new report by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General. The report found that the facility sometimes used paper prescription drug request forms to document renewal status. However, the forms often were shredded and did not become a part of the patients’ EHRs, leading to gaps in care documentation. Bonnie Graham — director or the facility — agreed with the report that a lack of proper EHR documentation and workflow issues have been detrimental to patient care. EHR Intelligence, Center for Investigative Reporting/U-T San Diego.
Wyoming Gov. Opts Out of Medicaid Expansion Under ACA
On Friday, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said his state will not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. He said the problematic rollout of the federal health insurance exchange website has cast doubt on whether the federal government can effectively follow through on its pledge to pay its portion of the expansion costs under the ACA. Mead said he would consider expanding Medicaid in the future if it appears to be in the state’s financial interest. Washington Post‘s “GovBeat.”
Union Will Drop Ballot Initiatives if Hospitals Agree To Negotiate
The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West will drop state ballot initiatives that would curb hospital executive salaries and limit how much hospitals can charge consumers if hospitals agree to enter into a “strategic partnership” with the union to address such issues, according to a union spokesperson. Wall Street Journal.
Gov’t Spending on ACA To Be Billions Less Than Originally Expected
Industry analysts and economists say that the federal government will spend significantly less on the Affordable Care Act than originally expected because of certain ACA provisions, as well as lower-than-anticipated costs for the Medicaid expansion and subsidies for private insurance plans. New York Times.