Latest California Healthline Stories
Most State Health Exchanges Run Smoothly, but Some Report Issues
While most state-operated health insurance exchanges have run smoothly since their Oct. 1 launch, some states have grappled with problems. According to experts, 75% of U.S. residents who have successfully enrolled in coverage have done so through a state-based exchange. McClatchy/Sacramento Bee et al.
White House: ACA Website Repairs ‘On Track,’ User Issues Still Likely
Although the Obama administration said repairs to the federal health insurance exchange website are “on track,” officials acknowledged that some users still could experience issues in December. Meanwhile, the administration announced that when website traffic exceeds 800,000 visitors, users will be added to a new queuing system where they can see educational materials. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Jones Adopts Workers’ Comp ‘Pure Premium’ Advisory Rate
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has recommended that workers’ compensation insurers increase “pure premium” rates by 6.7%. The recommendation comes after the state Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau suggested an 8.7% pure premium increase. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
FDA Halts Calif.-Based 23andMe From Selling DNA Kits
Last week, FDA sent a letter to genetic testing company 23andMe ordering that the company stop selling its personalized DNA test kits. FDA said that the Mountain View, Calif.-based company is marketing the kits “without marketing clearance or approval in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.” FDA gave 23andMe CEO Ann Wojcicki 15 days to make corrective actions. Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Anthem Blue Cross Says Thousands More California Doctors Affected by Data Breach
On Monday, an Anthem Blue Cross spokesperson said that Social Security or tax identification numbers of nearly 24,500 California physicians were accidentally posted online, up from the nearly 6,000 doctors originally reported by the insurer. Anthem Blue Cross, California’s largest for-profit health insurer, has removed the information from its website and said that the breach did not involve any patient data. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Co.”
Study: Medi-Cal Long-Term Care Spending To Double by 2023
A UC-Berkeley study finds that Medi-Cal spending on long-term care services in California is expected to increase from $6.6 billion this year to $12.4 billion annually by 2023 as the number of elderly state residents increases by more than two million. Sacramento Business Journal, Department of Health Care Services release.
Calif. Failed To Conduct Background Check on Owner of Castro Valley Assisted-Living Facility
California officials failed to conduct a background check on the owner of an assisted-living facility in Castro Valley that in October left 19 residents behind after it was shut down by the state. The owner of Valley Springs Manor — Herminigilda Manuel — previously was subject to $800,000 in penalties levied by a federal health watchdog for alleged negligent care at other facilities. Records indicate that the California Department of Social Services did not cross-reference records with the state Department of Public Health, which oversaw Manuel’s previous assisted-living facilities. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Rural ED Doctors Make Fewer Errors When Using Telehealth, According to UC-Davis Study
Emergency department physicians in rural hospitals make fewer medication administration errors when they consult with a pediatric critical care specialist via a videoconferencing system, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. UC-Davis Children’s Hospital researchers found that that the ED physicians made medication administration errors 3% of the time when using telemedicine to connect with a specialist, 11% of the time when consulting with a specialist by phone and 13% of the time when not consulting with a specialist. Reuters.
Three States To Test Enrollment Without HealthCare.gov
On Friday, HHS announced that insurers in Florida, Ohio and Texas will launch a pilot program to test whether directly enrolling consumers in health coverage could boost exchange enrollment numbers, in light of the technical issues plaguing the federal exchange website. At a meeting with President Obama last week, insurers urged him to allow them to bypass HealthCare.gov and directly enroll individuals in health plans. Reuters, Kaiser Health News.
Analysis Finds ‘November Surge’ in Enrollment in State Exchanges
A new Commonwealth Fund analysis finds that enrollment in the state-operated health insurance exchanges so far in November is nearly double what it was for the month of October. Observers say the finding suggests that the lower-than-expected enrollment in the first month was because of website issues rather than lack of interest or demand. Washington Post, Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”