Latest California Healthline Stories
GOP Pursues Congressional Oversight Approach To Target ACA
House Republicans have scheduled a slew of hearings this week on the troubled rollout of HealthCare.gov as part of a broader strategy to draw attention to the flaws of the Affordable Care Act. U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park has been subpoenaed to testify at a hearings, but the White House called the subpoena “unfortunate and unnecessary,” noting that Park is busy fixing HealthCare.gov. The Hill‘s “Floor Action” et al.
Covered Calif. Website To Go Offline To Add Small Business Exchange
This weekend, the Covered California website will be taken offline for up to two days so that officials can add a new small business health insurance marketplace to the exchange. An additional shutdown is planned for Jan. 1, 2014, to link the exchange to Medi-Cal and make other upgrades. Sacramento Business Journal.
Poll: 50% of Calif. Voters Support ACA, but Some Wary of its Effects
A recent poll by American Viewpoint and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research finds that about 50% of California residents say they support the Affordable Care Act, while 42% say they oppose it. According to the poll, 42% of state voters say they lack information about the law, including 50% of Latinos. Los Angeles Times.
Ballot Measures Filed To Prompt Debate Over Hospital Costs, Salaries
The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West says it has filed two ballot measures with the California Attorney General’s Office to prompt a debate with the hospital industry over rising costs and high executive salaries. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
On Tuesday, Contra Costa Health Services staff will ask county supervisors to end all four Mental Health Consumer Concerns’ contracts as of Dec. 31. MHCC’s board of directors has acknowledged it made accounting mistakes and that it owes Contra Costa and Napa counties a total of $395,802. MHCC is expected to ask county supervisors for more time to pay back the funds and to commit to funding the not-for-profit’s operations through 2016. Contra Costa Times.
Observers Say Religious Belief Exemption Could Weaken California’s 2012 Vaccine Law
Observers say that a religious belief exemption in a 2012 state vaccine law could significantly weaken the rule. According to the law, parents who seek to opt out of having their children vaccinated against infectious diseases first must fill out a request form, which includes an option for declaring that they are a member of a religion that prohibits them from seeking medical advice or treatment. Experts say the exemption could give parents without such religious beliefs an easy way to circumvent the law, which in turn could contribute to disease outbreaks in the state. NPR/KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
100,000 Californians Contacted by Grassroots Group During ACA Educational Outreach Campaign
Nearly 100,000 Californians were contacted as part of a four-week outreach campaign organized by the not-for-profit California Calls to educate lower income Californians about health care reform and the Affordable Care Act. Through the campaign, California Calls and 31 grassroots groups encouraged uninsured residents to look into whether they qualify for federal premium assistance though the ACA. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
VA Secretary Shinseki Touts 34% Drop in Disability Claims
On Thursday, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said the agency has reduced its backlog of outstanding disability claims to 401,000, a 34% reduction from 611,000 claims last spring. Shinseki said he is confident that he can reach a goal of eliminating the backlog by the end of 2015. McClatchy/Miami Herald.
UC-Davis Study Finds Interactive Computer Program Can Help Boost Treatment of Depression
Patients who use an interactive computer program about depression before a doctor visit are significantly more likely to ask for information about the condition and receive treatment, according to a new study by UC-Davis. The study — which was published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association — included nearly 900 patients and 135 primary care clinicians at seven Northern California health care facilities. Medical News Today.
Sebelius Releases Final Rules for 2008 Mental Health Parity Act
During a mental health conference in Atlanta today, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released long-awaited final rules on the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act that will bring coverage for mental health care and substance use disorder treatment in line with medical coverage. CNN et al.