Latest California Healthline Stories
Bipartisan Bill Introduced To Delay Individual Mandate Penalty
A newly introduced bipartisan Senate bill aims to delay for one year the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate penalty on most uninsured U.S. residents next year, in light of the issues with the federal health insurance exchange website. Reuters et al.
Report: Disparities Will Remain for Millions of Californians After ACA
A report highlights access to care concerns for the three million to four million California residents who will remain uninsured even after the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented. Advocates and lawmakers say the state must address the patchwork of care options for uninsured and indigent residents. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
HHS Grants $30.6M to 46 Community Health Centers in California
Yesterday, 46 community health centers in California received a total of $30.6 million in Affordable Care Act grants to help care for more than 333,000 additional patients in the state who are uninsured or underinsured. The funds were part of $150 million awarded nationwide. San Jose Mercury News et al.
San Francisco District Attorney Plans To Curb Area Crime Using Mental Health Outreach, Treatment
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón will launch a program using a three-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to curb violence in the Eastern Bayview area of Bayview-Hunter’s Point. The program aims to prevent crime in the area — which accounted for 26% of the city’s murders from 2008 to 2011 — through intervention, mental health outreach and treatment and increased access to victim compensation. HealthyCal.
During a television interview Thursday, President Obama apologized to people with individual health policies whose plans are being discontinued because they do not meet minimum coverage standards under the Affordable Care Act. He said that his administration did not do enough to protect such individuals from having their policies canceled. Obama added that the White House is looking at a “range of options” to prevent consumers from encountering higher premiums when switching plans. New York Times, Huffington Post.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of November 8, 2013
Sutter Health has agreed to pay $46 million to settle allegations that it inappropriately billed and disclosed anesthesia charges. The San Francisco sheriff says there were several problems with the investigation of a missing patient at San Francisco General Hospital who was later found dead.
Funding Shortage Delays ACO Pediatric Pilot Program
A nationwide pilot program for a Medicaid accountable care organization that focuses on pediatric care has been delayed because of lack of funding for the program. The Affordable Care Act calls for the creation of a pilot demonstration where pediatricians form ACOs to test strategies for controlling costs. Although there is no word on when the pilot program, originally slated to launch in 2012, will launch, some larger children’s hospitals — such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio — have started contracting directly with their states’ Medicaid programs to develop ACOs. MedPage Today‘s “The Gupta Guide.”
Study: ED Reimbursements Likely To Improve Under ACA
Reimbursement rates for emergency departments are likely to improve after the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, according to a study published last week in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. Researchers — using data from an HHS medical expenditure survey from 2005 through 2010 — estimated that ED reimbursements would have been 17% higher per outpatient visit if uninsured patients were covered by Medicaid and 39% higher per outpatient visit if uninsured patients were covered by private health plans available through the ACA’s health insurance exchanges. Modern Healthcare.
78 San Jose Officers Reassigned to Patrol To Reduce Emergency Call Response Times
Last Friday, 78 officers from various units of the San Jose Police Department were temporarily assigned to patrol duty to reduce emergency call response times and supplement officers. San Jose Police Department spokesperson Albert Morales said the temporary shift of duties is needed as the department continues to lose officers in its ranks. In February, a new wave of officers is expected to join the department. Contra Costa Times.
Proposed Medical Malpractice Ballot Initiative Cleared for Circulation
A proposed ballot initiative that aims to raise the state limit on medical malpractice damages from $250,000 to $1.1 million recently was cleared for circulation. The California Medical Association opposes the proposal and has given $5 million to a campaign to defeat the measure. San Francisco Chronicle/Columbus Republic.