Latest California Healthline Stories
Individuals Encounter Issues With Covered Calif., Other Exchanges
During the launch of California’s health insurance exchange yesterday, consumers faced website delays and prolonged telephone wait times. Meanwhile, individuals across the U.S. experienced technical glitches and heavy traffic that slowed online portals for federally run and state-operated exchanges. Sacramento Bee et al.
Gov. Brown Signs Bill Removing Ability To Conceal Exchange Records
As California’s health insurance exchange opened for enrollment yesterday, Gov. Brown signed a bill stripping authority from the state to conceal certain exchange records. Brown also signed several other health care measures into law, including a bill to further implement the expansion of Medi-Cal. AP/U-T San Diego et al.
Videos of Mentally Ill Inmates Being Pepper-Sprayed Shown in Court
Attorneys for California inmates showed two videos in court yesterday depicting prisoners with mental illnesses being pepper sprayed and then subdued by prison guards. Lawyers for the state denied that there are systemic problems with prison guards’ treatment of inmates with mental illnesses. Sacramento Bee et al.
White House Quiet on ACA Exchange Enrollment Numbers for Day One
The Obama administration offered few details about how many U.S. residents signed up for coverage on the first day of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges. Experts say it will be months until the success of the exchanges and the overall effect of the ACA can be measured. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Editorial Says GOP Should Seek To Improve the Affordable Care Act, Not Dismantle It
A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that the “GOP’s clear objective” in the legislative debate that led to a federal government shutdown on Tuesday is “to dismantle” the Affordable Care Act, rather than to “improve it.” According to the editorial, “It’s too bad that Republicans aren’t actually trying to make the law better because the [ACA] is far from perfect.” It continues that the lawmakers could improve the law by “clearing up the uncertainties that have put some federal rules under a legal cloud” and looking for “ways to make the mandate to obtain coverage more effective.” Los Angeles Times.
Oakland City Auditor Blasts Lax Oversight of City’s Workers’ Compensation Program
Fourteen Oakland city officials accepted more than $23,000 in inappropriate gifts from a vendor during two training sessions in 2007 and 2008, according to a recent audit of Oakland workers’ compensation program by Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby. The audit also found the city’s Risk Division spent nearly $10 million more than its contractual spending limits, mostly without receiving City Council approval. The audit faults Risk Division and prior administrations for not adequately managing a bank account to pay for administering the workers’ compensation program. Oakland Tribune.
L.A. County Files Lawsuit To Block Ballot Measure To Create Separate City Public Health Department
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit to block a June 2014 ballot measure that would create a separate Los Angeles city public health department. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has been pushing the measure, arguing that the county health department does not give Los Angeles residents their fair share of services. The county argues that it provides high-quality care at lower costs. On Monday, the Los Angeles City Council filed its own lawsuit to block the ballot initiative. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Study: Private Insurers’ Physician Reimbursement Rates Differ Significantly for Same Services
Private insurers have significantly different physician reimbursement rates for the same types of office visits and services, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. The researchers reported that they could not explain the price variations by age or gender, physician specialty, patients’ insurance plan type or whether the physician was in a patient’s network. Reuters.
On Monday, the Office of Personnel Management issued a final rule stating that lawmakers and their staff must purchase health insurance through the District of Columbia’s small business insurance exchange to continue to receive employer contributions. That requirement applies whether such individuals work or live outside of D.C. Additional OPM guidance stipulates that lawmakers and their staff must purchase a gold-level plan offered in the exchange to receive contributions. Washington Post‘ “Federal Eye,” Politico.
Polls Find Most Disapprove of ACA Defunding Efforts
A new poll finds that only 7% of U.S. residents say that they would like to see Congress delay the implementation of the Affordable Care Act or defund the law. Meanwhile, another recent poll finds that while 47% of registered voters oppose the ACA, 72% oppose efforts to defund the law that have caused the government to shut down. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.