Latest California Healthline Stories
House Passes Spending Measure That Would Delay ACA for One Year
The House has passed an amended continuing resolution that contains new provisions targeting the Affordable Care Act, including a one-year delay of implementation of the law and a repeal of the ACA’s medical device tax. The Senate today is expected to reject the measure and send the House back a “clean” budget bill. New York Times et al.
Calif.’s ACA Implementation Being Closely Watched Nationwide
Given its diverse population and high number of uninsured residents, California’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act could have nationwide implications. Meanwhile, some groups have begun using “guerrilla” tactics to persuade the uninsured to purchase health coverage through the ACA. AP/Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Bee.
High Rates of Vaccine Refusal Linked to 2010 Calif. Pertussis Epidemic
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests that clusters of individuals who refused vaccines for pertussis, or whooping cough, could have contributed to the state’s 2010 whooping cough outbreak. For the study, researchers examined California Department of Public Health data on non-medical exemptions and 2010 pertussis cases. USA Today.
Brown Signs Two Bills To Reduce Rx Misuse, Vetoes Another
Gov. Brown signed into law two bills designed to reduce prescription drug misuse in the state. However, he vetoed a third measure that would have required county coroners to report prescription drug-related deaths to the state medical board over concerns that it would create an “unfunded mandate for the state.” Los Angeles Times, AP/U-T San Diego.
Starting in December, medical students at UC-San Francisco will be able to receive college credit for editing Wikipedia articles on diseases as part of an effort to improve the quality of medical articles on the online encyclopedia. The university says this is the first time students will receive college credit for such work. The course is open to fourth-year medical students. New York Times.
Calif. Lawmakers Debate Government Shutdown Effects
On Thursday, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, the senior California Republican in Congress, told the Los Angeles Times that the risk of a federal government shutdown is “part of the game” of negotiating Affordable Care Act changes. According to Rohrbacher, who was in Congress when the government last shut down in 1995-1996, “There’s never any compromise until the stakes are high.” On the other hand, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell said, “I’m in disbelief … that there are those who would want to shut down the government and put the greatest economy in the world at risk.” Los Angeles Times‘ “Nation Now.”
CMS Delays Audits Under New Inpatient Admissions Rule
In guidance released last week, CMS instructed Medicare’s recovery audit contractors to wait until Dec. 31 to scrutinize short inpatient stays after a rule on Medicare inpatient admissions takes effect on Oct. 1. The rule would implement a time-based presumption period for medically necessary inpatient care where an admission would be deemed appropriate for payment if a physician expects that treatment will require a two-night hospital stay. The announcement came after more than 100 House members sent a letter to CMS last Tuesday requesting a six-month delay to the rule. Modern Healthcare.
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that a recent ruling by federal judges that rejected portions of a compromise prison population reduction plan by Gov. Brown and Democrats shows that “Brown’s gambit to reduce prison overcrowding by relying solely on more prison capacity has failed.” According to the editorial, the judges — who ordered the Brown administration not to send prisoners to out-of-state facilities — “have made it clear they want to see” the state negotiate with prisoners’ lawyers. The editorial states, “It is time for the governor to abandon his defiance strategy and negotiate a settlement that will end the legal cat-and-mouse over state corrections.” Sacramento Bee.
Oceanside To Consider Reducing Ambulance Services
Last week, Oceanside City Council members said that they will evaluate a proposal to reduce nighttime ambulance services this fall on a trial basis. The proposal would reduce of the number of ambulances operating between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. in the city from four to three. The plan was prompted by steadily increasing costs for employee overtime at the city’s fire department, according to the city manager. U-T San Diego.
Obama Slams GOP for ‘Irresponsible’ Efforts To Undermine ACA
In a speech on Thursday, President Obama criticized Republicans’ attempts to repeal, defund or delay parts of the Affordable Care Act, saying they are trying to “blackmail” him into revising parts of the law as part of a broader plan to prevent a government shutdown. He also encouraged U.S. residents to learn about the law’s benefits. USA Today et al.