Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Privately Insured Residents’ Out-of-Pocket Costs Grew by 4.8%
A new Health Care Cost Institute report finds that privately insured U.S. residents’ out-of-pocket health care spending grew by 4.8% last year, while overall health spending among such residents grew by 4%. Modern Healthcare, New York Times‘ “Economix.”
Officials Across U.S. Await Decision in San Jose Pension Reform Case
Observers from other states and municipalities are closely watching a lawsuit that will determine whether the city of San Jose can cut pensions and retiree health benefits for public workers. The case has implications for other governments that are considering changing benefits promised to current and past employees. New York Times.
Judge Mulls Release of Videos of Pepper-Sprayed Mentally Ill Inmates
A federal judge will decide this week whether the public is able to view videos of California prison guards using pepper spray and other weapons on inmates with mental illnesses. The videos are part of a case examining the state’s prison mental health care system. AP/U-T San Diego.
UCSF Gets $30M Endowment for Basic Sciences Education
On Tuesday, UC-San Francisco announced a uniquely structured $30 million endowment from Sequoia Capital Chair Sir Michael Moritz and his wife Harriet Heyman that will trigger another $30 million in funding for basic sciences education. UCSF — a graduate-level, health care-focused institution — historically has relied on taxpayers to cover the cost of tuition and living expenses for Ph.D students studying to become doctors or medical researchers, but funding cuts have forced more costs on students themselves. San Francisco Business Times‘ “BiotechSF.”
CMA Petitions Supreme Court To Review 10% Medi-Cal Pay Cut
The California Medical Association has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that upheld a 10% cut to Medi-Cal payment rates. The group argues that the cut could cause harm to current beneficiaries, as well as to those who would qualify for the program through an expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Modern Healthcare, CMA release.
State Letter Tells Gold Coast Health Plan To Fix Flaws
Last week, the California Department of Health Care Services sent a letter to Gold Coast Health Plan mandating that the Ventura County-based Medi-Cal system fix a list of unnamed inefficiencies or face penalties that could include contract termination. Gold Coast officials said the concerns involve the lack of administrative documentation on medical issues such as access to care in the year ending Oct. 31, 2012. Ventura County Star.
Calif. Officials Sign Deal With Private Prison Contractor
On Monday, California officials signed a deal with private prison contractor Geo Group to lease space for about 1,400 inmates to help reduce overcrowding in state-owned prison facilities. Geo Group owns two lower-security prisons in Adelanto and McFarland. According to the contractor, the deal will last for five years, and inmate transfers will begin by December. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
White House, ACA Advocates Poised To Roll Out Exchange Awareness Campaigns
This week, the White House is accelerating Affordable Care Act outreach efforts with the launch of a six-month campaign to persuade U.S. residents to purchase coverage through the law’s insurance exchanges. The campaign will include an advertising initiative by health insurers, which officials say could cost them at least $1 billion. New York Times.
Editorial Says Compromise Prison Plan Could Lead to ‘Comprehensive Sentence Reform’
A Contra Costa Times editorial states that a compromise plan — by Gov. Brown and Democratic lawmakers — to comply with a federal court-ordered prison population cap “creates a rare window of opportunity for California to seriously address” the issue of “comprehensive sentence reform.” It argues that “[i]nmates who receive treatment for drug addiction or mental illness, who remain connected to their families and can find employment, are much less likely to return to crime.” It concludes that sentence reform “is the logical next step” to improving California’s prison system. Contra Costa Times.
Covered California Board Makes Changes Ahead of Oct. Launch
The board of Covered California has approved last-minute changes to eligibility and enrollment requirements and guidelines, the Small Business Health Options Program and rules for insurance agents. Officials say the changes should be approved by state officials before open enrollment in October. Sacramento Business Journal.