Latest California Healthline Stories
HHS: ACA Rate Oversight, MLR Provisions Saved Consumers Billions
HHS says that Affordable Care Act provisions related to health insurance rate oversight have helped consumers save about $1.2 billion on premiums since 2011. In addition, consumers have received $500 million in insurance rebates because their plans did not meet the ACA’s medical-loss ratio requirements, according to HHS. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
John Muir Health Offers Workers Voluntary Buyouts Ahead of ACA
John Muir Health is offering voluntary severance packages to employees at multiple hospitals in an effort to cut $23 million in labor costs ahead of implementation of the Affordable Care Act. John Muir hopes to eliminate about 200 full-time positions. Contra Costa Times.
L.A. County, Restaurants Launch Healthy Dining Program
On Thursday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health launched a program — called Choose Health LA Restaurants — in partnership with regional restaurants to promote healthier dining options. Participating restaurants will offer smaller portion sizes, as well as children’s meals with less fried food and more vegetables and fruits. The program aims to help address the county’s 23% obesity rate. Los Angeles Times.
Prescription drug overdoses in Orange County more than doubled in the past 13 years, according to a recent Orange County Sheriff’s Department report. In 2012, 57% of overdose deaths in the county involved prescription drugs, such as Codeine, Oxycontin and Vicodin. Orange County Register.
Brown Signs Compromise Plan To Reduce Calif. Prison Population
Gov. Brown has signed a compromise proposal that asks for more time to meet a federal court-ordered prison population cap and provide $400 million for inmate rehabilitation services. He is scheduled to present the plan to federal judges next week. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
San Diego Acting Mayor Says City Will Enforce Laws Preventing Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
On Thursday, San Diego Acting Mayor Todd Gloria announced that his office will enforce the city’s zoning laws preventing the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. Bob Filner — who recently resigned as the city’s major — in January had instructed police and prosecutors not to take action against the dispensaries while he sought to develop more lax regulations for medical marijuana sellers. Gloria said that he also will seek to develop a new medical marijuana ordinance but that dispensaries cannot ignore current zoning laws. AP/U-T San Diego.
State Officials, Consumer Advocates Warn of Websites That Look Similar To Online Exchanges
State officials and consumer advocates are warning that interest groups, private insurers and scammers have been creating websites that look very similar to official state health insurance exchange websites under the Affordable Care Act, which could result in confusion and fraud. For example, the Health Exchange Consulting Group operates a website called CoveredCalifornia.com that observers say could easily be confused with Covered California’s — the state’s health insurance exchange — official website, CoveredCA.com. State officials are monitoring the website, but they have not interfered with the site since it is not being used for commercial purposes. Kaiser Health News.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of September 13, 2013
The California Nurses Association has asked the National Labor Relations Board to schedule a secret-ballot union representation election at California Pacific Medical Center. The Tri-City Hospital Board of Directors has voted to put hospital CEO Larry Anderson on paid administrative leave.
CNN/ORC Poll: ACA Support Falls From 51% to 39%
A new CNN/ORC International poll found that 39% of U.S. residents have a favorable view of all or part of the Affordable Care Act, down from 51% in January. The poll also found that support for the law declined among what the Obama administration considers to be two key groups: people with annual incomes below $50,000 and women. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Politico.
House Approves Bill To Create Fraud-Detection System for Exchanges
Today, the House voted 235-191 to approve a bill that would block the distribution of federal subsidies to the Affordable Care Act exchanges until the federal government has established a new fraud-detection system for subsidy applicants. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” CQ HealthBeat.