Latest California Healthline Stories
ACA Contractors Confident Exchanges Will Launch on Time
During a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee testimony on Tuesday, four CMS contractor representatives involved in developing and implementing the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges said the exchanges will be ready to open by the Oct. 1 launch, despite some skepticism from an observer and some Republicans on the House panel. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.
Report: Calif. Failed To Properly Investigate Caregiver Abuse Claims
The Center for Investigative Reporting has found that the California Department of Public Health since 2009 has failed to properly investigate claims of violence and misconduct by nursing assistants and home health aides. DPH officials say that they are examining the findings and noted that they have made progress in eliminating a claims backlog. Center for Investigative Reporting.
Substance Misuse Treatment Likely To Be Transformed by ACA
Substance misuse treatment in California and other states likely will change significantly under Affordable Care Act requirements. The law requires that insurers offer coverage for such treatment, as well as that substance misuse treatment programs use electronic health records and meet stricter standards. HealthyCal.
San Francisco Files Lawsuit Over Nevada Patient Busing Practices
The city of San Francisco has filed a class-action lawsuit against the state of Nevada seeking damages and an injunction against the practice of improperly busing patients with mental illnesses to California. Nevada officials have defended the patient transfers. Modern Healthcare et al.
Bills Would Regulate Medical Marijuana in California
The state Legislature has until Friday to pass two bills — AB 604 by Assembly member Tom Ammiano and SB 439 by Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg — that would apply statewide standards to growing, selling and distributing marijuana for medical use, which became legal in the state in 1996. Gov. Brown would have until Oct. 13 to sign or veto the measures if they are approved by the Legislature. Capital Public Radio.
Count of CalPERS Retirees Rose by Nearly 10% in August
Last month, the number of California state workers who applied for pensions declined by less than 2%, while the number of all retiring CalPERS members rose by nearly 12%, according to CalPERS. Overall, the number of all CalPERS retirements has increased by nearly 4% this year. Employers expect to see the current retirement trend continue as more baby boomers retire. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
CNA Ratifies Four-Year Contract With Dignity Health
Dignity Health officials say that the California Nurses Association has ratified a four-year contract that will affect 10,500 registered nurses at 27 facilities in California and 1,200 nurses at three St. Rose Dominican Hospital campuses in Nevada. Lloyd Dean — CEO of the hospital system — said that under the contract, registered nurses will receive a 9% pay increase over the four-year period, which includes a pay freeze during the first year. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
About 50% of Young Adults Support ACA, According to Poll
About 50% of U.S. residents ages 18 to 34 support the Affordable Care Act, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The poll found that about one-third of young adults said they are “very” or “somewhat” likely to purchase coverage through state health insurance exchanges. Reuters.
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that while a “new consensus” between Gov. Brown and lawmakers that would ask for more time to meet a federal court-ordered prison population cap and provide $400 million for inmate rehabilitation services “is welcome,” California residents “should be skeptical unless the vague language is backed by concrete steps and benchmarks.” The editorial concludes that if federal judges grant the extension, “the governor and legislators will have to make good on reducing recidivism — with hard deadlines — a task that had been abandoned for too long in favor of prison warehousing.” Sacramento Bee.
Gov. Brown, Lawmakers Reach Deal on Inmate Reduction Strategy
Gov. Brown and state lawmakers have unveiled a compromise plan that would ask for more time to meet a federal court-ordered prison population cap and provide $400 million for inmate rehabilitation services. Inmate advocates say that the plan is too vague and that federal judges are unlikely to grant the extension. New York Times‘ “Taking Note” et al.