Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. Community Clinic Faces Challenges Under Affordable Care Act
A community health center in Los Angeles has expanded services with the help of Affordable Care Act grants, but it and similar providers face challenges under the law’s implementation. Such challenges include recruiting more providers to meet increased demand resulting from the Medi-Cal expansion and dealing with lower reimbursements. HealthyCal.
Brown Unveils Plan To Exempt Transit Workers From Pension Reforms
Under a plan announced yesterday by Gov. Brown, public transportation workers would be exempt from new state pension reforms through the end of this year, pending the outcome of a legal challenge to determine if such workers are subject to the new rules. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Studies: Exchanges Competitive, Premiums ‘Lower Than Expected’
A new Avalere Health study finds that the health insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act will foster competitive markets and feature wide variance in premiums among age groups and states. A Kaiser Family Foundation study finds that premiums will be lower than previous Congressional Budget Office projections. AP/Sacramento Bee, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Analyst Identifies Problems With Prison Plans by Brown, Steinberg
A state Legislative Analyst’s report finds that separate plans by Gov. Brown and California Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg might not be viable options to comply with a court-ordered reduction of the prison population. Meanwhile, the Senate Budget Committee has approved Steinberg’s plan. Sacramento Bee et al.
Universal Care Reopens as Seaside Health Plan
Last week, Universal Care formally reopened as Seaside Health Plan and is operating as a not-for-profit health insurer that will focus on Medicare, Medi-Cal and dual-eligible enrollees. MemorialCare Health System purchased Universal’s assets last November. Payers & Providers.
Proposition 65 Reform Efforts Stalled Until Next Year
Last week, Gov. Brown’s administration and various stakeholders tabled until next year negotiations to reform Proposition 65, which requires manufacturers, retailers and property owners to post warning signs if goods or premises are contaminated with chemicals known to cause birth defects or cancer. Stakeholders — including the California Environment Protection Agency and the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment — had hoped to introduce a bill to reform the law before the start of the Legislature’s midterm recess on Sept. 13 but could not come to an agreement. Sacramento Business Journal.
Chief of Department of State Hospitals Cleared of Wrongdoing, Decides To Retire
State officials say that Kathy Gaither — chief deputy director of the California Department of State Hospitals — has been cleared of wrongdoing in a sexual harassment and discrimination investigation but has decided to retire. Diana Dooley — secretary of the state Health and Human Services Agency — said that such claims were “found to be unsubstantiated.” In a note to agency staff, Gaither said that she is leaving “with the knowledge that … the department is on its way to becoming a modern forensic hospital system.” Los Angeles Times.
Opinion: Legislature Should Reject Brown’s Prison Population Reduction Proposal
In a Sacramento Bee opinion piece, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón argues that while California needs “systemic” prison reforms, Gov. Brown’s plan to spend “an additional half-billion dollars on prison beds and staffing will only feed the fundamental problem of overincarceration.” He writes that the state Legislature “should reject this proposal,” noting that there are “better, safer and more immediate ways to” comply with a federal court order to reduce the prison population. Sacramento Bee.
Study: Nearly Half of U.S. Births Covered Under Medicaid
In 2010, Medicaid covered 48% of the nearly four million births that occurred in the U.S., up from a previous estimate of about 40%, according to a new study published in Women’s Health Issues. Currently, all states offer Medicaid coverage to pregnant women with incomes up to 133% of the poverty level. However, many women who gain Medicaid coverage when they are pregnant lose it 60 days after giving birth. Cynthia Pellegrini — study co-author and senior vice president of public policy at March of Dimes — said the Affordable Care Act could help improve birth outcomes because women will be able to get coverage before becoming pregnant. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules.”
OIG: Medicare’s Recovery Audit Program Generally Accurate
A new HHS Office of Inspector General report finds that Medicare’s recovery audit program is more accurate than critics from the hospital industry claim but that the program could make improvements and detect more fraud. In response to the report, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner noted that measuring the efficacy of changes CMS has made has been challenging. Modern Healthcare.