Latest California Healthline Stories
NFIB Launches Tool To Assess Health Plans’ Affordability
Last week, the National Federation of Independent Business launched an online tool to help small business owners examine whether the health insurance they offer is considered affordable under federal health reform guidelines. According to the Affordable Care Act, workers can turn down employer-sponsored coverage if it is not affordable and purchase health plans through state health insurance exchanges. The new Affordability Calculator is the third online calculator launched by NFIB. Sacramento Business Journal.
Review Finds Inadequate Health Care at Salinas Valley State Prison
A team of experts issued a report last week finding that health care services at Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey are inadequate. The report described treatment of prisoners as “incomplete and fragmented,” as well as “callous.” Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
Gallup: Younger U.S. Adults Less Familiar With Affordable Care Act
A new Gallup poll finds that younger U.S. adults are less familiar with the Affordable Care Act than older adults, but they are also less pessimistic about the law. Low ACA familiarity among young adults could pose a significant challenge for the law. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Gallup Politics.
Millions of U.S. Residents Must Upgrade Health Coverage Under ACA
Many U.S. residents will have to upgrade their health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, observers say. Although some who will need to upgrade their plans will qualify for subsidies, a majority of California residents who currently purchase their own insurance will not qualify for such subsidies. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Covered California To Post Some Quality Measures for Health Plans
State health insurance exchange officials say that they will seek to post quality information for certain health plans as soon as possible, despite delaying implementation of a quality rating system for all plans until 2015. The officials are unsure of when they will post such information. Sacramento Business Journal.
Two UC-Davis Neurosurgeons Resign Following Experimental Brain Cancer Treatment
Two UC-Davis neurosurgeons who infected brain cancer patients with bowel bacteria to test an experimental treatment have resigned from their positions. While the doctors — Paul Muizelaar and Rudolph Schrot — had patients’ permission, they did not obtain approval from either the school or FDA, UC-Davis said. Two patients died within a couple weeks of the procedure, while a third lived for more than a year. Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle.
Second Clinic Affiliated With 1-800-Get-Thin Campaign Denied Accreditation
The Joint Commission has denied accreditation to San Diego Ambulatory Surgery Center, one of several facilities in Southern California associated with the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing campaign. The facility is the second to lose such accreditation. A Joint Commission spokesperson said the organization is targeting a third clinic, Valley Surgical Center. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
ONC Brief: EHR Standardization Key to Health IT Progress
In a brief focusing on Beacon communities, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology says that electronic health record standardization is “a critical component” of health care reform. The brief states, “At present, limited use of standardized data documentation practices and health IT capabilities not only hampers data validity, but also hinders the aggregation and comparison of quality data from multiple providers and sites of care.” The 2009 federal economic stimulus package included funds for Beacon community grants aimed at helping health care providers use health IT in their communities. EHR Intelligence, Government Health IT.
Calif. Endowment To Help Boost Sign-Ups for ACA Insurance Options
Last week, the California Endowment said that it is giving $9.2 million over three years to help state residents sign up for new public and private insurance options under the Affordable Care Act. Endowment officials said that the grant money will go to the Health Consumer Alliance. Meanwhile, Covered California said it will provide $3.4 million in federal funds toward the effort. San Francisco Business Times.
Sebelius Promotes ACA in Philadelphia, Touts Benefits for Latinos
On Thursday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius co-hosted a town hall meeting with Philadelphia officials to promote the Affordable Care Act and its benefits for specific demographics, including the city’s large Latino population. Sebelius’ stop was part of an ongoing multistate tour to promote the ACA. CBS Philly et al.