Latest California Healthline Stories
Survey: Employer-Based Insurance Premium Rose Slightly in 2013
A new survey from Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust finds that employer-based health insurance premiums increased by 4% for family coverage in 2013, while individual rates increased by 5%. Although it is the second-consecutive year premium growth has remained relatively low, the increase is larger than the 1.8% increase in wages and the 1.1% inflation rate. New York Times et al.
Hospitals Turn to Social Media To Gather Feedback From Patients, Families
More hospitals are using social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook to collect feedback from patients and families on issues such as health care improvements, new services and new facility names. The trend comes as Medicare begins basing certain payments on patient satisfaction. Wall Street Journal.
California Retiree Group Seeks Privacy Hearing on CalPERS’ Planned Pension Database
On Wednesday, Tim Behrens — president of the 33,000-member California State Retirees — sent a letter to state Sen. Jim Beall and Assembly member Rob Bonta requesting a hearing to discuss privacy and public information issues recently highlighted by CalPERS’ plan to launch a searchable database of retiree pension information. CalPERS says the information — which includes members’ names, pension allowances, last employer and year of retirement — is public record, but retiree groups have raised privacy concerns over the database. Sacramento Bee.
Covered California Opens Up Insurance Broker Registration, Experiences Phone, Computer Issues
On Monday, Covered California experienced computer and phone problems when it opened up registration for training for health insurance agents to sell health coverage through the state’s health insurance exchange. About 2,700 health insurance brokers registered for the program in the first five hours, according to an official. About 9,000 health insurance brokers statewide have expressed interest in the program. Registration will continue for the next several weeks. Sacramento Business Journal.
Force-Feeding Calif. Inmates Not Yet Necessary, Prison Official Says
A California prison official says the state does not yet need to use its newly approved authority to force-feed inmates who are taking part in a hunger strike. A federal judge recently approved a request from prison officials and the Prison Law Office to have authority to force-feed inmates when they are at risk of “near-term death or great bodily injury” or when they are deemed incompetent to make their own medical decisions. Reuters.
S.F. City Attorney Threatens Lawsuit Over Nevada Patient Busing
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera has sent a letter to the Nevada attorney general seeking reimbursement for the cost of caring for patients with mental illness who were bused to the city from a Nevada facility. Herrera said he will file a lawsuit over the matter if the Nevada AG does not agree to the terms in the letter. AP/U-T San Diego et al.
Poll: 75% of Calif. Voters Know Little or Nothing About Exchange
A new Field Poll finds that 75% of California voters under age 65 have little or no knowledge about the state’s new health insurance exchange two months before the marketplace is set to open for enrollment. However, 83% of uninsured respondents under age 65 said they were interested in learning more about the exchange, according to the poll. Sacramento Bee.
Sebelius Announces ACA Video Contest for Young Adults
On Monday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a national video contest to encourage young adults to enroll in coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges. Sebelius said the Healthy Young America contest would encourage young adults “to create a song, or a graphic or a video about the law’s benefits,” such as staying on a parent’s plan until age 26 or not being denied coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition. Participants’ videos will be posted online where individuals can vote for their favorites in various categories. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules.”
Survey: At Least 8.5M U.S. Residents Will Purchase Health Coverage Through Exchanges
At least 8.5 million U.S. residents will purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges, according to a USA Today survey that used estimates from 19 states, including California. The states said they based their estimates on how many individuals lack health coverage who are unlikely to receive insurance through an employer, predictions from insurers in the state and conversations with HHS about reasonable coverage goals. USA Today.
Brown, Lawmakers Might Develop Prison Spending Bill To House More Inmates
Gov. Brown and the state Legislature are considering whether to develop legislation that would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to house prisoners who might otherwise be released under a federal prison population reduction order. The order was issued in part to improve prison health care services. Brown did not say whether the funding, if approved, would go toward efforts to house prisoners in California or out of state. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”