Latest California Healthline Stories
Sebelius: 105 Groups Will Receive $67M for ACA’s Navigator Program
More than 100 groups nationwide will receive federal grants totaling $67 million to serve as “navigators” to help residents sign up for coverage through the health insurance exchanges being operated solely by or in partnership with the federal government. The grants — announced Thursday by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius — were awarded to groups based on the number of uninsured residents in their states. New York Times et al.
Calif. Health Department Levies $675,000 in Fines on 10 Hospitals
Ten California hospitals have been fined a total of $675,000 by the state Department of Health for violating licensing requirements and endangering patient safety. In addition to the fines — which range from $50,000 to $100,000 — the hospitals must submit a plan of correction. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now” et al.
CalPERS Members Dropped 6,700 Ineligible Dependents During Three-Month Amnesty Period
CalPERS members voluntarily dropped a total of 6,700 ineligible dependents from their health plans during the agency’s three-month amnesty period, which ended June 30. In March, CalPERS sent a letter to 390,000 employees and retirees, asking policyholders to voluntarily remove ineligible dependents who should not be their plan. CalPERS warned members that they could be liable for health care costs incurred for any ineligible dependents identified after the amnesty period. CalPERS has said that cutting benefits to an estimated 29,000 ineligible individuals would save about $40 million annually. Sacramento Bee.
Assembly Panel Guts, Passes Medical Board Reform Bill
On Tuesday, an Assembly committee significantly amended and then passed a bill intended to reform the Medical Board of California, the state agency that regulates doctors. The amendments eliminated a provision that would have moved all Medical Board of California staff investigating dangerous physicians to the California Department of Justice. The legislation also was amended to extend Medical Board operation for four years. Sacramento Business Journal.
Audit Slams State on Oversight of Mental Health Funding
Yesterday, the state auditor released a report finding that California agencies have failed to properly oversee mental health funds raised under Proposition 63. Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg — who co-authored Prop. 63 and requested the audit — called the report a “wake-up call.” Sacramento Bee et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of August 16, 2013
Tulare Regional Medical Center has announced that it has approved an emergency department physician group contract with Anthem Blue Cross. A California arbitrator has ruled that Tri-City Medical Center is able to hire a physician who was banned from working at the hospital because of a non-compete contract.
Sacramento First Responders Vote To Join Rival Union
First Responder Emergency Medical Services workers have voted to leave the National Emergency Services Association and join a rival union. FREMS — a Sacramento-based company — has 136 eligible workers. According to mail ballots counted Monday, 67 workers voted to join United EMS Workers-American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 4911, while 21 voted to join no union and zero voted for NEMSA. Sacramento Business Journal.
UC-Davis Report: Expanding Paramedics’ Role Could Boost Access to Primary Care, Reduce ED Workload
Expanding paramedics’ role in care delivery might increase access to primary care services and help alleviate emergency departments’ workload, according to a new report by the UC-Davis Institute for Population Health. The report was commissioned by the California HealthCare Foundation and the state Emergency Medical Services Authority. It was funded by CHCF. In the report, Institute Director Ken Kizer outlines several pilot programs built around a model that would allow paramedics to select whether to take patients to the ED or to another facility, such as a primary care office or a mental health clinic. Sacramento Business Journal.
Study: Malpractice Fears Prompt Defensive Medicine
Physicians who have concerns about malpractice lawsuits are more likely to practice defensive medicine than less-fearful colleagues, according to a study published in Health Affairs. The study found that nearly 30% of patients with lower back pain who visited a physician with a high level of malpractice concern received additional imaging services, compared with 18% of those seen by a physician with a low level of concern. Reuters.
Study: Better Designed Exchange Websites Could Save $9B
Better designed health insurance exchange websites could lead to more than $9 billion in annual savings for both consumers and the federal government, according to a new study released by the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The study found that consumers when “left to their own devices” often make mistakes when purchasing health coverage. The authors suggested several website design improvements that could help consumers choose the most cost-effective plan, such as sorting by cost, including quality cues and limiting the number of options to those meeting cost-effectiveness criteria. Modern Healthcare‘s “Vital Signs.”