Latest California Healthline Stories
DOD To Extend Benefits, Including Health Care, to Same-Sex Spouses
On Wednesday, the Department of Defense announced that it will extend a series of federal spousal and family benefits — including health care coverage — to the same-sex spouses of military personnel and civilian DOD employees. The directive comes fewer than two months after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on federal benefits for married same-sex couples. New York Times et al.
Assembly Panel Clears Bill Capping Out-of-Pocket Insurance Costs
The California Assembly Health Committee has advanced legislation that would cap out-of-pocket health insurance costs under the Affordable Care Act. The move follows a decision by the federal government to delay such consumer protections for one year. Sacramento Business Journal.
Essential Health Benefits Will Not Raise Insurers’ Cost, Study Says
A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute finds that adopting essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act will not require insurers to make significant changes or raise costs. It also finds that states are on track to enforce the new requirements and generally are able to enact the changes without difficulty. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Study: Location Data Often Not Provided for 911 Cell Calls in Calif.
A new study finds that more than 50% of 911 cellular calls in five regions of California did not provide precise information about the caller’s location. The study evaluated how much location data was provided from five different cellular service providers, including AT&T, Metro, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. The Hill‘s “Hillicon Valley,” CalNENA study.
Calif. Prisons Prepare To Care for Inmates Taking Part in Hunger Strike
California prisons are preparing to care for inmates who have refused prison meals for more than a month as part of a hunger strike. According to medical guidelines, individuals who refuse food for 40 days can experience complications such as confusion, loss of vision and hearing, and bleeding. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
On Tuesday, Service Employees International Union Local 521 — Santa Clara County’s largest public employee union with 9,000 members — voted to authorize a strike to protest the county’s latest labor contract. The union — which includes public health nurses and 911 operators — opposes proposed increases in health care and retirement costs, while county officials say the increases are necessary to address the county’s $1.8 billion retiree health care debt. Union and county officials will meet Friday for the next scheduled barraging session. San Jose Mercury News.
UC-Riverside Opens California’s First Publicly Funded Medical School in Nearly Four Decades
UC-Riverside has opened the state’s first public medical school in more than 40 years. UC-Riverside School of Medicine was established in part through $15 million in annual funding from the state. Classes began this week, and the inaugural class includes 50 students. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Editorial: Ruling Allowing School Staffers To Administer Rx Drugs Puts Students’ Needs First
A Contra Costa Times editorial argues that the state Supreme Court’s recent ruling that trained, unlicensed school employees can administer insulin injections and other medications to children in public schools “marks a victory for reasonableness over financially self-interested unions.” However, it says that nurses groups already are “talking about seeking U.S. Supreme Court intervention” on the issue and could “lobby state legislators” to change California law and “force schools to spend limited funds to employ more nurses.” It concludes, “Lawmakers must say no. For students’ sake, it’s time to move on.” Contra Costa Times.
Brown Vetoes Bill To Allow Women To Be Paid for Donating Their Eggs to Research
On Tuesday, Gov. Brown vetoed a bill that would have lifted a ban on allowing women across the state to be paid for donating their eggs to research. Brown said he vetoed the bill because “[n]ot everything in life is for sale nor should it be,” adding that after “careful review of the materials which both supporters and opponents” of the bill submitted, “I do not find sufficient reason to change course.” Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal,” Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Provider Groups Slam CMS Rule That Grants Payment Grace Period
Provider groups are criticizing a CMS rule will provide most individuals in the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges with a 90-day grace period to pay outstanding premiums before insurers can drop their coverage. The groups say the regulation puts them at an elevated risk of providing services for which they will not get reimbursed. Modern Healthcare.