Latest California Healthline Stories
Assembly Panel Passes Bill Aiming To Curb Rx Misuse
On Monday, the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protection voted 14-0 to pass a bill aimed at curbing prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths in the state. Under the legislation, the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System, or CURES — a prescription monitoring program that tracks patients’ prescription drug history — would receive funds through an increase in annual licensing fees on prescribers, such as physicians and pharmacists. The bill now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Study: Half in Individual Market Will Qualify for ACA Subsidies in 2014
A new Kaiser Family Foundation study finds that nearly 50% of U.S. residents who currently purchase health insurance in the individual market will be eligible for federal subsidies to offset the cost of buying coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules” et al.
Nation’s Eyes on California’s ACA Implementation
California’s effectiveness in enrolling individuals in health plans through its new health insurance exchange will be an important test for the Affordable Care Act, given the state’s size and high rate of uninsured residents. California was the first of 16 states and the District of Columbia to set up its own health insurance marketplace, called Covered California. The exchange hopes to enroll up to 1.4 million individuals by 2015. USA Today.
The Affordable Care Act mandates essential health benefits that health plans must cover, but insurers still have the ability to determine which specific therapies they will cover within some categories of benefits — such as “habilitative services.” Experts say that the way health plans interpret the rules could have a significant effect on people with disabilities who need ongoing therapy to improve their day-to-day lives. Kaiser Health News.
L.A. County Officials Approve Review of Drug Treatment Clinics
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a motion calling for attorneys and auditors to issue a report within 30 days about the county’s authority over taxpayer-funded drug treatment clinics and its ability to stop payments to such facilities when they commit fraud. The move is in response to an investigation that found fraud at several drug treatment centers that receive Medi-Cal funding. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Senate Committee Seeks Inmate Sterilization Audit, Legislation
During a Senate committee hearing yesterday, California lawmakers said they will request a state audit of efforts to sterilize female inmates and support legislation that would protect against unauthorized sterilizations in state prisons. The legislation was proposed by Justice Now, a prisoner advocacy group. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal,” Center for Investigative Reporting.
Assembly Panel Passes Nurse Practitioner Scope-of-Practice Measure
The California Assembly Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protection has voted 8-3 to approve a bill that would seek to curb the state’s physician shortage by allowing nurse practitioners to operate without physician supervision at certain medical facilities. The bill now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Sacramento Bee et al.
Study: Telehealth Helps Boost Pediatric Care in Rural EDs
A new UC-Davis study finds that telehealth consultations help improve pediatric care in rural emergency departments. According to the study — which reviewed 320 ED cases at hospitals in Northern California — rural ED physicians are more likely to adjust diagnoses or treatments following telehealth consultations with pediatric critical care specialists. FierceHealthIT.
Hospital Merger Trend Could Drive Up Costs for Patients
The growing trend of hospital mergers is creating large-scale hospital systems that some economists and health care stakeholders say could dominate the health care system and increase costs for consumers. Hospital executives say that they are limited in their options to deal with the host of expected payment changes but that mergers help increase their standing and negotiating power with insurers. The consulting firm Booz & Company predicts that 1,000 of the nation’s nearly 5,000 hospitals could seek mergers within the next five to seven years. New York Times.
Enroll America To Target 10 States in ACA Outreach Efforts
On Monday, Enroll America announced a plan to focus its Affordable Care Act promotion on 10 states where there are large uninsured populations and where there has been limited state promotion. The group has doubled its staff and attracted thousands of volunteers as it prepares to encourage individuals to sign up for coverage through the ACA’s health insurance exchanges. The Hill’s “Healthwatch.” et al.