Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Hospital List Prices Often Do Not Match Quality of Care
A Castlight Health analysis that looked at joint replacement data from hospitals in Los Angeles and other cities finds that list prices often do not match the quality of care provided. According to the study, some high-quality hospitals charge less than low- and average-quality hospitals in the same area. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.
Kathy Gaither — who was confirmed as the new deputy director of the California Department of State Hospitals on July 8 — is taking an extended administrative leave with pay. Gaither is responsible for the day-to-day operations at the state’s mental hospitals and prison-based psychiatric programs. She said, “I don’t think there’s anything I need to say. I’m just on leave … It’s private.” Los Angeles Times.
Dept. of Public Health Readies New Immunization-Messaging Portal
The state Department of Public Health says a new immunization-messaging portal set to launch next month will help California health care providers qualify for meaningful use incentive payments. Registering with the state immunization registry portal is mandatory under Stage 2 of the program. Healthcare Informatics.
Covered California and the Sierra Health Foundation are awarding $1.5 million in grants to help educate consumers in Northern California about health care coverage and financial assistance available through the state’s health insurance exchange. The California Resource Association and Healthy Community Forum for the Greater Sacramento Region will each receive a $600,000 grant, while Women’s Health Specialists will receive $250,000. Sacramento Business Journal.
State To Release Audit on Mental Health Spending Under Prop. 63
Next month, the California state auditor is slated to release a review of how mental health funds raised under Proposition 63 have been spent. Stakeholders — including the co-authors of the initiative — disagree on whether the money has effectively expanded mental health care services in the state. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Covered California on Track for Open Enrollment, Audit Finds
The oversight and governance of California’s health insurance exchange “appear adequate,” according to a state audit. However, the exchange has been added to a list of high-risk state issues because of its uncertain financial solvency. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Central Valley Business Times.
Public health officials and experts say the high rates of sexually transmitted infections — such as gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis — in Sacramento County are being driven by several factors, such as severe funding cuts for health care services and a lack of adequate awareness and education. Sacramento Bee.
Rural/Metro Corp. — the Arizona-based private ambulance provider that serves Santa Clara County and about 700 other communities in a total of 21 states — has reported millions of dollars in losses and difficulty paying its bills. Santa Clara County Chief Operating Officer Gary Graves said that the situation is being monitored and that a contingency plan is under development to avoid service disruptions in the area. San Jose Mercury News.
AMA Committee Overvalues Procedures, Skews Medicare Reimbursement Rates, Post Investigation Finds
An American Medical Association committee that determines the value of physician services often overvalues the procedures, which skews Medicare and private insurers’ payment rates, according to a Washington Post investigation. The panel meets in private annually to assign values to the majority of procedures, based in part on the time and intensity of each procedure. Washington Post.
Boehner: GOP Will Continue To Work To Dismantle ACA
During an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday, House Speaker John Boehner reaffirmed Republicans’ opposition to the Affordable Care Act, arguing that the law is “bad for America.” Boehner vowed on behalf of the GOP to do “everything we can” to dismantle the law. The Hill‘s “Hill Tube” et al.