Latest California Healthline Stories
Officials Say Employer Mandate Delay Will Not Hinder ACA in Calif.
California officials say the Obama administration’s decision to delay for one year a requirement that large companies provide health insurance to workers will not negatively affect the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act. They note that workers at large companies that do not offer coverage next year will be able to purchase health plans through the exchange. Sacramento Bee et al.
Survey Finds Many Doctors Not Discussing ACA With Their Patients
A new HealthPocket survey finds that half of the 1,176 respondents have not heard their physicians discuss the Affordable Care Act. Among the respondents whose physicians did discuss the law, 38% heard mostly negative things, while 33% heard mostly positive things. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” HealthPocket survey.
55 Hospitals in California, Other States To Pay $34M for Overbilling Medicare
On Tuesday, 55 hospitals in 21 states — including California — agreed to pay the U.S. government more than $34 million to settle allegations that they billed Medicare for kyphoplasty operations — which are used to treat certain spinal fractures — as an inpatient, rather than outpatient, procedure to increase their payments. The Department of Justice now has reached settlements totaling about $75 million with more than 100 hospitals to resolve allegations that they mischarged CMS for kyphoplasty procedures. Washington Times.
Corporate, Personal Income Tax Revenue $1B Over Brown’s Estimates
A report from the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office finds corporate and personal income taxes for fiscal year 2012-2013 — which ended June 1 — were $1 billion above Gov. Brown’s May budget revision estimates. Income tax revenue in June was $570 million higher than Brown’s estimates, while corporate tax collection was $395 million above Brown’s predictions. Sacramento Business Journal.
State Will Obey Order To Move Inmates Amid Valley Fever Outbreak
State officials say they plan to comply with a court order to transfer up to 2,600 inmates who are considered at risk of contracting valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, from Avenal and Pleasant Valley state prisons. However, officials say they might seek an extension to the court’s 90-day timeline for transfers. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal” et al.
HHS Distributes $6.2M in Grants To Boost Enrollment in Medi-Cal
HHS has announced that it is giving a total of $6.2 million in grants to nine California agencies to help enroll children in Medi-Cal. The funds are part of a larger distribution of $32 million to groups in 22 states to boost Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment. KPCC’s “KPCC News” et al.
HHS Issues Final Plan for Boosting Health IT System Safety
On Tuesday, HHS released a final plan outlining steps for improving the safety of health IT systems. The plan — called the Health IT Patient Safety Action & Surveillance Plan — comes in response to a 2011 Institute of Medicine report, which concluded that many patient safety risks stem from the way providers use health IT systems. The plan recommends collecting and analyzing data on patient safety events and incorporating health IT safety in post-market surveillance of electronic health records. FierceHealthIT.
Several ‘Pioneer’ ACOs Might Exit the Program, CMS Says
Nine of the 32 “Pioneer” accountable care organizations may soon exit the program, which is one of the Affordable Care Act’s signature initiatives to produce better care at lower cost. Under the Pioneer program, which launched in January 2012, participating providers contracted with CMS to meet quality targets and assume new risk when caring for a set population of Medicare beneficiaries. At least four of the organizations that likely will opt out of Pioneer instead might join the Medicare Shared Savings Program, which offers less risk, according to a CMS spokesperson. Bloomberg Businessweek.
Editorial: Brown Should Comply With Inmate Release Order
A San Jose Mercury News editorial argues that Gov. Brown should not appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court a recent order by federal judges to release nearly 10,000 state inmates as a way to improve prison health care services. The editorial asks, “Why delay the inevitable?” It concludes, “California needs to own up to its responsibility to end cruel and unusual punishment and focus instead on strategies to divert people from a life of crime to product lives.” San Jose Mercury News.
Republicans Seek Small Business Insurance Coverage Clarification
In response to new rules in Vermont and the District of Columbia, three Republican lawmakers are seeking assurance from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that small businesses will not be required to purchase insurance through the insurance exchanges. Modern Healthcare, Washington Times‘ “Inside Politics.”