Latest California Healthline Stories
ACA Won’t Help Young, Childless Adults, Op-Ed Argues
In a Washington Times opinion piece, Nita Ghei — policy research editor at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University — argues that young, low-income, childless adults will be disproportionately affected by high premiums under the Affordable Care Act. Ghei notes that insurance regulation — such as a ban on “community rating” and new benefits that health plans must cover — means that the “poor are the ones who will pay the highest price, in relation to their income, under Obamacare.” Ghei calls for reducing “the burden of regulation so that health care and other services are as affordable as they can be for everyone.” Washington Times.
Officials, Groups Seek To Provide Health Coverage for Immigrants in Calif.
In California, officials and advocacy groups want to provide preventive care for undocumented immigrants, who are excluded from new coverage under the Affordable Care Act. They argue that not insuring such immigrants will cost local governments more money. New York Times.
Health Care Critics Say ACA ‘Fair Pricing’ Provision Lacks Oversight
A group of critics says a provision in the Affordable Care Act requiring not-for-profit hospitals to charge uninsured patients no more than what insured patients are billed is not working because of lax enforcement and legal loopholes. Modern Healthcare.
Sacramento County Launches Probe of Hepatitis A Outbreak
The Sacramento County Division of Public Health and Environmental Health has launched an investigation of an outbreak of hepatitis A, which has affected two county residents and more than 100 people in seven other states. A recent county health alert warns people to avoid consuming a frozen berry blend sold at Costco, which has been linked to the outbreak. Sacramento Bee.
Public Health Department Fines Three Nursing Facilities
The California Department of Public Health has fined three skilled nursing facilities a total of $200,000 for violations that led to patient deaths. All received AA citations, the most serious the department can issue. The agency fined five facilities in all of 2012. Payers & Providers.
Hospitals Lowered Surgery Costs After CalPERS Capped Payments
A decision by CalPERS to cap reimbursements for knee and hip replacements has prompted about 40 state hospitals to lower their costs for such procedures and has helped save the pension fund $5.5 million over two years. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Co.”
Bill Would Make Immigrants Wait Years for Coverage
Immigration overhaul legislation under consideration in Congress still would require many immigrants who gain documented status to wait more than 10 years to qualify for health care coverage through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges. Such immigrants also would have to meet certain financial requirements and undergo security screenings to become eligible for such benefits, according to experts. AP/Miami Herald.
California Developing Plans To Obey Recent Inmate Reduction Order
California officials are developing plans to obey a court order to transfer more than 9,000 inmates from state prisons by the end of the year. However, Gov. Brown says the state will seek a stay of the order and appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court. KPCC’s “Represent!” et al.
Editorial: Lawmakers Should Pass Rx Tracking Legislation
A Contra Costa Times editorial argues that the California Assembly should pass legislation that would provide additional funding for CURES — a prescription monitoring program that tracks patients’ prescription drug history — through an increase in annual licensing fees on prescribers, including physicians and pharmacists. According to the editorial, after passing the bill, the state should make it “mandatory for doctors to check the system and require[e] the pharmaceutical industry to make a contribution for enforcement.” Contra Costa Times.
Health Reform Must Address Step Therapy, Opinion Says
Federal health reform should address the practice of step therapy — under which patients must try and fail several cheaper medications before their health plans will cover treatment — Wesley Mizutani, chair of the California Arthritis Foundation Council, writes in an opinion piece for HealthyCal. He argues that the practice can “severely impact a patient’s health and well-being, and unnecessarily prolong their treatment,” as well as drive up direct costs to the health system. HealthyCal.