Latest California Healthline Stories
Gov. Brown Signs Bill Allowing Exchange Call Centers To Begin Hiring
Gov. Brown has signed a bill that allows Covered California call centers to begin hiring workers to help sell health plans. The new law requires background checks for potential workers and allows the rejection of applicants charged with a felony, among other things. Sacramento Bee.
Hearing Mulls Effect of ACA, Health Care Transparency on Costs
At a Senate hearing yesterday, health experts said the Affordable Care Act and health transparency efforts will not be enough to curb health costs. The hearing comes after a recent article highlighted dramatic differences in U.S. health care prices. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules” et al.
U.S. Supreme Court: ‘Pay-for-Delay’ Deals Can Be Illegal
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-3 ruling declared that “pay-for-delay” settlements in the pharmaceutical industry “can sometimes violate” antitrust laws, allowing federal regulators to challenge such deals in court. Under pay-for-deal deals, brand-name drugmakers enter into financial agreements with generic drug companies to keep low-cost versions of their products temporarily off the market. The Hill‘s “RegWatch.”
Berwick Announces Run for Massachusetts Governor
On Monday, former CMS Administrator Don Berwick formally announced his candidacy for governor of Massachusetts. President Obama in July 2010 used recess appointment procedures to appoint Berwick as CMS administrator. Berwick, who was a vocal advocate for the Affordable Care Act, resigned from the position in late 2011. USA Today et al.
Feds Say San Diego Hospice Owes the Government $112M
On Monday, the federal government filed a lawsuit claiming that San Diego Hospice owes the federal government $112 million for “false claims for payment” in 2009 and 2010. San Diego Hospice filed for bankruptcy protection in February and transferred all of its remaining patients in the spring. All that remains in the bankruptcy case is for San Diego Hospice to pay creditors, which could total between $150 and $159 million. U-T San Diego.
Health Advocates Worry About Effect of Poor Building Maintenance
Health advocates want officials in cities like Los Angeles to consider the effect that poorly maintained rental units can have on public health. Observers want officials to investigate allergens like black mold, which could be related to high asthma rates in children. HealthyCal.
CalPERS Panel Approves Lowest Premium Increase Since 1998
A CalPERS panel has recommended the lowest average health plan premium increase since 1998, at 3.03%. CalPERS’ decision to award contracts to more insurers could have helped lower the increase. Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Editorial: California Cannot Afford Medi-Cal Expansion
According to a U-T San Diego editorial, the “only hope” for California is that Gov. Brown will “miraculously see the light and reverse the state’s participation in the disaster-in-waiting known as Obamacare.” The editorial notes that the “costs to states of expanding” Medicaid “is potentially enormous.” It concludes, “Maybe it will sink in with Gov. Brown that California can’t afford it. We can hope, but don’t bet on it.” U-T San Diego.
Facebook Helps Boost Organ Donor Registration, Study Says
A Facebook project has helped significantly increase organ donor registration rates, according to a report published Tuesday in the American Journal of Transplantation. In May 2012, Facebook launched an initiative that allows users to declare themselves as organ donors under a new “Health and Wellness” section. The study found that after one year, 30,818 U.S. residents had registered online to be organ donors, about five times more than rates before the initiative. Kaiser Health News.
Blue Shield Might Win L.A. City Worker Contract Over Anthem
Los Angeles might award Blue Shield of California a three-year contract to provide health coverage for city workers. Blue Shield’s bid would cost nearly $9 million less than a proposal by Anthem Blue Cross, which holds the current contract. Los Angeles Times.