Latest California Healthline Stories
San Francisco Reluctantly OKs Kaiser’s Premium Rate Hike
Last week, San Francisco’s Health Service System voted 4-2 to approve Kaiser Permanente’s proposed health premium rate hike of more than 5% for city workers in 2014 and immediately “begin negotiations for 2015.” The board told Kaiser officials that more detailed financial accounting would be necessary. An analysis released by San Francisco last month found that the insurance company took in $87 million more from city workers and their dependents between 2010 and 2012 than it cost to serve them. Los Angeles Times.
UC-Davis To Add Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Data to EHRs
The UC-Davis Health System announced that it will add data on sexual orientation and gender identity as standard demographic elements in patients’ electronic health records. UC-Davis is the first academic health system to incorporate such information into EHRs. Sacramento Bee.
FDA: Medical Device Makers Must Boost Cybersecurity
On Thursday, FDA released guidance that calls on medical device manufacturers to protect their products against hacking and cyberattacks. FDA urged the firms to develop security controls to protect the confidentiality and integrity of information and limit malfunctions resulting from computer viruses. Agency officials said such events could lead to patient harm. Wall Street Journal.
ACA Coverage Mandate Could Hurt Some Calif. Workers
Under the Affordable Care Act, large firms must provide health care coverage to employees who work at least 30 hours per week. However, some health care advocates warn that companies might cut workers’ hours to avoid having to pay for their health insurance. Assembly member Jimmy Gomez has introduced a bill that would fine such employers to prevent low-wage workers who lose hours — and their health insurance — from enrolling in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. KQED’s “State of Health.”
UCLA Nabs $1.6M Federal Grant To Study Telehealth
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute has awarded a $1.6 million grant to the Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA to study the benefits of using telehealth videoconferencing to deliver behavioral health care to pediatric patients. EHRIntelligence.
Lawmakers OK Spending Plan, Medi-Cal Expansion Legislation
On Friday, the California Legislature approved a $96.3 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2013-2014. A day later, lawmakers passed a targeted budget bill to expand Medi-Cal under the Affordable Care Act. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
CMS Issues Proposed Rule Outlining Insurance Exchange Guidelines
On Friday, CMS issued a proposed rule last week that outlines guidelines for the health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. The guidelines seek to clarify oversight of premium assistance programs and provide other technical details. Modern Healthcare, CQ HealthBeat.
Health Exchange Options To Vary Significantly by State, Experts Say
The number of health plans available through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges will vary sharply by state. For example, 13 insurers are expected to offer plans through California’s exchange, while Maine residents will choose between two insurers. New York Times.
Aetna To Withdraw From Calif. Individual Insurance Market
Aetna has announced it will stop selling individual health insurance plans in California at the end of 2013, withdrawing as the Affordable Care Act begins to reshape the health insurance market in 2014. Aetna has about 49,000 individual policyholders in the state, making up a small portion of the insurer’s business. Affected policyholders will be able to enroll in other plans by the end of this year. The company said it will continue selling health insurance in California to Medicare beneficiaries and employers, as well as dental and life insurance plans. Wall Street Journal.
U.S. Supreme Court Prohibits Human Genes From Being Patented
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that human genes isolated from the body cannot be patented but that genes modified outside the body can be. The ruling is seen as a victory for physicians, patients and scientists, who argued that such patents impeded medical research. Bloomberg et al.