Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS Allows Higher Out-of-Pocket Costs Until 2015
An Affordable Care Act rule that sets a maximum annual limit for consumers’ out-of-pocket health care costs is being delayed for certain health insurers. The ACA caps out-of-pocket expenses at about $6,350 for an individual and $12,700 for a family beginning in 2014. However, CMS now is allowing health plans with more than one benefits administrator to delay combining their tallies to calculate out-of-pocket costs until 2015. Kaiser Health News.
Brand-Name Rx Drugs Drive Up Medicare Spending, Study Finds
A study finds Medicare could save more than $1 billion annually by addressing its spending on brand-name drugs. According to the study, Medicare beneficiaries were three times more likely than veterans to be prescribed brand-name diabetes drugs. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules” et al.
Calif. Attorney, Nev. ACLU Sue Over Patient Dumping
On Tuesday, Sacramento civil rights attorney Mark Merin and American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada jointly filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas and the state of Nevada violated the constitutional rights of patients with mental illnesses by discharging them via Greyhound bus to California and other cities nationwide. Since July 2008, Rawson-Neal has sent more than 1,500 patients to other states, a third of them to California. Merin said as many as 100 former patients could join the suit. Sacramento Bee.
Medicare Could Have Saved $910M Under Private Rates
Medicare could have saved $910 million in 2011 if it had paid the lowest rate negotiated by private insurers for laboratory tests, according to HHS’ Office of the Inspector General. OIG reviewed payments for 20 of the most common lab tests and found that Medicare paid between 18% and 44% more than state or private plans. The report recommended that Medicare reduce spending by requiring individuals in the fee-for-service system to pay copayments or deductibles for the lab tests, similar to many private and state programs. Wall Street Journal.
L.A. County Town Hall Offers Answers on State Exchange
Last week, hundreds of Los Angeles County residents attended a town hall meeting at California State University-Los Angeles to learn about which health plans are participating in Covered California, what benefits will be offered under the health insurance exchange and how enrollment will work. At the event, Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee also discussed efforts to promote the exchange. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Poll: More U.S. Voters Trust Democrats on Health Policy Decisions
According to a new poll, likely voters trust Democrats more than the GOP on health care issues. The poll finds 42% of respondents say they trust Democrats more on such issues, compared with 32% who trust Republicans more. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Morning Consult poll.
Report: Many Hospitals’ Mortality Rates Surpass the State Average
A state report finds that nearly one-third of California hospitals had higher mortality rates for certain procedures and conditions than the statewide average. According to a state official, the report aims to make California’s health system more accountable and transparent. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Lawmakers Approve Audit of UC Medical Centers’ Finances
Last week, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee voted unanimously to approve an audit of staffing levels and finances at University of California medical centers in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The audit — requested by Assembly member Adam Gray comes in response to a campaign by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299. UC has asked lawmakers for $15 million to build a sixth medical school in Riverside, but the unions argue that the medical centers are “highly profitable” and that UC can cover the costs on its own. Sacramento Business Journal.
House GOP Questions IRS About Seizure of Health Records in Calif.
Republicans on a House panel are investigating how the Internal Revenue Service handles confidential medical information. The probe follows a lawsuit alleging that the IRS improperly seized millions of health records in California. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Sutter Health Reports Data Breach Following Drug Bust
Sutter Health has notified more than 4,500 patients who visited medical centers in Antioch, Castro Valley or Oakland about the possibility that their personal data have been compromised. Last month, narcotics investigators found personal patient information during a methamphetamine bust in Oakland. Stacey Wells — a Sutter Health spokesperson — said that officials cannot yet disclose how or where the information was obtained because of the ongoing investigation. Oakland Tribune/San Jose Mercury News.