Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Assembly, Senate Budget Plans Outline Different Priorities
State Assembly and Senate lawmakers have outlined divergent state budget proposals. Among other funding issues, the Assembly wants to boost welfare grants, while the Senate seeks more mental health and dental care funding. Los Angeles Times et al.
Calif. Settles With Cigna Over Long-Term Disability Plans
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and insurance regulators from other states have announced a settlement of up to $2.3 million with Cigna over its management of long-term disability insurance. The insurance officials said that the insurer did not give due consideration to the medical findings of independent physicians, among other things. Cigna has agreed to pay a $500,000 penalty to the California Department of Insurance, in addition to $150,000 to reimburse the agency for the cost of ongoing monitoring required under the settlement. Sacramento Business Journal.
GOP Proposes Draft Legislation To Repeal, Replace SGR Formula
On Tuesday, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee proposed draft legislation — an updated version of an April draft — to repeal and replace the sustainable growth rate formula. SGR determines Medicare physician reimbursements. Modern Healthcare et al.
Union Backs Bill To Fine Big Businesses With Workers in Medi-Cal
A campaign launched by the California Labor Federation includes lobbying, direct mail and online advertising efforts in support of legislation that would penalize large employers who do not pay workers enough to keep them out of Medi-Cal. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Fresno Bee.
South L.A. Program Seeks To Ease Transitions Between Care
Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers — encompassing eight federally qualified health centers in South Los Angeles — is developing a program to help area patients transition between primary care and hospital-based care for follow-up services. Through the program, two care coordinators would be placed at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood by early July. The coordinators will identify patients before discharge to set up primary care appointments and ensure that the primary care provider has the necessary patient information. KPCC’s “On Central”.
White House, Democrats Seek To Prepare Officials for ACA Outreach Effort
White House officials and congressional Democrats are collaborating to prepare lawmakers for a campaign this summer to educate constituents about state health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. The initiative will include ACA-related training sessions for state officials. Politico et al.
Lawsuit Alleges Inadequate Care at Monterey County Jail
Last week, the Monterey County Public Defender’s Office filed a lawsuit that aims to improve health care and mental health care services at the Monterey County Jail. The complaint calls the jail’s medical and mental health care services “woefully inadequate.” It adds, “Severe overcrowding, outdate facilities and chronic under-staffing have created dangerous conditions in the jail, placing prisoners and staff at serious risk of injury and death.” Monterey Herald.
California Senate Passes Two Bills That Would Expand Scope of Practice
The California Senate has passed two bills that would expand the scope of practice for nurse practitioners and optometrists. Later this week, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a bill that would expand pharmacists’ scope of practice. AP/Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times.
U.S. Companies Scaling Back ‘Cadillac’ Health Plans
A growing number of U.S. companies that offer so-called Cadillac health insurance plans are taking steps to scale back the generous coverage plans before an excise tax under the Affordable Care Act takes effect in 2018. Under the ACA, insurance plans or businesses that offer health plans with annual premiums of more than $10,200 for individuals or $27,500 for families would pay a 40% excise tax on the portion of the premiums that exceeds those thresholds. Policy analysts say the trend of scaling back generous coverage plans already is helping to reduce overall health costs by forcing businesses to examine their benefits plans more closely. New York Times.
Lawmakers Include $15M for Medical School in Budget
California lawmakers have included $15 million in funding for the UC-Riverside School of Medicine in the proposed state budget. Sen. Richard Roth and Assembly member Jose Medina said that the line item for the funding passed an Assembly Budget subcommittee last week. Roth said the funding would help boost health care services in the region, which has “the most severe shortage of primary care doctors in all of the United States.” Riverside Press-Enterprise.