Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Appeals Prison Population Cap to U.S. Supreme Court
Gov. Brown’s administration has filed a notice of appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court over a prison population cap designed to improve inmate health care. State officials say such care now exceeds constitutional standards. AP/U-T San Diego et al.
California Senate Details Lax Oversight of Drug, Alcohol Counselors
A state Senate report finds that individuals with substance misuse problems and criminal records have been certified as drug and alcohol counselors. It recommends establishing a centralized database to flag high-risk people seeking certification. Riverside Press-Enterprise et al.
Lawmakers Ask Providers for Input on Repealing SGR
In a letter sent to health care providers last week, U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Orrin Hatch asked for input on the best ways to permanently replace the sustainable growth rate formula, which sets Medicare physician reimbursement rates. The lawmakers asked what changes could be implemented to ensure that the values of services reflect the resources involved in treatment delivery, among other questions. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
CMS Outlines Cuts to Hospitals That Treat Low-Income Patients
A proposed rule from CMS details an Affordable Care Act-mandated payment cut for hospitals that treat a disproportionate share of low-income patients. CMS proposed basing the cuts for the next two years on each states’ percentage of uninsured residents. Modern Healthcare et al.
Revised Budget Will Reveal Brown’s Use of Extra Tax Revenue
Observers wonder how Gov. Brown will use $4.5 billion in extra tax revenue in his revised fiscal year 2013-2014 budget plan. Legislative Democrats say they want to restore certain safety-net programs, but Brown has argued for fiscal discipline. Sacramento Bee, KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Editorial Endorses Groups’ Plan To Address Uninsured
A Los Angeles Times editorial supports a proposal by Health Access and other not-for-profit groups that would let counties keep funds from sales taxes and vehicle fees while the federal government covers the full cost of the Medi-Cal expansion. Under the plan, counties after three years “would receive a set amount per indigent person they enroll in a HMO-style health care network, with any leftover dollars reverting to the state,” the editorial notes. It concludes that the “proposal offers a better approach to public health, while leaving counties free to decide who should be eligible for the benefits,” adding, “The state should embrace it.” Los Angeles Times.
Programs Seek To Give Respite to Mentally Ill, Caregivers
Several newly funded California programs aim to reduce stressors for individuals with mental illnesses or their families. For example, the Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center seeks to reduce the likelihood that caregivers of patients with dementia will develop mental health issues themselves by providing them a temporary break from their circumstances, according to program officials. The programs are funded by the Respite Partnership Collaborative, a private-public partnership of the Sierra Health Foundation, Center for Health Program Management and the Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health Services. Sacramento Bee.
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Grew in Mass. Post Health Law
A new report finds that the rate of job-based health insurance in Massachusetts increased by about one percentage point during the five-year period after the state’s health reform law took effect, while the national rate decreased by close to 6%. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Bloomberg.
Sutter Health Receives HMO License From State Agency
Sutter Health has received its HMO license from the California Department of Managed Health Care. Sutter spokesperson Bill Gleeson said that the organization would begin providing coverage in the greater Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley region beginning in January 2014. Sacramento Business Journal.
Brown, Democrats At Odds Over Medi-Cal, Indigent Care Funding
Gov. Brown and Democrats disagree over how to expand Medi-Cal and how much indigent care funding should be provided to counties. Compared with Brown, Democrats want to expand Medi-Cal coverage to more residents and reimburse physicians and hospitals at a higher rate. Los Angeles Times.