Latest California Healthline Stories
Santa Cruz County Sees Rise in Pertussis Vaccination Rates
Santa Cruz County officials say that the number of children without vaccinations for whooping cough, or pertussis, has decreased over the past few years. Officials attribute the downward trend to a 2011 state law that required incoming seventh grade students to obtain booster shots for whooping cough starting with the 2011-2012 school year. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Inland Empire Region Moves To Close Medical Pot Shops
Following the California Supreme Court’s recent ruling affirming local governments’ authority to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in their jurisdictions, city and county officials in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are taking legal or legislative action to close any remaining dispensaries. In some jurisdictions, officials are assessing hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney fees, police investigation costs and other expenses related shutting down the dispensaries. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Readmission Penalties Could Hinder Hospitals in Some Areas
Experts say that hospitals in low-income areas could be hardest hit by a program that aims to curb Medicare readmissions. Most of the California hospitals that have received the program’s maximum penalty serve low-income patients. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Analysis Finds Lax CMS Oversight of Prescribers in Medicare Part D
A new analysis from ProPublica finds that CMS has done little to monitor unsafe prescribing patterns or investigate unsafe practitioners in Medicare Part D. According to CMS officials, oversight of the Part D program falls to private health plans. ProPublica/Washington Post.
Republicans Pledge To Not Nominate Any IPAB Members
In a letter sent last week to President Obama, House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wrote that they will not nominate any members to the Independent Payment Advisory Board. IPAB is a 15-member panel of health care experts established under the Affordable Care Act to make annual cost-cutting recommendations for Medicare if program spending exceeds a target growth rate of 3.03%. In their letter, Boehner and McConnell wrote the panel should be repealed because its recommendations “will force providers to stop seeing Medicare patients” and lead to “access problems, waiting lists and denied care for seniors.” AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Editorial Slams Claim of Lower Premiums Under ACA
A U-T San Diego editorial criticizes President Obama’s claim that under the Affordable Care Act, “[m]illions of individual Americans and families” will see their health insurance premiums decrease. It adds, “No one believes this anymore” because “[s]tudy after study forecasts much higher premiums” under the ACA, in part because of requirements that health insurers cover a broad range of treatments and services. U-T San Diego.
Steinberg’s Mental Health Plan Has Value, Editorial Says
A Sacramento Bee editorial states that Gov. Brown should give “serious consideration” to legislative proposals developed by Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg to improve care for California residents with mental illnesses. The editorial notes that although Steinberg’s plan “will need to be squared with other spending priorities,” the Senate leader’s proposals represent “a thoughtful step toward dealing with one of the major health challenges of our time.” Sacramento Bee.
Sebelius Seeking Private Donations To Support ACA Implementation
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is soliciting donations to a campaign led by a not-for-profit group focused on promoting the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have criticized Sebelius’ actions, saying the solicitations might violate federal law. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog” et al.
Expert: Premiums for Individual Health Plans in Exchange Will Be High
Garry Maisel, CEO of Western Health Advantage, said at a Drexel University-sponsored event last week that enrollees in individual health plans offered through California’s health insurance exchange next year will see premiums grow significantly from current rates. Sacramento Business Journal.
HHS Offers $150M To Boost Enrollment in State Health Exchanges
Yesterday, HHS announced a new $150 million initiative aimed at helping community health centers enroll uninsured patients in state health insurance exchanges. California is slated to receive about $22 million under the federal initiative, the most funding of any state. Reuters et al.