Latest California Healthline Stories
Joint Commission, Calif. Cities Probe Nevada Patient Busing
This week, the city attorneys of Los Angeles and San Francisco began collaborating on a probe into Nevada’s practice of busing patients with mental illnesses to California and other states. On Thursday, surveyors with the Joint Commission made an unannounced visit to a Las Vegas psychiatric hospital that allegedly engaged in the practice. Sacramento Bee, Reuters.
Editorial Backs Federal Probe of Nevada Discharge Policies
A Contra Costa Times editorial states that 21 California lawmakers “are right” to request a federal investigation into Nevada’s practice of busing patients with mental illnesses to California and other states. It notes that such a probe would help determine whether federal legislation is needed while also sending “a clear message” that patient busing is an “unacceptable practice.” Contra Costa Times.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of May 3, 2013
Scripps Health has won a bidding contest over Sharp HealthCare to purchase the San Diego Hospice in Hillcrest for $16.55 million. Meanwhile, Sutter Health officials have filed a notice on California’s WARN Act website about their plans to lay off 169 employees at multiple facilities.
Brown Submits Plan To Further Reduce Inmate Population
To comply with a federal court order, Gov. Brown has submitted a plan to reduce California’s prison population in part to improve inmate health care. However, Brown warned that the proposal could compromise public safety. Ventura County Star et al.
Kaiser Permanente Workers Choose SEIU Over Rival Union NUHW
Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West has won an election over the National Union of Healthcare Workers to represent about 45,000 Kaiser Permanente workers in California. SEIU-UHW says it received 58% of workers’ votes. Sacramento Bee et al.
Lawsuit Challenges IRS Rule on Subsidies in Health Plan Exchanges
Several small businesses and individuals have filed a lawsuit challenging an Internal Revenue Service rule allowing subsidies to be available through state and federally run health insurance exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act. Reuters, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Six Community Clinics Nab Loans for ACA Preparations
On Thursday, the California Endowment — in partnership with the Community Health Center Capital Fund and NCB Capital Impact — announced six low-interest loans totaling $11.15 million to help six community clinics in the state prepare for the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act. San Francisco Business Times.
Advocates Take Aim at Medicare Policies on Observation Care
Advocates are challenging a CMS rule that denies coverage for certain services when Medicare beneficiaries are placed in observation care. A lawsuit seeks to remove the observation care designation. USA Today/Kaiser Health News, Washington Post/Kaiser Health News.
California AG Files Lawsuit Over Lead-Tainted Candies
On Tuesday, state Attorney General Kamala Harris filed a lawsuit alleging that several local and national food retailers are selling lead-tainted candies in violation of a state law requiring warning labels on products that contain harmful chemicals. If the retailers and manufacturers are found to be at fault, they could face daily fines of up to $2,500 for each violation. AP/Sacramento Bee.
NEJM Study Finds Mixed Results on Benefits of Medicaid Coverage
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that having Medicaid coverage lowers a person’s risk of depression and catastrophic medical expenses but does not necessarily result in major health improvements. Los Angeles Times‘ “Politics Now” et al.