Latest California Healthline Stories
GOP Bill Would Require Federal Workers To Buy Coverage via Exchanges
A bill introduced by House Republicans would expand an Affordable Care Act requirement to mandate that all federal employees, including lawmakers and their staffs, buy coverage through a health insurance exchange. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Wall Street Journal‘s “Washington Wire.”
Medical Board Supports Bills That Seek To Curb Prescription Drug Misuse
The Medical Board of California supports a series of bills that would address prescription drug misuse in the state. The board also has expressed opposition to a bill that would eliminate its authority to investigate physician misconduct. Los Angeles Times, AP/Modern Healthcare.
CalPERS’ Portfolio Grows to Record $261.7B, but It Still Is Not Fully Funded
CalPERS’ investment portfolio has reached $261.7 billion, clearing the nearly $97 billion worth of losses it sustained during the recession. However, the pension fund still has about $100 billion in unfunded pension liabilities because of government payroll increases. Sacramento Bee.
Survey: Affordable Care Act Penalty Will Be Ineffective
The tax penalty that will be imposed next year under the Affordable Care Act to encourage U.S. residents to purchase health insurance will be ineffective, according to a survey by Healthpocket. The survey found that only 8% of more than 1,000 respondents said that the $95 tax penalty would be enough to persuade them to purchase insurance. Payers & Providers.
Report Offers Positive Outlook for Riverside’s Pension Fund
Riverside County’s Pension Advisory Review Committee’s annual report found that while public employee pension costs are expected to increase by more than $20 million in the next fiscal year, the long-term pension fund outlook is positive. It noted that 87% of the $5.1 billion worth of projected pension liabilities as of June 30 for non-public safety employees will be covered by the pension system’s assets. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
L.A. Jury Finds Three Guilty in $1.5M Medicare Fraud Case
Last week, a federal jury in Los Angeles found an Anaheim physician and two others guilty in a $1.5 million Medicare fraud case. From 2007 to 2012, the physician and another health care professional received kickbacks from a medical supply official for fraudulent prescriptions for durable medical equipment. CMS paid nearly $1 million for the false and fraudulent claims. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Co.”
Opinion Piece Touts Bill Differentiating Biosimilars
In a Capitol Weekly opinion piece, Gerald Felando — a dentist and a former Assembly member — writes that legislation that would require pharmacists to notify physicians when biosimilar drugs are substituted for advanced biologic medications would “ensure patient safety across California.” According to Felando, “Leaving patients and physicians in the dark as to when a substitution occurs is spinning the health care roulette wheel” and could endanger patients’ health and safety. Capitol Weekly.
CMS Tells Nevada Mental Health Facility To Alter Discharge Policies
In a letter sent last week to Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Nevada, CMS says that it will revoke the facility’s Medicare funding if it continues to improperly discharge patients by sending them via buses to California and other states. AP/Washington Post et al.
Proposed Rule Would Adjust Reimbursements for Certain Hospitals
A new proposed rule from CMS would increase by 0.8% reimbursements for acute care hospitals that successfully participate in the Inpatient Quality Reporting System. The proposal also would cut disproportionate share hospital payments to 25% of the amount Medicare currently pays. MedPage Today et al.
Democrats Question White House Officials on ACA Implementation
Yesterday, Senate Democrats spoke to White House officials about their concerns with how the Obama administration is implementing the Affordable Care Act. Lawmakers asked questions about dental coverage, premium increases and other issues. New York Times, CQ HealthBeat.