Latest California Healthline Stories
UC-Irvine To Pay $1.2M To Settle Whistleblower Lawsuit
UC-Irvine has agreed to pay the federal government $1.2 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged that the hospital violated federal laws by routinely allowing residents to administer anesthesia without physician supervision and then billing Medicare as if the doctors were present. Orange County Register, Payers & Providers.
More Employers Shifting to Value-Based Health Plans, New Survey Finds
A Catalyst for Payment Reform survey finds that more employers are seeking value-based health plans, which aim to promote lower-cost services and reduce waste. CPR also has launched a database to track health care payment reform efforts. Modern Healthcare et al.
UCLA Researchers Uncover Air Pollution, Autism Link
UCLA researchers found that Los Angeles County women who were exposed to higher estimated air pollution levels had a 12% to 15% greater chance of having a child who develops autism than women who lived in areas with less pollution during their pregnancies, according to a study published in the March issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
DMHC Fines Medi-Cal Insurer for Outsourcing Claims Processing
Care1st Health Plan — a Medi-Cal managed care insurer — has been fined $120,000 by the Department of Managed Health Care for failing to notify DMHC that it outsourced its claims processing overseas and for providing inaccurate information about the change. Payers & Providers.
Park Access Affects Calif. Teens’ Exercise, Report Finds
A UCLA Center for Health Policy Research report found that 44% of California youths who live near a park engage in at least one hour of exercise at least five days a week, compared with the statewide average of 22%. However, only one-quarter of California teens live in what is called a park service area. Payers & Providers.
OIG Issues Fraud Alert for Doctor-Run Distributorships
On Tuesday, the HHS Office of Inspector General published a fraud alert warning that physician-owned distributorships — which market and distribute medical devices to hospitals in exchange for a commission on the sale — are “inherently suspect” and “pose dangers to patient safety.” The alert comes as the Department of Justice investigates PODs in California and Utah, where they are particularly prevalent. Wall Street Journal, Modern Physician.
Judge Says Ethical Issues Possible in Prison Health Care Oversight Case
A federal judge says that the state might have committed an “ethical violation” by organizing inmate interviews without their lawyers present to boost a bid to regain control of the prison health care system. The state says it made no attempt to hide such action. Sacramento Bee et al.
White House Defends ACA Following Sebelius’ Remarks on Cost Hikes
The Obama administration is reiterating the idea that the Affordable Care Act is helping to reduce consumers’ health costs after HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius stated that the ACA could lead to premium increases for some U.S. residents. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
HMO Plans Nab High Scores for Care, but Struggle on Access
A state report card finds that California residents gave their HMO plans good or excellent scores for providing health care but assigned lower scores for access to care. PPO plans largely received better access to care scores. Ventura County Star et al.
AHIP Says Opposition Rising to Proposed MA Pay Cut
On Monday, America’s Health Insurance Plans continued its efforts to block a proposed 2.2% cut in federal payments to Medicare Advantage plans by noting the growing opposition among beneficiaries to the reduction. AHIP has been lobbying against the cuts — which it says will deal a “crushing blow” to insurers and beneficiaries — through advertisements, polls and reports. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”