Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. County To Resume Payroll Deductions for About 600 Area Nurses
About 600 Los Angeles County nurses face payroll deductions totaling $1.8 million that the county says it accidentally provided as bonus payments. County officials say the nurses are not entitled to the funds, while nurses say repaying the bonuses is a financial burden. Los Angeles Times.
MedPAC Outlines Proposals for $30B in Medicare Savings
Medicare could reduce its spending by $30 billion over the next five years through provisions in the Affordable Care Act and if Congress follows recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, according to MedPAC’s annual report. The report noted that without policy changes, Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund will be depleted by 2024. USA Today.
Former CalPERS Officials Indicted on Fraud Charges
Former CalPERS CEO Fred Buenrostro and former CalPERS board member Alfred Villalobos have been indicted on charges of fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. The indictment — unsealed on Monday — comes after a multi-year investigation into the defendants’ alleged fraudulent efforts to secure million-dollar pension fund investments and other self-benefiting deals. Los Angeles Times et al.
HHS: More Than 100M U.S. Residents Received Preventive Care via ACA
An HHS report finds that more than 100 million U.S. residents accessed no-cost preventive health care in 2011 or 2012 because of the Affordable Care Act. About 34 million U.S. residents received such services through Medicare plans. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Modern Healthcare.
Counties Facing Lawsuits Over Inadequate Medical Care for Jail Inmates
Lawyers for California inmates of county jails have filed numerous lawsuits alleging inadequate medical and mental health care, as well as overcrowding, in the facilities. Many prisoners were transferred from state facilities under prison realignment plans. AP/U-T San Diego.
Bill Would Alter CalPERS’ Board Structure To Add Financial Expertise
A bill introduced by Assembly member Marc Levine aims to restructure the CalPERS board by increasing the amount of members with financial expertise. The legislation would direct the secretary of state to put the bill’s provisions on the next statewide ballot. Capitol Weekly.
Opinion: Funding, Planning Issues Threaten ACA Progress
In a Sacramento Bee opinion piece, HealthyCal editor Daniel Weintraub warns that “tensions between the administration of Gov. Jerry Brown and Democrats in the Legislature could scuttle” progress the state has made in expanding Medi-Cal and establishing a health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act. However, he concludes that California “still seems poised to lead the nation with the state’s embrace, and implementation, of the new federal law.” Sacramento Bee.
Journalist Group Launches Hospital Inspection Database
The Association of Health Care Journalists has launched a new database that gives the public access to federal hospital inspection reports. Such reports include the results of government investigations into complaints about acute-care and rural hospitals. In related news, AHCJ is pushing the Joint Commission to publicly release its hospital inspection information. HealthLeaders Media.
L.A. County Eyes Health Needs of Girls in Juvenile Detention
Los Angeles County health and probation officials have launched a pilot program at a juvenile detention center in Santa Clarita to test Girls Health Screen, a first-of-its-kind screening survey to better identify and treat physical and emotional issues among girls in juvenile detention centers. Los Angeles Times.
Calif. Lawmakers Eye New Fees, Taxes To Boost Health Care Programs
More than two dozen bills have been introduced in the California Legislature that would impose new fees or taxes on residents. Some of the bills aim to boost funding for health care-related programs or encourage consumers to alter harmful health behaviors. Sacramento Bee.