Latest California Healthline Stories
Cleveland Clinic, CHS Partner To Boost Quality, Cut Costs
The Cleveland Clinic and Community Health Systems have entered into a five-year partnership with the aim of improving health care quality and reducing costs at hospitals nationwide. The partnership is the latest in a growing trend of collaborations between health care providers, insurers and medical institutions to boost revenues and comply with requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Modern Healthcare, Wall Street Journal.
American Indian Clinics Stand To Benefit From the Affordable Care Act
Provisions in the Affordable Care Act likely will benefit California clinics that treat American Indians. The law allows more American Indians to qualify for Medi-Cal and requires tribal consultation in the development of Covered California, the state insurance exchange. HealthyCal.
Coachella’s New General Plan Includes Focus on Health
This summer, Coachella will begin adopting a new general plan that is designed to encourage more physical activity among residents and attract new medical facilities to the area. The California Endowment provided $300,000 for the city to develop the health portion of the general plan. HealthyCal.
Ryan’s Budget Proposal Would Repeal the ACA, Alter Health Programs
The new budget proposal from House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan aims to balance the budget over 10 years in part by repealing the Affordable Care Act, shifting Medicare into a premium-support system and transforming Medicaid into a block grant program. USA Today et al.
Database: Calif. Received More Drugmaker Payouts Than Any Other State
A ProPublica database shows that California physicians, researchers and other groups in recent years received more than $241 million from drugmakers for speaking engagements, consulting and travel. The figure is higher than what was received in any other state. Contra Costa Times.
Coalition Seeks Transparency in Data Released by FDA
On Friday, a coalition of public interest groups sent a letter urging FDA to overturn its policy of redacting certain information from federal documents before turning them over to journalists, regulators and others requesting the data. The letter also asks FDA to act on a formal petition by Public Citizen, which called for the elimination of FDA’s “minor deletions” policy. AP/Washington Post.
Contra Costa County Rejects State Contract for Call Center
On Tuesday, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors rejected a contract offer from the state to run a call center for the California Health Benefit Exchange, citing a dispute over wages with local unions. The state now is looking “aggressively” at other options, such as expanding its call centers in Rancho Cordova or Fresno or selecting another county to operate a call center, according to Covered California spokesperson Dana Howard. Contra Costa Times.
Editorial Stumps for Bill To Block Excessive Rate Hikes
A San Jose Mercury News editorial argues that Congress should pass a bill by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein that would grant the HHS secretary the “power to examine health insurance premiums and deny unjustified or excessive rate hikes,” which continues to be a problem in California and 16 other states that lack such authority. The editorial adds that if Congress does not pass Feinstein’s bill, “Californians should protect their own interests with a ballot proposition planned for 2014.” San Jose Mercury News.
Obama Urges Democrats To Be Willing To Accept Changes to Entitlements
Yesterday, President Obama acknowledged that Democrats might need to accept changes to entitlement programs to reach a deficit-reduction deal with Republicans. Some Democrats expressed concern that Obama might be willing to cut benefits in entitlement programs. Politico et al.
Group Wants L.A. To Create Separate City Health Dept.
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The AIDS Healthcare Foundation — a Los Angeles-based
not-for-profit provider of HIV care and testing services — is gathering voter
signatures to place on the 2014 city ballot a measure that would force the city
to establish its own health department. The group argues that the L.A. County
Department of Public Health is too large and unprepared to address local
disease control issues. Los Angeles Times.