Latest California Healthline Stories
Chiang: State Revenue $4.5B Higher Than Projections
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In his latest monthly budget report released Monday,
California Controller John Chiang said state tax revenue for the first eight
months of the state’s fiscal year outpaced preliminary estimates by $4.5
billion, in part because of higher-than-expected personal income taxes. He also
noted that total revenue in February was $5.3 billion, more than 20% higher
than in February 2012. Los Angeles Times’
“PolitiCal” et al.
Health Care Sector Adds 32K Jobs in February, BLS Reports
In February, the health care industry added 32,000 jobs, accounting for 13.6% of the 236,000 nonfarm jobs created during that month, according to preliminary data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Physician offices and outpatient health centers experienced the biggest gains, adding a total of about 14,000 jobs. Modern Healthcare, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Analysis: Surgery Center Data Incomplete on Medical Board Website
A KPCC analysis finds that the Medical Board of California has not fully implemented key provisions of a law aimed at providing information on physician-owned outpatient surgery centers, including posting online certain data relating to accreditation details. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Lawmakers Want State Medical Board To Mine CURES Data
State lawmakers say that the Medical Board of California should mine data from a prescription drug database to identify doctors who overprescribe medications, rather than waiting for complaints about physicians’ prescribing habits. Los Angeles Times et al.
Opinion: East Bay, Officials Must Unite To Save Hospitals
In a Contra Costa Times opinion piece, Jeffrey Klingman — president of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association — discusses reports that local hospitals in the East San Francisco Bay Area are “facing the threat of closure,” noting that the “common thread affecting all these facilities is the significant amount of services provided to uninsured patients and patients insured by Medi-Cal and Medicare programs.” He concludes, “Our community and our elected officials need to work together to see that no stone is left unturned to keep these hospitals open.” Contra Costa Times.
Inmate Lawyers: Report Undermines Prison Realignment Efforts
Lawyers for California prison inmates say that a 2011 state report sets a safe operating capacity for prisons that is less than the number of inmates currently incarcerated, as well as a federal cap for providing adequate prison health care. Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle.
Senate’s CR Proposal Would Not Provide Additional ACA Funding
Senate appropriators have proposed a substitute amendment to the House-approved continuing resolution extension bill that would avert a government shutdown. The new proposal does not provide additional implementation funding for the Affordable Care Act. AP/U-T San Diego et al.
Kaiser Nabs Top Spot Again in Insurer Satisfaction Study
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For the sixth consecutive year, Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan ranked highest in member satisfaction among California health plans,
according to J.D. Power and Associates’ 2013 Member Health Plan Study released
Monday. Kaiser received a score of 760 out of 1,000 possible points, compared
with the state average of 706. HealthNet received the lowest score, with 661
points. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money
& Co.,” San Francisco Business Times‘ ” BizArea BizTalk.”
Fla. Panel Rejects ACA’s Medicaid Expansion; Offers Alternative Plan
Yesterday, a Florida Senate panel rejected Gov. Rick Scott’s proposal to participate in the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. The panel proposed an alternative plan that would use federal funds to provide private health insurance coverage to uninsured residents. Miami Herald et al.
Editorial: CalPERS’ Long-Term Care Promise Was ‘Reckless’
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that “early buyers of CalPERS’ more expansive long-term care policies” have good reason to “feel burned” after the recent approval of a plan to raise premiums for such policies by 85%. According to the editorial, “While there was no guarantee, CalPERS created an expectation that the cost of this extraordinary benefit would remain flat forever.” It adds, “It was a reckless promise.” Sacramento Bee.