Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Few Doctors Want Full EHR Access for Patients
Many U.S. physicians believe that patients should play an active role in updating their electronic health records, but few doctors want to provide patients with full access to their EHRs, according to a new report from Accenture. The report found that 31% of surveyed U.S. doctors said they were willing to provide patients with full access to their EHRs, while 65% said they were willing to provide patients with limited access to their EHRs. Four percent of doctors said they were not willing to provide patients with any access to their EHRs. NextGov‘s “Health IT Update,” FierceHealthIT.
State Criticizes Blue Shield’s Rate Hike for Individual Policyholders
State insurance regulators are criticizing a Blue Shield of California rate hike that will increase premiums by as much as 20% for about 268,000 individual policyholders. A state review found the hike to be unreasonable. Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle.
Senate OKs Bill To Boost Funds for Disarming Mentally Ill Individuals
The state Senate has approved a bill that would allocate $24 million to help the state Department of Justice disarm individuals who cannot possess guns because of mental illness or other factors. Firearms sales and transfer fees would generate the funding. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Most Large Employers To Maintain Health Benefits for Full-Time Workers
A report finds that most large U.S. employers plan to keep providing health benefits to full-time workers after the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented. However, some employers might shift part-time workers and retirees to the ACA’s health insurance exchanges. Reuters et al.
U.S. Bill Aims To Prevent Sale of Guns to Mentally Ill
On Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced legislation that would prohibit the sale of firearms to individuals who have been found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity, or who have received involuntary outpatient treatment at a psychiatric facility. The bill also would require that certain treatments for mental illness and related legal actions be reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Reuters, Politico.
Calif. Exchange Seeks Federal OK for Medi-Cal ‘Bridge’ Plan
Covered California, the state’s health benefit exchange, is seeking federal approval to establish a “bridge” plan for people who go in and out of Medi-Cal eligibility. The plan — which could cover as many as 670,000 residents — would help beneficiaries maintain their same Medi-Cal plan and health care provider. Sacramento Business Journal.
U.S. Senate Democrats To Revise House-Approved CR Extension Measure
As they revise the House-approved continuing resolution extension bill, Senate Democrats plan to add three appropriations bills and boost department heads’ authority to move funds between projects and programs to minimize the effects of spending cuts. The Hill‘s “On the Money” et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 8, 2013
Doctors Medical Center workers and union leaders are asking the hospital’s board of directors to reconsider layoffs as part of cost-cutting efforts. Physicians and nurses at Dominican Hospital want more security at the facility following the assault of two staff members by a patient.
Study: Language Barriers Still an Issue for HMO Enrollees
About half of surveyed Californians with limited English proficiency who are enrolled in health maintenance organizations have not received interpretive services through their health plan, according to a recent UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study. State laws and regulations require health plans to assess their members’ language needs and develop a plan to address them. Payers & Providers.
House OKs Bill To Avert Government Shutdown, Maintain Budget Cuts
Yesterday, the House passed a continuing resolution extension bill to avert a government shutdown and maintain spending cuts under sequestration, including a 2% reduction to Medicare reimbursement rates. The bill now goes to the Senate. The Hill‘s “Floor Action Blog” et al.