Latest California Healthline Stories
Covered California Faces Criticism Over Plan To Partner With Wal-Mart
Labor groups and consumer advocates are criticizing a plan to use Wal-Mart and other retailers to educate residents about the state health insurance exchange, arguing that the stores should not give advice when they do not provide adequate insurance for their workers. Los Angeles Times.
State Awards Contracts for Medi-Cal Managed Care
Anthem Blue Cross, California Health and Wellness Plan, Partnership HealthPlan of California and the Central California Alliance for Health have received contracts from the state Department of Health Care Services to expand the Medi-Cal managed care program into 28 mostly rural counties. As a result of the contracts, Medi-Cal managed care will be available in all 58 California counties. Payers & Providers.
EHRs Help Boost Colon Cancer Screenings, Study Finds
A centralized program for reminding patients about colon cancer screenings that was coordinated by electronic health records helped improve screening rates, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Beverly Green — the lead study author and practicing physician at Group Health Cooperative in Washington — said, “With a simple centralized program, we leveraged our electronic health records to identify those who needed screening,” adding, “We doubled the colon cancer screening rates.” Reuters, CNN’s “The Chart.”
L.A. Court Hears Lawsuit Over Anthem’s Renewal Practices
A lawsuit under review at the Los Angeles County Superior Court alleges that Anthem Blue Cross improperly revised its renewal terms for some policyholders. The company has denied the allegations of breach of contract and unfair business practices, arguing that it acted within its rights. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Co.”
Aetna, Blue Shield Proceed With Rate Hikes Despite Criticism
Although state officials have deemed rate hikes by Aetna and Blue Shield of California to be unreasonable, the insurers are proceeding with the premium increases. However, Aetna also agreed to reduce a separate rate hike. Los Angeles Times, Payers & Providers.
S.J. Valley To Gain Graduate Medical Residency Programs
This summer, three graduate medical residency programs will be launched in the San Joaquin Valley. The programs will focus on family medicine and emergency medicine, which could help alleviate a physician shortage in the region. HealthyCal.
Hospitals, Retailers Seek Changes to Provisions of the Affordable Care Act
Nineteen health care organizations have asked CMS to make certain changes to the “Pioneer” accountable care organization program. Meanwhile, the National Retail Federation is calling for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog” et al.
State, Counties At Odds Over Safety-Net Funding Amid Medi-Cal Expansion
At an Assembly subcommittee hearing yesterday, county and state officials disagreed over plans to expand Medi-Cal with the help of county indigent care funding. State officials say the funding is important to maintain the expansion over the long term. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Study: Corporate Wellness Programs Do Not Save Money
Corporate wellness programs might change the way employees access health care, but they do not save businesses money in the short-term, according to a study published Monday in the journal Health Affairs. Researchers concluded that the study “underscores that wellness programs incentive under the Affordable Care Act are unlikely to greatly reduce health care spending over the short run.” Washington Post et al.
Exchange Official Says Thousands Might Leave Job-Based Health Plans
Thousands of residents might forgo their employer’s health plan to obtain insurance through Covered California, exchange director Peter Lee says. However, employers must continue offering insurance for the health system to function, according to Lee. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”