Latest California Healthline Stories
Ryan’s Budget Proposal Could Seek Changes to Medicare Eligibility Age
A forthcoming budget proposal from House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan might include changes to future Medicare retirement benefits for people who currently are as old as 59. Congressional Democrats say they are working on their own 10-year budget framework. The Hill et al.
Steinberg Seeks Federal Probe Into Alleged ‘Patient Dumping’
On Monday, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius calling for a federal probe into alleged “patient dumping” by a Nevada psychiatric hospital. Steinberg said he believes the hospital sent a psychiatric patient to Sacramento without showing that the patient had a place to receive care or relatives in the area. Sacramento Bee.
Panel Calls for Elimination of Fee-for-Service Model
In a report released Monday, the National Commission on Physician Payment Reform recommended that the fee-for-service model in the health care industry be eliminated within the next seven years in part to reform the way doctors are paid and to disincentivize physician actions that lead to higher costs. The report also highlighted several factors driving up health care costs. Modern Healthcare et al.
Editorial Says Sequestration Will Significantly Affect Calif.
A San Jose Mercury News editorial argues that the estimated effect of the first installment of spending cuts under sequestration “could be significant” in California as “nearly 16,000 fewer children” in the state will receive vaccines. In addition, the editorial states that sequestration “will damage the economy.” It concludes, “Congress should put off the cuts until we’re on more solid ground.” San Jose Mercury News.
Calif. Counties Seek Grant To Boost Enrollment in Medi-Cal, Exchange
Monterey and Santa Cruz county officials plan to submit to the state a $500,000 grant request for expanding enrollment in Medi-Cal and the state health insurance exchange. The officials want to build a network of businesses and not-for-profits to support outreach efforts. HealthyCal.
Groups Design Mobile Game To Hasten Cancer Research
Cancer Research UK is partnering with technology organizations like Amazon, Facebook and Google to develop a mobile game that could accelerate cancer research. The game will allow smartphone users to look at data sets and identify subtle mutations in tumors’ DNA that likely could not be detected by computers. Cancer Research UK plans to launch the game in mid-2013. Reuters, BBC News.
Senate Committee Votes To Pass Medi-Cal Expansion Bill
On Monday, the state Senate Appropriations Committee voted 4-1 to approve a bill — by Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg and Sen. Ed Hernandez — that would expand Medi-Cal coverage to individuals earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $15,415 annually. The bill potentially could add more than one million enrollees to Medi-Cal. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
Expert: Clinics Expanding Under ACA, But Could Face Physician Shortage
The head of the California Primary Care Association says that while federally qualified health centers are expanding with funding allotted by the Affordable Care Act, there might not be enough physicians in the state to staff the community health facilities. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Calif. Faces Language Barriers in Marketing Health Plan Exchange
California is weighing strategies for marketing its health insurance exchange to non-English speakers. State findings show that about one million adults of color who will receive exchange subsidies speak English less than very well. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Obama Signs Order To Cut $85B Under First Part of Budget Sequestration
President Obama has signed an order to initiate $85 billion in spending cuts under sequestration for the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30. The cuts are the first installment of nearly $1 trillion in reductions, including a 2% cut to Medicare reimbursements. New York Times et al.