Latest California Healthline Stories
Opinion Piece Criticizes Media Coverage of CalPERS Rate Hike
In a Sacramento Bee opinion piece, Ann Boynton — deputy executive officer for benefit programs, policy and planning at CalPERS — argues that California’s “media appear to be pandering to the sensational … when it comes to their coverage of premium increases in the CalPERS long-term care program.” She writes, “What is missing in media coverage is that at the same time the board also approved new alternative benefit plans that give CalPERS [long-term care] policyholders options for relief from the financial impact of the 2015 rate increase.” Sacramento Bee.
Experts Say Medi-Cal Expansion Could Worsen Health Provider Shortage
Health care stakeholders are concerned that the Medi-Cal expansion will leave many newly eligible beneficiaries without health care providers willing to accept them. Currently, many physicians opt out of Medi-Cal because of low reimbursement rates. San Francisco Chronicle.
New Legislation Would Upgrade CURES Rx Monitoring System
California lawmakers have introduced legislation to upgrade a state database that monitors physicians who overprescribe certain medications. Attorney General Kamala Harris says that budget cuts have left the database “on life support.” Los Angeles Times.
California Health Care Personnel News Update for February 2013
Blue Shield of California CEO Paul Markovich has named eight individuals to executive positions, including Cathy Campbell as vice president of senior markets. The Riverside County Medical Association has installed three officers, including Gerardo Hizon, Tarek Mahdi and Timothy Watson.
White House Releases 700 Pages of Rules on Implementing the ACA
The Obama administration has unveiled more than 700 pages of new regulations to implement various aspects of the Affordable Care Act. The rules cover health insurance exchanges, as well as new standards and reforms for the insurance market. The Hill‘s “RegWatch” et al.
Bankruptcy Judge: San Diego Hospice Can Pay Employees
On Friday, a state bankruptcy judge said that San Diego Hospice could make retroactive and future payroll payments. The hospice — which filed for bankruptcy protection last month amid a federal probe into its care delivery practices — said that employees might quit if they do not receive the payments. U-T San Diego.
Several States Launching ACA Insurer Rating System Early
Several states — including California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota and Oregon — have opted to implement a new quality rating system for health insurers this fall, two years earlier than required under the Affordable Care Act. The federal health reform law requires states by 2016 to provide quality information for all plans participating in their health insurance exchanges. Kaiser Health News.
Lawmakers Criticize DOD, VA for Halting Joint EHR Project
Last week, members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee criticized the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs for halting plans to create a joint electronic health record system. Committee members also asked whether DOD would adopt VA’s VistA EHR system. A DOD official said the agency would analyze VistA along with commercial EHR products. Washington Post‘s “Federal Eye” et al.
First Lady Expands ‘Let’s Move!’ Anti-Obesity Program
Last week, first lady Michelle Obama launched “Let’s Move! Active Schools” — an expansion of her “Let’s Move!” initiative against childhood obesity — with the goal of encouraging students to engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. The new program is a public-private partnership that Obama hopes will involve at least 50,000 schools nationwide over five years. The Hill‘s “Hill Tube,” et al.
House, Senate Unveil Bills To Repeal Worker Health Benefits Mandate
House and Senate lawmakers have introduced legislation that would repeal an Affordable Care Act requirement that most employers offer affordable health benefits to workers. Lawmakers say businesses will have to stop hiring employees to comply with the mandate. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”