Latest California Healthline Stories
Study: L.A. Has Best-Funded Retiree Health Care Among Large Cities
A study finds that Los Angeles has set aside a larger percentage of funding for future retiree health care benefits than any other large city in the U.S. However, some officials say the funding has contributed to a 200% increase in city retirement costs over seven years. Capitol Weekly.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of January 25, 2013
University of California regents have approved a tentative plan for UC-San Francisco Medical Center to develop a formal affiliation with Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland. Marin General Hospital has been awarded an additional $11 million from Sutter Health in a legal dispute.
Groups Make Essential Health Benefit Recommendations
On Wednesday, a coalition of business groups, insurers and health care providers urged HHS to adopt a set of recommendations for essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act that are intended to make the cost of coverage affordable for small businesses. The recommendations offered by the Essential Health Benefits Coalition include reducing requirements for pediatric dental and vision care benefits and ensuring that required benefits are consistent with evidence-based clinical guidelines. Modern Healthcare.
Editorial Slams Brown for Making State ACA ‘Guinea Pig’
A U-T San Diego editorial notes that during his State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Brown elicited “one of the biggest cheers” for promoting the state’s “push to be the first … to implement” the Affordable Care Act. However, the editorial argues that the ACA “is so fraught with internal contradictions that it sometimes seems designed to collapse the existing U.S. health care system.” It concludes that “it won’t be long before millions of Californians wish their leaders weren’t quite so gung-ho about making them be the guinea pigs for Obamacare.” U-T San Diego.
WellPoint Reports 38% Jump in Fourth Quarter Earnings
On Wednesday, health insurer WellPoint — parent company of California’s Anthem Blue Cross — announced that it exceeded analysts’ expectations with a net income of $464.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. The Q4 earnings represent a 38% increase from the $335.3 million it earned during the final quarter of 2011. Los Angeles Times.
Medicare Paid Claims for Inmates, Undocumented Residents, Reports Find
Reports from HHS’ Office of Inspector General find that from 2009 to 2011, Medicare violated federal law by paying more than $120 million in claims for inmates and undocumented residents. The reports call for CMS to create a better system to flag such charges. Politico et al.
Deal Gives John Muir 49% Stake in San Ramon Hospital
On Wednesday, John Muir Health — the Walnut Creek-based not-for-profit health system — announced a joint venture with Texas-based Tenet Healthcare that gives John Muir a 49% stake in Tenet’s San Ramon Regional Medical Center. Under the deal, which is expected to close by March 31, John Muir will invest about $100 million in the San Ramon hospital and collaborate with Tenet to establish outpatient services in neighboring communities. Modern Healthcare.
U.S. Residents Want Debt Fix That Does Not Affect Entitlements, Poll Finds
A survey finds that most U.S. residents want lawmakers to reduce the national deficit without affecting entitlement programs. Meanwhile, most respondents identified the expansion of Medicaid and creation of health insurance exchanges as top priorities. Reuters et al.
Insurers Likely To Offer Limited Plans in Exchanges
Limited network health insurance plans, which are similar to certain HMOs, likely will play a prominent role in health insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act. John Weis — president of Quest Analytics — said insurers “can minimize their risk by creating narrow networks” that would be less attractive to individuals with health problems and more desirable to younger and healthier people. Insurers say that more-limited networks could provide higher quality and more efficient care, which could lead to reduced spending. USA Today/Kaiser Health News.
U.S. Senate Measure Seeks To Readjust Health Care System
On Tuesday, Sen. Tom Harkin introduced an expansive public health bill that aims to reduce health care costs by readjusting the national health care system to focus on prevention, wellness and health promotion. The bill outlines more than two dozen initiatives, such as providing tax credits for comprehensive workplace wellness programs and expanding federal research on mental health and substance use disorders. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Modern Healthcare.