Latest California Healthline Stories
GAO Official Says CMS Must Do More To Curb Fraud
In written remarks, Government Accountability Office Health Care Director Kathleen King told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health that CMS has not followed past recommendations to curb health care fraud, such as removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and integrating predictive analytics into existing health information technology systems. As a result, fraudulent activity surrounding federal health programs — such as upcoding, physician kickbacks and identification theft — continues to proliferate, King wrote. Modern Healthcare.
Columnist: Lack of Choice Is ‘Price We Pay’ for Insurance
In a Los Angeles Times opinion piece, columnist David Lazarus writes that as of Jan. 1, 2013, Anthem Blue Cross members who require “specialty medicines” for complex health conditions must either buy their drugs from a mail-order pharmacy or “pay full fare at a retail drugstore.” He writes that although some members might think the change in policy is unfair, “the practice of an insurer dictating terms to patients is the price we pay for an employer-based insurance system under which for-profit companies negotiate terms to keep costs down.” Los Angeles Times.
California Lawmakers To Weigh Multiple ACA-Related Measures
In the new session, California lawmakers likely will consider various measures related to Affordable Care Act implementation. Such measures include state insurance exchange regulations and a bill that would establish a Basic Health Plan. Los Angeles Times.
Obama’s Sequestration Plan Includes Medicare Cuts; GOP Rejects Plan
President Obama’s plan to avert spending cuts under sequestration calls for tax hikes, as well as legislation in 2013 to cut $400 billion from Medicare and other federal health programs over a decade. House Speaker John Boehner rejected the proposal. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.
Possible Breach of Ambulance Riders’ Data Sparks Probe
A federal probe has been launched to determine whether an employee of an ambulance billing services firm hired by the Los Angeles Fire Department illegally obtained confidential personal data on hundreds of patients who rode in LAFD ambulances in recent months, according to Chief Deputy City Attorney William Carter. LAFD is notifying patients about the possible data breach and urging them to contact the IRS to check if fraudulent tax returns have been filed in their names. Los Angeles Times et al.
Study Finds Minor Cost Effect for Domestic Partner Benefits
A bill that would extend to domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal workers eligibility for a variety of benefits — including coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program — would have a minor effect on the cost of those benefits and the number of people covered, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. The bill has stalled in the Senate, where it was approved by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in May. Washington Post‘s “Federal Eye.”
Experts Predict Most States Will Participate in Medicaid Expansion
Certain health policy experts predict that most governors ultimately will decide to participate in a Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. They say states will participate because federal funding will cover all expansion costs for several years. Politico, Modern Healthcare.
Pacific Research Institute CEO: ACA Could Lead to Rationing
In a Forbes opinion piece, Sally Pipes — president and CEO of the California-based Pacific Research Institute — argues that comparative effectiveness research under the Affordable Car Act “is nothing more than a backdoor route to health care rationing.” She writes that “[s]uch research will almost certainly be used to not-so-subtly influence treatment decisions” and could cause patients to “suffer.” Forbes.
Poll: 54% Against Federally Guaranteed Health Coverage
Fifty-four percent of respondents to a recent annual Gallup poll said the federal government is not responsible for guaranteeing health insurance for all U.S. residents. The poll marks the first time since 2000 that Gallup found a majority of U.S. residents opposed to government-guaranteed coverage. Politico.
Data Show California Among U.S. States With Lowest Antibiotics Use
New data from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy find that California ranks among states with the lowest use of antibiotics. Health experts say that frequent use of antibiotics can build bacterial resistance to the drugs. Payers & Providers, American Medical News.