Latest California Healthline Stories
Poll: Residents Remain Divided on ACA, Support for Repeal Has Declined
A new poll conducted after the election finds that voters remain about evenly divided on the Affordable Care Act. The poll notes that public support for repealing the law has reached a record low, with only 33% of respondents favoring a full repeal. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules” et al.
S.D. Hospice Officials Resign Amid Medicare Audit Issues
On Tuesday, San Diego Hospice Chief Medical Director Steven Oppenheim and CFO Kathy Jones tendered their resignations, according to an internal email from CEO Kathleen Pacurar. Their resignations come just one day after news that the organization is facing significant financial problems related to an ongoing federal Medicare audit. U-T San Diego.
HHS Extends Deadline for Health Exchange Blueprints
HHS has given states until Dec. 14 to submit detailed plans for establishing health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. The extended deadline aims to help states obtain the technical support necessary to pursue their own exchanges. States that plan to partner with the federal government will have until Feb. 15 to submit a blueprint and declaration letter. The deadline extension will not affect the anticipated January 2014 launch of the exchanges. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog” et al.
Editorial Criticizes Approval of Hospital Salary Cap Measure
Voters’ approval of Measure M, which caps the salaries and compensation packages of executives at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, “will prevent El Camino from keeping or attracting professionals qualified to manage a system of its size and complexity,” a San Jose Mercury News editorial argues. It adds, “This was no grass-roots rebellion against lavish pay; it was a negotiating ploy by hospital unions.” San Jose Mercury News.
Stakeholders Aim To Block Mandated Cuts to Medicare Payments
Lobbying groups, health care advocates and research institutions are disseminating petitions, letters and advertisements to stop the mandated Medicare cuts under sequestration. Advocates are concerned about the concessions lawmakers could make to reach a deal. Reuters et al.
Lawmakers, Experts Seek To Revise Federal Health Law
Lawmakers and health policy experts are considering changes to the Affordable Care Act in the wake of President Obama’s re-election. For example, some experts say that ACA provisions to cut provider reimbursements will not stabilize health care costs and instead are pushing to curb spending through preventive care measures. USA Today.
Federal Medicare Audit Might Force Layoffs at S.D. Hospice
Issues uncovered by a federal Medicare audit could force San Diego Hospice to return millions of dollars to Medicare and lay off as many as 200 employees, according to CEO Kathleen Pacurar. Medicare is conducting audits nationwide to demine whether hospice facilities’ policies are too liberal in qualifying patients for Medicare hospice reimbursements. U-T San Diego.
Brown Says Passage of Proposition 30 Could Prompt National Trend
Gov. Brown says that the passage of Proposition 30, his compromise tax hike plan, could be the start of a national trend. According to Brown, if the economic recovery in California is adequate, the state likely will not need to enact further tax hikes. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Lawmaker Plans Bill Requiring Reporting of Rx-Related Deaths
Sen. Curren Price says that he will introduce a bill requiring coroners to report all prescription drug-related deaths to the Medical Board of California. The move follows an investigation of overdose deaths in Southern California. Los Angeles Times.
Columnist Slams Insurers for Rate Hikes Based on Location
Los Angeles Times columnist David Lazarus discusses how “insurers have carved the state into various zones based on the average cost of local doctors and hospitals.” Lazarus notes that the Affordable Care Act “empowers the state to redraw insurers’ rating regions” in 2014, but until then, “[s]tep over an imaginary line drawn by some insurance bean counter, and your rate can soar 25%.” He asks, “In what parallel universe is this considered an acceptable way to provide health care?” Los Angeles Times.