Latest California Healthline Stories
Insurance Department Grants Counties $1.7M for Anti-Fraud Efforts
The Department of Insurance has awarded $1.7 million to help counties curb health and disability insurance fraud. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said the grants will aid local district attorneys, who often have fewer resources to fight fraud. Payers & Providers, DOI release.
HHS, Pharmacies To Promote Reform Law’s Benefits for Seniors
HHS plans to work with five pharmacy chains to promote the health reform law’s benefits for seniors. Under the partnership, the pharmacies will provide Medicare beneficiaries with pamphlets about no-cost preventive services available under the law. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
HHS Awarding $68M To Boost Access to Care for People With HIV/AIDS
Yesterday, HHS announced $68 million in grants to improve access to care for people with HIV/AIDS. The funds will be awarded to 114 organizations, health agencies and hospitals through the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” CQ HealthBeat.
Opinion Piece Stumps for Basic Health Plan in California
In a San Jose Mercury News opinion piece, John Ramey — president of the Local Health Plans of California — argues that “it’s vital that California” pass legislation to create a Basic Health Plan. He concludes, “The Basic Health Plan is California’s opportunity to ensure health care reform works. It must be put in place now, so that come 2014, all Californians are covered and all Californians who are currently insured see their costs go down.” San Jose Mercury News.
Unions Circulating Draft of Bill To Boost Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Lobbyists for labor unions are circulating a 45-point summary of proposed legislation that would increase workers’ compensation benefits. The plan would increase benefits by a total of about $700 million annually. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Sacramento Business Journal.
Democrats, Republicans Escalate Attacks Over Changes to Medicare
Democrats are criticizing presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s running mate Rep. Paul Ryan over his Medicare reform plan, while Republicans are blasting Democrats over the health reform law’s $700 billion in Medicare cuts. New York Times et al.
Hospitals Could Lose $280M for Excess Readmissions
More than 2,200 U.S. hospitals stand to lose a combined $280 million next year because of CMS penalties for excess readmissions, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis. The cuts will come from the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, which was established by the Affordable Care Act and reduces Medicare payments for excess readmissions beginning Oct. 1, 2012. Kaiser Health News.
Nurses Criticize Contra Costa’s Computer Health System
At a Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, two nurses and their union representatives said that Contra Costa County’s new correctional medical computer system is endangering inmates, medical staff and sheriff’s deputies. The county launched the $45 million EPIC computer system on July 1 to link its five correctional facilities with the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and other county health care operations. Since it went live, the system has led to 142 nursing complaints. Contra Costa Times.
Study: Food Stamps Do Not Affect Sugary Drink Usage
Low-income children participating in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are no more or less likely to consume sugary drinks than peers not enrolled in the program, according to a study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, provides about $284 monthly in assistance to low-income families to buy food at grocery stores. Anne Barnhill — a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy — noted that the findings do not answer whether banning the use of food stamps to buy sugary beverages would reduce consumption. Reuters.
Groups File Suit Against DPH To Hasten Limit on Drinking Water Chemical
Two environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to pressure the state Department of Public Health to set an enforceable limit on hexavalent chromium. The chemical — found in Southern California’s drinking water — is a known carcinogen, experts say. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”