Latest California Healthline Stories
GOP Bill Says Mandate Should Not Be Considered a Tax
Last week, Rep. Raul Labrador introduced a bill that would clarify that penalties for not purchasing health coverage under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate should not be construed as a tax. The bill aims to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that the mandate is constitutional under Congress’ power to tax. The Hill‘s “Floor Action Blog.”
One in Three Doctors Did Not Take New Medicaid Beneficiaries Last Year
A Health Affairs report finds that nearly one-third of surveyed physicians did not accept new Medicaid patients in 2011. Physicians in states with higher Medicaid payment rates were more likely to accept new Medicaid patients. Wall Street Journal, Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”
San Mateo County Officials Mull Sugary Beverage Tax
San Mateo County officials are considering levying a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in unincorporated areas. Charisse Lebron-Cannon, chief legislative aide to County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, said that the tax is only an idea and not a proposal. A recent informal poll by the county health department found that 51% of voters said such a tax “would not help” reduce obesity, while 42% said it “would help make a difference” and 7% said they were uncertain. San Jose Mercury News.
Obama Campaign Touts Health Law, Embraces ‘ObamaCare’ Label
President Obama’s re-election campaign has begun touting the health reform law following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it. Democrats also have embraced the term “ObamaCare,” which previously had negative connotations. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times.
Special Fund Discrepancy Result of Errors, Accounting, Audit Finds
A state audit of special fund accounts shows that human error and differing accounting procedures resulted in a discrepancy in calculations between the Department of Finance and the state controller’s office. San Jose Mercury News et al.
Columnist: GOP Lawmakers Should Not Cut Medicaid
“Conservative politicians at the state and federal level are laying the groundwork to scale back Medicaid if the GOP takes control of Congress and the White House in November,” columnist David Lazarus writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece. He writes that Medicaid should be preserved because it “is a bulwark against society cruelly turning a blind eye to those most in need” and a “declaration that health care in the United States is not limited solely to those fortunate enough to have well-compensating jobs or fat bank accounts.” Los Angeles Times.
Judge Throws Out Riverside’s Medical Pot Dispensary Ban
On Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Ronald Taylor rejected the county’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, saying it conflicts with state law that permits dispensaries and protects them from local ordinances. The ruling came in response to one of several lawsuits against such bans. The issue is expected to be taken up by the state Supreme Court. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
ACO Eyes Medicare Enrollees in Sacramento-Area Counties
Golden Life Healthcare is the first accountable care organization in the Sacramento region that was selected to participate in CMS’ Medicare Shared Savings program. The ACO soon will begin serving 5,000 Medicare beneficiaries in seven Sacramento-area counties, with plans of doubling the number of beneficiaries served over the next few years. Sacramento Business Journal.
California Health Care Personnel News Update for July 2012
Gov. Brown has appointed Eric Gelber as assistant director of the office of legislation at the state Department of Developmental Services. Chong Porter has been named UC-Davis Health System’s first associate vice chancellor for health sciences development and alumni relations.
Federal Officials Gear Up To Operate State Health Insurance Exchanges
The federal government is getting ready to set up and operate more health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act than it initially anticipated. Many states have resisted the creation of the exchanges or have been deterred by the complexity of the effort. New York Times