Latest California Healthline Stories
Steinberg Creates Task Force on Autism Treatment Access
On Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg announced the creation of a new task force to examine disparities in the distribution of autism services in California’s minority communities. The panel aims to complete its recommendations by late October. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
CMS Still Evaluating Cost of Modifying Medicare Beneficiaries’ ID Cards
Yesterday, CMS officials said the agency will need more time to estimate the cost of removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. Lawmakers are urging CMS to remove the numbers to reduce beneficiaries’ risk of identity theft. AP/U-T San Diego, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Poll: Americans Oppose ACA Penalty, Whether Labeled as ‘Tax’ or ‘Fine’
A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that 61% of surveyed U.S. residents oppose the health reform law’s individual mandate when the financial penalty is described as a tax, and 66% oppose it when the penalty is described as a fine. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules” et al.
Exchange Could Help Alter Insurance Market With ‘Active Purchasing’
California Health Benefit Exchange officials say that the exchange’s “active purchaser” status could help change the state’s health insurance market. Being an active purchaser allows the exchange to select which health plans are offered and set their criteria. Contra Costa Times.
Medical Pot Advocates Gave Thousands to Lawmakers
Over the past year, medical marijuana dispensaries and their supporters have given more than $16,000 to the re-election campaigns of Los Angeles City Council members Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz, who opposed a citywide medical marijuana ban enacted last week, according to a Los Angeles Times review. Rosendahl received nearly $8,900 from medical marijuana advocates in 2011. Kortez received more than $7,300 — or 9% of his campaign contributions in the last year — from medical marijuana dispensaries and their advocates. Los Angeles Times.
House, Senate Budget Deal Lacks Provision To Avert Medicare Pay Cuts
Yesterday, congressional leaders reached a budget agreement that does not include an adjustment or repeal of the sustainable growth rate formula. The current SGR formula would require a 27% reduction to Medicare physician payments starting in 2013. Modern Healthcare et al.
Panel Says No EKGs for Low-Risk Heart Disease Patients
On Monday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against the use of electrocardiograms in patients with a low risk for developing heart disease. According to the panel, there is not enough evidence to show that the test provides adequate data to determine a patient’s risks, compared with traditional factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The recommendation applies only to patients who are not experiencing any symptoms of heart problems, such as pain or shortness of breath. Wall Street Journal, Reuters.
Insurance Department Releases Rebate Data for Calif. Health Insurers
The state Department of Insurance has released information on medical-loss ratio rebates being sent out this week by California insurers. About 1.8 million residents are expected to receive a total of $73.9 million in rebates. Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Co.”
Brown’s Compromise Tax Hike Plan Gains $6.3M in Donations
Organizations and lawmakers during the first half of this year made about $6.3 million in donations in support of Gov. Brown’s compromise tax hike plan. At the end of June, the campaign had $5 million in cash on hand. Sacramento Bee et al.
Editorial: ‘Payoff Is Real’ for Sacramento’s Fluoride Plan
Following the Sacramento City Council’s decision last week to extend the city’s water fluoridation program, a Sacramento Bee editorial notes that a consultant last year said “it’s going to cost $2.3 million to $3.7 million for immediate repairs and replacements” and the “total cost of fluoridation — both operations and equipment — would be somewhere around $45 million over the next 20 years.” The editorial concludes, “That’s a big investment, but the payoff is real,” adding, “While the city can go slow on less urgent upgrades, it also should be very cautious about giving up fluoride’s benefits to public health.” Sacramento Bee.