Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Law Ruling Will Help Women, Mock Memo Says
This week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s office issued a mock memo to the Republican Women’s Policy Committee highlighting how the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal health reform law will benefit women in their districts. The memo cites reform law provisions that prevent insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions and dropping coverage when women become pregnant. The Hill.
Opinion: Public Perceptions At Play in Justice Roberts’ Vote
In a Sacramento Bee opinion piece, Ed Telfeyan — a law professor at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law — writes that U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ deciding vote to uphold the federal health reform law might reflect a “need to restore the public’s perception of the integrity of the court.” According to Telfeyan, the public’s perception of the court has been “tarnished” by the belief that certain rulings have been made on “purely partisan grounds.” Telfeyan writes, “And if, indeed, Roberts was motivated by that concern, then he crafted an opinion” in the reform law ruling that, “although judicially suspect, met his goals.”
Lawsuit Alleges Aetna Threatens To Deny Out-of-Network Coverage
About 60 California physicians and the California Medical Association are suing Aetna for allegedly threatening to deny coverage for out-of-network care. Aetna says the suit is retaliation for a lawsuit it filed against health care providers earlier this year. Los Angeles Times et al.
DOJ: Glaxo Settles Rx Drug Marketing Lawsuit for $3B
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a $3 billion settlement agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to resolve allegations that the British drugmaker broke U.S. laws in marketing several products. Under the agreement, GSK will pay the settlement and plead guilty to misdemeanor criminal charges for illegally marketing antidepressants Paxil and Wellbutrin and for failing to report the safety data on diabetes drug Avandia. The agreement is said to be the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history. Reuters, New York Times.
House Panel To Examine Implications of Supreme Court’s Reform Ruling
Next week, the House Ways and Means Committee will examine how the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal health reform law’s individual mandate as a tax could affect future action taken by Congress. The Hill‘s “On the Money,” The Hill‘s “Floor Action Blog.”
Editorial Says Democrats Must Promote Tax Hike Plan
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues, “Now that the state budget is done, Gov. Jerry Brown and other Democratic leaders must confront the hard task of persuading a rightly skeptical electorate to approve” a compromise tax hike initiative. The editorial states, “Brown and his allies will need to make certain that voters have a clear understanding of what lies ahead if they reject the $8.5 billion tax hike.” It concludes, “Nothing on California’s long November ballot will be more consequential for this state than the governor’s tax measure.” Sacramento Bee.
District Seeks Transparency in Relationship With Hospital
Mark Twain Health Care District recently said it would move into its own offices and take other steps to maintain the transparency of its relationship with the privately operated Mark Twain St. Joseph Hospital. The move comes in response to a grand jury report that criticized the district’s relationship with the hospital. Stockton Record.
Insurance Commissioner Denies Blue Shield Plan To Close Policies
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has denied Blue Shield of California’s plan to close 22 health policies to new customers, suggesting it could cause rate increases. Blue Shield said it will work on an alternate plan. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Field Poll: 37% of Calif. Voters Say Latest Budget Cuts Are Too Severe
A new Field Poll finds that 37% of registered California voters say that budget cuts included in the fiscal year 2012-2013 spending plan go too far. Meanwhile, 72% of voters oppose automatic cuts that would kick in if voters do not approve a tax hike initiative. Sacramento Bee.
SEIU-UHW Workers Approve Contract With Dignity Health
Members of Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West recently approved a new four-year contract with Dignity Health. The agreement maintains employees’ current benefits and planned wage increases. It also includes a 2% across-the-board wage increase in May 2013. Sacramento Business Journal.