Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS: Reform Law Helps Calif. Medicare Patients Save $41M on Rx Drugs
New CMS data show that the federal health reform law has helped nearly 70,000 California Medicare beneficiaries save a total of $41 million on prescription drugs this year. Beneficiaries in the state have saved $311 million since the reform law was passed. Los Angeles Times.
Amendment Could Give Brown’s Tax Hike Plan Priority on Ballot
Democratic lawmakers are supporting a budget bill amendment that likely would give Gov. Brown’s compromise tax hike plan higher placement on the November ballot because it is a constitutional amendment. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Sacramento Bee.
L.A. County Clinics Nab $7M in Reform Law Funds
Los Angeles County officials praised HHS’ announcement on Thursday that 12 Los Angeles County community health clinics will receive $7 million in federal health reform funding. Another $8 million in federal health reform funding will go to 18 other community clinics throughout the state. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Supporters of Tobacco Tax Hike Ballot Initiative Concede Defeat
Supporters of Proposition 29 — a tobacco tax hike ballot initiative — have admitted defeat, saying recent vote counts suggest that the measure cannot win. Prop. 29 opponents say they will not declare victory until the final count is released. Sacramento Bee et al.
Union of Physicians, Dentists Reach Furlough Agreement
On Friday, Gov. Brown reached an agreement with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists on an eight-hour monthly furlough for about 1,800 of UAPD’s members. Under the deal, each member’s monthly pay would be reduced by 4.62%. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Gaining Coverage Boosts Health, Raises Spending, Oregon Study Finds
A continuing study of a 2008 effort to expand Medicaid coverage in Oregon finds that gaining insurance coverage improves an individual’s health, happiness and financial stability, while also increasing the amount of money the individual spends on health care. New York Times.
1.9M Californians Expected To Get Insurance Rebates
This year, 1.9 million California residents are expected to receive rebates from health insurers because of a medical-loss ratio requirement in the federal health reform law, according to HHS state-by-state data. The average rebate in California is expected to be $65, compared with $151 nationwide. U-T San Diego.
Columnist Mulls Possible Ruling on Health Reform Law
Los Angeles Times business columnist David Lazarus writes that the conservative U.S Supreme Court justices are expected to strike down the federal health reform law’s individual mandate but retain the law’s “‘guaranteed issue’ of coverage,” which “would be giving Americans a green light to wait until they get sick before seeking health coverage.” Lazarus argues that such a “split decision would achieve something no one wants to see: an even more dysfunctional insurance system.” Los Angeles Times.
Officials Tout Benefits of ‘Bridge to Reform’ Ahead of Supreme Court Ruling
Health officials in California are praising a program that aims to implement the federal health reform law’s Medicaid expansion ahead of schedule. Some officials say the program could work even if the U.S. Supreme Court rules against the overhaul. Ventura County Star.
Health Advocates Say Healthy Families Shift Could Increase Costs
Health care advocates say a plan to eliminate Healthy Families and shift beneficiaries to Medi-Cal could raise state costs. They say the plan might reduce support for a managed care tax that generates $183 million annually. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Sacramento Bee.