Latest California Healthline Stories
S. Calif. Lab, Radiology Firm Faces Fraud Allegations
Diagnostic Labs — the largest clinical laboratory and radiology company for nursing homes in Southern California — is accused of offering significant discounts to skilled nursing facilities in exchange for business that could be charged to taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. Attorneys for Diagnostic Labs said in the court documents that the allegations are overblown. California Watch.
MedPAC Recommends Higher Upfront Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries
A Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report states that Medicare beneficiaries should face higher upfront costs to encourage them to avoid costly and unnecessary care. The report also suggests changes in the way Medicare handles supplemental coverage. Reuters et al.
Democrats Send Main Budget Bill to Assembly, Senate Floors
Democrats have sent to the Assembly and Senate floors their main budget bill, which differs from Gov. Brown’s budget plan by about $300 million. Lawmakers must approve a balanced budget plan by midnight on Friday. Contra Costa Times, AP/Sacramento Bee.
Appeals Process for DPH Hospital Safety Penalties Can Take Several Years
Hospitals seeking to appeal administrative penalties levied by the California Department of Public Health sometimes can wait years for a final court decision. DPH data show that 23 state hospitals are in the process of appealing about $1.84 million in fines. Payers & Providers.
Opinion: Prop. 29 Campaign Did Not Appeal to Nonwhites
In a Capitol Weekly opinion piece, Jakada Imani — executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights — and Vien Truong — director of Green Assets at The Greenlining Institute — write that current vote counts suggest that “Proposition 29 has narrowly gone down to defeat,” which can be blamed in part on supporters not promoting the measure to nonwhite individuals. They write, “Not only has California had a nonwhite majority for many years, but people of color are already saddled with higher levels of chronic disease and lower rates of health insurance coverage,” making them “a natural constituency for Prop. 29.” Imani and Truong credit tobacco companies with making “at least a token effort to target voters of color.” Capitol Weekly.
UCSF Program Puts Runners’ Health Information Online
On Wednesday, UC-San Francisco officials announced a program that will allow participants in next month’s San Francisco Marathon to upload their medical information to an online database in case they require medical attention during the race. Runners using the database will have an online profile corresponding to their assigned race number, allowing first responders to look up the runner’s profile and provide treatment accordingly. San Francisco Chronicle.
Court Upholds State Laws Banning One-Stop Eye Stores
On Wednesday, a federal appellate court ruled that California acted within its rights when it prohibited stores that offer “one-stop shopping” for eye examinations and prescription lenses. Eye care providers had argued that the laws would hurt interstate commerce. The plaintiffs could seek review by an enlarged circuit panel or the Supreme Court. Sacramento Bee.
Lawmakers Question Business Group’s Health Law Stance
On Wednesday, U.S. Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) questioned whether the National Federation of Independent Business — the main business group heading the legal challenge against the federal health reform law — is acting on behalf of small businesses or “large corporate interests that do not speak for the American people.” In a letter to NFIB President Dan Danner, Ellison and Grijalva noted that recent reports have found that small businesses are benefitting financially from the overhaul. The letter requested that NFIB disclose a list of its members and donors, as well as a $3.7 million grant from the conservative political action committee Crossroads GPS. The Hill’s “Healthwatch.”
Opinion Piece Criticizes Lack of Calif. Budget Transparency
In a Sacramento Bee opinion piece, Kenneth Hall — a member of the University of Redlands’ Board of Trustees and former deputy director of finance under Gov. Ronald Reagan — writes, “A fleeting single vote by the Legislature on the final state budget will be held sometime before midnight tonight, so the members of the two chambers can get paid.” He adds, “Sadly, the single vote will be the first and only public view of the final decisions on how the state will spend $92 billion over this next year.” Sacramento Bee.
About Half of U.S. Adults Lacked Preventive Care Before 2010, CDC Finds
A CDC study finds that nearly 50% of U.S. adults did not receive key preventive services before 2010. The study aims to set a baseline of preventive care use before the health reform law mandates coverage of such services. Los Angeles Times‘ “Booster Shots,” National Journal.