Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Insurance Exchange Awards $359M Contract to Accenture
The California Health Benefit Exchange plans to award a $359 million contract to Accenture to build a website that handles eligibility and enrollment for the exchange. The contract requires federal approval. Sacramento Business Journal et al.
Lawmakers Table Effort To Regulate Health Care District Spending
Lawmakers did not take action on a bill that would have regulated health care district spending, delaying efforts to require districts to spend more on community health programs. Assembly member Rich Gordon plans to introduce similar legislation next year. California Watch.
Health Reform Law’s Medical Device Tax Divides Democrats
Democrats are divided over a 2.3% medical device tax, which is projected to raise $2 billion annually to help fund the federal health reform law beginning in 2013. A recent House GOP leadership memo indicated that the House could vote on a bill that would repeal the tax as early as June 4. The bill has 238 co-sponsors, including 10 Democrats. Politico.
Kaiser, DMHC Settle Dispute Over Therapy Coverage
Under a settlement reached with the California Department of Managed Health Care, Kaiser Permanente has agreed to cover medically necessary physical, occupational and speech therapy and reimburse members who paid for such services out-of-pocket since January 2009. As part of the settlement, Kaiser has 60 days to contact members who have filed complaints about denial of such services. Sacramento Business Journal, Payers & Providers.
Survey: Medi-Cal Users Praise Program, Struggle To Obtain Primary Care
A new survey finds that while 90% of Medi-Cal beneficiaries have a positive perception of the program, some have trouble finding primary care physicians. According to the survey, beneficiaries use the emergency department twice as much as other insured residents. Los Angeles Times et al.
Field Poll Finds Voter Support for Tobacco Tax Increase Is Slipping
A new Field Poll finds that voter support is declining for Proposition 29, a June ballot initiative that would raise tobacco taxes by $1 per pack to fund research on smoking-related conditions. The poll finds that about half of likely voters support the tax. Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times.
Pelosi Expects Supreme Court To Uphold Health Reform Law
At a Commonwealth Club event in San Francisco on Tuesday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that she expects the U.S. Supreme Court to vote 6-3 to uphold the federal health reform law. She said she believes that the law’s “constitutionally is ironclad.” San Jose Mercury News.
13.5M U.S. Residents Have High Deductibles, Health Savings Accounts
A report from America’s Health Insurance Plans finds that about 13.5 million U.S. residents are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan paired with a health savings account. The number of enrollees in such plans has increased by 18.4% since 2011. Kaiser Health News/NPR et al.
Senate Unanimously Supports Breast Tissue Notification Bill
On Tuesday, the California Senate voted 39-0 to pass a bill — by Sen. Joe Simitian — that would require physicians to inform women if they have dense breast tissue, which can make cancer harder to detect. Last year, Gov. Brown vetoed a similar bill, which he and many physicians said could create unnecessary anxiety for the women. AP/U-T San Diego.
Legislature Takes Action on Several Health-Related Bills
This week, the California Senate and Assembly took action on a variety of health-related bills. Friday is the deadline for the state Legislature to pass legislation out of its house of origin. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.