Latest California Healthline Stories
Changes to San Diego Retiree Health Plan To Save $802M
A plan to shift many San Diego workers to a city-funded, 401(k)-like health savings plan — instead of a guaranteed benefit plan upon retirement — will save the city $802 million over the next 25 years, according to San Diego City Chief Operating Officer Jay Goldstone. Goldstone said more workers opted for the new plan, which raised the projected savings from $714 million. U-T San Diego.
Opinion: Mental Health Bill Needs Rehabilitation Provision
In a Palm Springs Desert Sun opinion piece, California Treatment Advocacy Foundation Executive Director Phillip Greer writes that a bill — by Assembly member Jim Beall — that would expand mental health services covered by private insurers should be “amended to protect those individuals specifically in need of alcohol and drug rehabilitation, but who are often denied such care by their health insurance carriers.” Greer writes, “For far too long, health insurance companies have imposed barriers that reduce access to much-need chemical dependency treatment.” Palm Springs Desert Sun.
Columnist Criticizes Reform Law for ‘Crazy Spending’
Syndicated columnist Jay Ambrose argues that the federal health reform law’s contraception coverage provision “sums up part of what [the law] is about: interventions helping some by the most autocratic, complicated, ineffective means possible while hurting many others.” He writes, “But Obamacare is also about crazy spending,” adding, “Are there lifeboats for this fiscal Titanic of ours? We could go under.” Orange County Register.
Medicare Competitive Bidding Pilot Reduced Costs by 42%, CMS Says
A new CMS report finds that a yearlong Medicare competitive bidding pilot program conducted in nine metropolitan areas curbed costs by 42% without reducing care quality. However, the American Association for Homecare disputed the report’s findings. New York Times et al.
Many U.S. Adults Faced Gaps in Coverage Last Year, Survey Finds
A Commonwealth Fund survey finds that more than 25% of U.S. residents ages 19 to 64 had gaps in insurance coverage at some point last year, and nearly 70% of those residents had been uninsured for one year or longer. Los Angeles Times et al.
Senate Committee Clears Legislation for Newborn Disease Testing
The California Senate Health Committee has approved a bill that would require screening of newborns for two lysosomal storage diseases. Some health experts are concerned by the bill, saying not enough is known about the diseases and their treatments. Ventura County Star.
Kaiser Permanente Launches Wellness Tool for Employers
Kaiser Permanente has released a toolkit that seeks to help employers create a wellness committee for workers. The toolkit provides a checklist for creating the committee, a member recruitment email template, a guide for conducting initial meetings and a pledge for prospective committee members to sign. All employers are able to acquire the toolkit, regardless of whether they offer Kaiser Permanente as a health plan. Sacramento Business Journal.
Sacramento Campaign Targets Mental Illness Stigma
Recently, the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services launched the “Stop Stigma Sacramento” campaign to address negative attitudes and false beliefs about mental illness. The million-dollar, yearlong campaign is being funded by the Mental Health Services Act, also known as Proposition 63. HealthyCal.
Sacramento Firm Nabs $5M for Stem Cell Harvesting
Sacramento-based SynGen announced that it received $5 million in funding from the San Francisco venture capital firm Bay City Capital to further develop its stem cell harvesting systems. SynGen will use the funding to develop, market and obtain regulatory approval for SynGen-1000, which harvests stem and progenitor cells for use in various treatments. Sacramento Bee.
Rate Reductions by Two Malpractice Insurers Will Save Nearly $4M
Planned rate reductions by two medical malpractice insurers will save policyholders nearly $4 million annually, according to the Department of Insurance. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones called for reductions after reviewing the companies’ rate filings. Healthcare Finance News.