Latest California Healthline Stories
Institute of Aging Hotline Aids Seniors With Mental Issues
In 2011, California’s Friendship Line — a 24-hour telephone hotline run by the Institute of Aging — received about 18,000 phone calls and made 40,000 calls to assist seniors. Operators make calls to remind seniors to take their medications or offer support for those with mental health issues. The hotline, which also aims to reduce the rate of suicide among seniors, recently secured funding from the California Mental Health Services Authority to expand its presence in the state. HealthyCal.
DMHC Pursuing Legal Action Against Individual Physician
The Department of Managed Health Care has issued a cease-and-desist order and filed a lawsuit against South Pasadena cosmetic surgeon Jeannette Martello for her routine balance billing of patients. According to a DMHC spokesperson, the legal action is the first that DMHC has issued against an individual physician. Payers & Providers.
Editorial: Brown Taking ‘Real Risks’ With Tax Compromise
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that Gov. Brown “is taking some real risks” by agreeing to merge his tax hike proposal with a rival tax initiative. Unlike Brown’s original plan, the merged proposal might draw opposition from business groups, the editorial states. It adds, “If Democrats want to avoid a crushing opposition campaign, they need to come to the table and negotiate real reforms to reduce California’s long-term pension obligations.” Sacramento Bee.
LAO: Compromise Tax Plan Would Yield Less Revenue Than Projected
The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that a compromise tax plan reached by Gov. Brown and backers of the “Millionaires Tax” would yield about $6.8 billion in revenue next year, about $2 billion less than Brown projected. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
S.F. Firefighters Concerned About Aging Ambulance Fleet
A San Francisco firefighters union has expressed concern that the city’s aging ambulance fleet might pose safety risks for paramedics and the public. The union wants the city fire department to spend $6.8 million in state funds on new ambulances and other equipment, but the department says the ambulances are safe. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Court: Nurse Anesthetists Do Not Need Doctor Supervision
Last week, an appeals court ruled that nurse anesthetists do not need a physician’s supervision to administer anesthesia to California hospital patients. The case stems from a lawsuit that the California Medical Association filed over former Gov. Schwarzenegger’s order allowing nurse anesthetists to give anesthesia without supervision. A CMA official said the association has not decided whether to appeal the ruling. San Francisco Chronicle.
Report Calls for Reforming Calif.’s Mental Health Treatment Law
A report by mental health advocates finds that residents with the most severe mental illnesses do not have adequate access to treatment. It calls for overhauling the 45-year-old Lanterman-Petris-Short Act and further implementing Laura’s Law. KPCC’s “KPCC News” et al.
Report Finds Uptick in Costs, Enrollment for Medicaid, CHIP
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program enrolled about 78 million residents and cost about $444 billion in fiscal year 2011, up from 76 million enrollees and $400 billion in costs in FY 2010, according to a report by the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. In the report, MACPAC also outlined recommendations to boost care quality, lower costs and improve fraud detection. Modern Healthcare.
Republicans Keep Up Efforts To Dismantle Health Reform Law
The GOP is continuing efforts to weaken the federal health reform law, which will mark its two-year anniversary this week. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has announced plans to release same-day audio recordings of arguments in the reform law case. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
HHS Issues Final Rule on Federal Reform Law’s Medicaid Expansion
Last week, HHS released the final rule governing the Medicaid expansion mandated under the federal health reform law. HHS said it responded to stakeholder feedback by adding more consumer protections and state-level flexibility to the final rule. Modern Healthcare et al.