Latest California Healthline Stories
Public Officials Increase Scrutiny of Sacramento County’s Dental Program
Public officials are reviewing and considering alternatives for Sacramento County’s dental program for low-income children covered under Medi-Cal. The program has been scrutinized for long wait times and low rates of care among beneficiaries. Sacramento Bee.
House Ways and Means Committee Approves IPAB Repeal Measure
The House Ways and Means Committee has passed a bill to repeal the health reform law’s Independent Payment Advisory Board. A Congressional Budget Office report estimates that repealing IPAB would add $3.1 billion to the deficit over a decade. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Poll: U.S. Residents Less Worried That Reform Will Compromise Care
A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds that a larger percentage of U.S. residents oppose the health reform law than support it. However, the poll finds a decline in the percentage of residents who are concerned that the overhaul will compromise care. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Hearing Examines Patient Care Under Medi-Cal Overhaul
Witnesses testified at an Assembly hearing that Medi-Cal beneficiaries switching to managed care plans face obstacles to accessing care. They said treatments have been delayed and beneficiaries have been bumped off of organ transplant lists. California Watch.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 9, 2012
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited Patton State Hospital and Atascadero State Hospital for not protecting staff from patient assaults. Downey Regional Medical Center announced that it has emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings.
House GOP Unveils Medicaid Reform Bill, Prepares Another
On Wednesday, Rep. Todd Rokita introduced a bill that would save an estimated $1.8 trillion by combining Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program under a single block grant program and freezing federal Medicaid spending at current levels over the next decade. Meanwhile, Rep. Bill Cassidy is preparing a separate proposal that would replace the current federal matching rate system with a per-patient monthly budget that is based on the characteristics of each state’s patient population. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Brown: Rival Tax Plans Would Not Solve Calif. Budget Issues
This week, Gov. Brown compared his tax hike proposal that he seeks to put on the November ballot with rival tax plans, saying his initiative is the only one that would solve the state’s financial problems. He said the other plans do nothing to address budget shortfalls and may even cause bigger fiscal problems for the state. San Francisco Chronicle.
DMHC Confirms 2011 Breach of Confidential Medical Information
A Department of Managed Health Care official said that in October 2011 the agency posted confidential information online, including physician names and medical conditions, about seven Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and one health insurance agent. Payers & Providers.
Assembly Member Stumps for Denti-Cal Benefits for Seniors
Assembly member Richard Pan said comprehensive Denti-Cal benefits should be restored for low-income seniors. The 2009 state budget eliminated most dental benefits for adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Capital Public Radio.
Calif. Hospital Had Financial Links to Vendors, Audit Finds
A new state audit finds that Salinas Valley Memorial Health System paid $21 million over five years to firms in which its CEO and board members had financial interests. According to the audit, there were 11 cases in which board members received stocks and other payments from vendors doing business with the hospital system and two cases that might have been in violation of the law. Hospital officials said they would implement the auditors’ recommendations. Los Angeles Times, AP/Sacramento Bee.