Latest California Healthline Stories
Sacramento County Sees Jump in STI Rates in Women
More than four out of every 100 Sacramento County women between ages 15 and 24 were diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea in 2010, a 12% increase from 2009, according to the state Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, the county’s birth rate among young women declined by 23%. Sacramento Bee.
Ventura County Clinic Picks Up Medical Home Designation
The Joint Commission, a national accrediting organization, has designated Clinicas del Camino Real in Ventura County as a primary care medical home. Clinicas is one of four California organizations and eight outpatient systems nationwide that have earned the accreditation, which the commission started offering in July. Michael Kulczycki, executive director of the commission’s ambulatory care accreditation, said clinics are designated as a primary care medical home if they meet standards for coordinating and tracking patient care, offer follow-up services, and have demonstrated that patients have easy access to appointments, test results and after-hours care. Ventura County Star.
Contra Costa County Unions Turn Down Health Care Deal
A coalition of five Contra Costa County public employee unions has rejected a county proposal to switch health insurance plans and save several hundred dollars per month on premium costs. Members of the coalition say they want a deal similar to one the county offered deputy sheriffs. In that arrangement, the county would pay 80% of premium increases in 2012 and 75% in 2013 in exchange for salary reductions and higher pension contributions. Contra Costa Times.
Delays in New CalPERS System Cause Erroneous Insurance Cancellations
The switch to CalPERS’ new $507 million computer system has increased the time it takes to convert pension payouts to death benefit payments and affected when health premiums are paid. Consequently, some members have received notification that their health insurance has been canceled. Sacramento Bee.
AHMC Central Health Nabs HMO From Investor Group
AHMC Central Health — a subsidiary of AHMC Healthcare, a hospital operator based in Alhambra — has acquired Central Health Plan of California from a private Diamond Bar-based investor group. Central Health Plan has operated as an HMO since 2004 and has offered services to about 11,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Modern Healthcare.
Opinion Piece Stumps for Reform’s Insurance Mandate
“On the surface, Republican and conservative opposition” to the provision in the federal health reform law requiring most U.S. residents to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty “seems perfectly logical,” Walter Zelman — chair of the Department of Public Health at California State University-Los Angeles, and chair of L.A. Care Health Plan’s board of governors — writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece. “There is a long history of conservative preference for limited government and individual responsibility,” he continues. Regarding the insurance mandate, he notes that medical costs for individuals who “could have purchased insurance and didn’t … will be paid by taxpayers, or those who have bought insurance.” Zelman concludes that conservatives should consider whether “the principle of limited government [is] so compelling that it should cause us to penalize the responsible and reward the irresponsible?” Los Angeles Times.
Pleasant Hill Aims To Cut Elected Officials’ Benefits
On Monday, the Pleasant Hill City Council rejected a proposal designed to save the city more than $54,000 annually by eliminating the medical, dental and vision benefits of council members, the city clerk and treasurer. However, the council asked a subcommittee to develop another proposal to trim officials’ health care benefits. The council also asked the subcommittee to develop a plan that would provide such benefits only as a last resort. Contra Costa Times.
DHCS Head Discusses Medi-Cal Expansion, Payment Cuts
In a recent interview, California Department of Health Care Services Director Toby Douglas discussed the challenges the department faces as it works to expand Medi-Cal coverage under the federal health reform law amid significant state budget cuts. Last month, CMS approved the state’s plan to reduce certain Medi-Cal payments by 10%. Douglas said that the “payment reductions are going to have impacts on our providers and our beneficiaries,” but he noted that “we did it in a way that ensured there would continue to be access.” Douglas added that under the $10 billion Medi-Cal waiver that aims to expand access to public health programs, “populations are going to be able to receive more coordinated care, access primary care providers and receive care management.” Pasadena Star-News.
Calif. Hospital Association Urges Court To Block Medi-Cal Cuts
The California Hospital Association is asking a federal court to block certain 10% cuts to Medi-Cal payment rates. CHA claims that the cuts could be higher than 10% because they are based on fiscal year 2008-2009 rates. KPBS News et al.
NAIC To Urge Congress To Adjust Medical-Loss Ratio Requirements
Yesterday, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners approved a resolution that calls for Congress to change the medical-loss ratio rule. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones was one of 19 commissioners to vote against the measure. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.