Latest California Healthline Stories
Patients File Lawsuit Against Sutter Health in Stolen Data Incident
Sutter Health patients have filed a lawsuit against the health system following the theft of a computer that contained personal data of more than four million patients. The lawsuit argues that Sutter was negligent in securing data and in notifying affected patients. Sacramento Bee, KCRA.
California Study Finds Text4baby Service Effective
In a study involving 160 California women, researchers from UC-San Diego and California State University-San Marcos found that Text4baby — a text message service that sends health advice to pregnant women — is highly effective at encouraging women to talk to their doctors, remember appointments and take other healthy steps. The study found that nearly 75% of the women learned through Text4baby about medical warning signs in their pregnancies that they previously had not been aware of. The study also found that more than 70% of women said they were prompted by the text messages to discuss certain topics with their physicians. HHS is studying ways to evaluate the program’s efficacy at a national level. Fierce Healthcare.
U.S. Spends More on Health Care Than Other Developed Countries
A study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development finds that the U.S. spends far more than other developed nations on health care. The report also notes that the U.S. ranks lower than other OECD nations on care quality and population health indicators. Reuters.
State High Court Ruling Supports Retiree Rights to Health Benefits
On Monday, the California Supreme Court ruled that a county or city cannot reduce retirees’ health care benefits if the local government had set the coverage at a certain level and implied that the coverage would be maintained. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Calif. Medical Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Medi-Cal Payment Cuts
The California Medical Association and other professional medical groups have filed a lawsuit against HHS and the state Department of Health Care Services over the recently approved 10% reduction to Medi-Cal reimbursement rates. AP/Sacramento Bee, CMA release.
Alameda County Nabs Grant for Financial, Personal Health
The Alameda County Public Health Department has received a $200,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help low-income residents avoid predatory lenders and boost their financial standing under a broader plan to improve personal health outcomes. Money lost through predatory financial practices can make it more difficult for individuals to obtain health insurance, access health care services, and afford healthy and safe places to live. The county health department is collaborating with the Urban Strategies Council and other Oakland community organizations on the project. Oakland Tribune.
Obama Signs Bill To Fix Medicaid Expansion ‘Glitch’
On Monday, President Obama signed into law legislation to fix a “glitch” in the federal health reform law that could have permitted millions of middle-income early retirees to become eligible for Medicaid and insurance subsidies. The reform law would have used an individual’s modified adjusted gross income — a calculation that excludes some Social Security benefits — to determine Medicaid eligibility. The new law Obama signed changes the income definition to avoid the issue. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
S.F. Group Helps Patients Navigate Health Care System
In 2008, San Francisco physician Jennifer Brokaw launched Good Medicine Consult & Advocacy, a private medical group designed to guide patients through the full course of their care and treatment following a diagnosis. The group — made up of two physicians, four nurses and one pharmacist — does not prescribe medications or accept health insurance but uses its collective medical knowledge to help patients navigate the health care system. San Francisco Chronicle.
Debt Panel Unable To Reach Deal, Triggering Automatic Budget Cuts
On Monday, the debt panel officially announced that it would be unable to agree on a deficit-reduction plan by the Thanksgiving deadline. The panel’s failure to reach a deal will trigger automatic spending cuts, including cuts to Medicare provider payments. Washington Post et al.
HHS Uses Rate Review Authority To Reject Pa. Insurer’s Proposed Hike
HHS has asked Pennsylvania-based Everence Insurance to revoke its proposed 12% premium hike for small-business health plans. The move marks the first time that the agency has used its new authority under the federal health reform law to review rate increases. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.