Latest California Healthline Stories
Florida Program Resembling Exchange To Launch in 2012
Florida is preparing to launch a health insurance marketplace in 2012, two years before it is mandatory under the federal health reform law. Details about the program — called Florida Health Choices — indicate that it will not resemble the insurance exchanges being established in other states. State health officials have declined to acknowledge the program as an exchange partly because the state is part of a multistate lawsuit against the reform law. In addition, the program includes differences from the insurance exchanges mandated by the law. For example, it will not require plans to offer “essential health benefits”; it will be open only to small businesses with 50 or fewer employees, not individuals; and it will not offer tax credits to businesses that provide coverage to workers. Kaiser Health News.
Questions About Costs, Duration of New Autism Mandate Persist in Calif.
Gov. Brown signed into law a measure requiring insurers to cover an autism treatment for children, but concerns remain about the cost of the measure and its future after more provisions of the federal health reform law take effect in 2014. San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times.
New Telehealth Law Aims To Boost Access to Health Care
A bill signed into law last week by Gov. Brown aims to boost access to health care services in rural areas through the use of telehealth tools. The law allows for a broader range of telehealth services, expands telehealth providers to include all licensed health care professionals, expands telehealth care settings and allows state hospitals to establish medical credentials for telehealth providers more easily. The California State Rural Health Association, the Center for Connected Health Policy and other groups praised the new law. Healthcare IT News, Modern Healthcare.
Gov. Brown Signs, Vetoes Slate of Health-Related Bills by Deadline
Gov. Brown had until midnight on Sunday to act on numerous health-related bills sent to him by lawmakers. Brown signed a measure requiring coverage of an autism therapy and vetoed a bill to notify women of a breast tissue condition. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.
Liberty University Files Appeal to High Court in Health Reform Lawsuit
Liberty University and two individuals have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the dismissal of its lawsuit challenging the health reform law. The Supreme Court now has received petitions to hear four separate health reform cases. AP/Wall Street Journal et al.
California Misses Sept. General Fund Revenue Target by $302 Million
On Monday, state Controller John Chiang said that California’s revenues in September came in about $302 million short of estimates. For the current fiscal year, the state is about $706 million under expectations, raising the possibility of more health and human services cuts. Reuters et al.
Kaiser Permanente Cuts Some Rates, Offers Premium Credits
Kaiser Permanente has begun to roll back premium rates by 1.2% for small employers with contracts up for renewal between July and December. In addition, Kaiser is distributing $13.7 million in premium credits to members who already began paying higher rates that took effect in July. The insurer did not reach an agreement with the California Department of Managed Health Care on rates until August. Kaiser’s decision to reduce rates and provide credits comes in response to increased state authority to more thoroughly examine proposed rate hikes. Sacramento Business Journal.
California, Group Reach Deal for Safe Drinking Water Plan
Last week, California health officials said they have settled a 2009 lawsuit by California Rural Legal Assistance over the unsafe quality of drinking water in certain communities. The settlement requires the state Department of Public Health to prepare and submit to the Legislature within three years a “Safe Drinking Water Plan.” The plan is required by a state law but has not been completed since 1993. The settlement also allows CRLA and its clients to submit their own data as part of the state’s plan. Fresno Bee, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
L.A. County Working To Expand No-Cost Medical Services Prior to Reform
Los Angeles County is preparing for an expected nationwide Medicaid expansion under the health reform law by signing up thousands of residents in a no-cost health services program. Officials also are seeking to focus more on primary care within the county’s health care system. Los Angeles Times.
Alameda County Braces for Changes Under Health Reform
Alameda County Medical Center officials are preparing for an expected expansion of insurance coverage in 2014 under the federal health reform law. ACMC is a network of hospitals and clinics that serve as the safety-net provider for the county’s 1.5 million residents. Public health care providers like ACMC could be forced to compete with private facilities as more individuals gain coverage. Oakland Tribune.