Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Most Medicaid, CHIP Changes Involve Benefit, Payment Cuts
Many changes that states have made to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program have been cuts to benefits or payment rates, a report finds. Some states also have tightened eligibility requirements. CQ HealthBeat, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Experts Wonder if Debt Panel Can Overcome Ideological Obstacles
Some experts say the well-respected liberal and conservative appointees to the new debt panel might bridge their political differences and agree on a deficit-reduction strategy. Others say party loyalties might be too entrenched to allow for a deal. AP/Washington Post et al.
CMS: Doctor Group Project Has Cut Costs, Improved Care
On Monday, CMS announced that its five-year Physician Group Practice Demonstration has reduced costs and improved quality of care. The project was launched in April 2005 and formed the blueprint for the Medicare accountable care organization program in the federal health reform law. The project offered financial bonuses to 10 health systems for meeting performance targets among 32 quality measures and spending at least 2% less on Medicare beneficiaries than nearby facilities. Seven of the systems met quality requirements for all 32 quality measures in the fifth year, and the other three systems met 30 of the measures. Over the five-year period, the 10 systems reduced costs by $134 million. AHA News et al.
California Medical Board Negligent on Disciplining Doctors, Report States
The state medical board has failed to discipline more than 700 physicians, even though they were disciplined by other organizations, according to a Public Citizen report. The board says that it is dealing with personnel shortages. Los Angeles Times, AP/San Jose Mercury News.
Reform Providing Preventive Services to California Seniors
More than 1.4 million Medicare beneficiaries in California have received at least one of the no-cost preventive services made available under the federal health reform law, according to data from federal health officials. Nationwide, more than 17 million seniors have received at least one no-cost preventive service since Jan. 1. Such services include bone mass measurements, diabetes screenings, flu shots, mammograms and prostate cancer tests. Sacramento Business Journal.
Report Finds Individual Premium Costs Lower in Calif. Than Elsewhere
A new Kaiser Family Foundation report finds that the average monthly premium for individual health coverage in California is $157. The cost of coverage was more than $400 in Massachusetts and Vermont, according to the report. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Company” et al.
First Selections Named to Panel Tasked With Making Spending Cuts
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner have announced their selections for the bipartisan panel charged with making spending cuts under the recently passed debt agreement. Washington Post et al.
Thousands of Students Have Not Gotten Pertussis Vaccine
Thousands of California students could be prohibited from entering classrooms unless they receive a vaccination for whooping cough, or pertussis, by the end of their first month of school. A new state law requires the inoculation for students in middle school and high school. In an effort to boost compliance rates, school district officials have organized no-cost mobile vaccine clinics, distributed reminder postcards and launched an automated phone call campaign. Fresno Bee.
Drop in Revenue Raises Concern of Additional Cuts to Health Care
State controller John Chiang says California came up $539 million short in state budget revenue projections for July. More cuts to health programs could be triggered if revenue continues to fall below what is expected. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Calif. Hospitals Paying More for Workers’ Health Coverage
Hospitals in California are paying more to provide health insurance coverage for their workers, according to a new survey of 231 California hospitals by Keenan Healthcare. The survey found that California hospitals are facing average insurance costs of $10,992 per employee this year, an 11% increase from last year. Los Angeles Times et al.