Latest California Healthline Stories
UC-Riverside Medical School Needs Support, Editorial Says
The planned medical school at UC-Riverside “suffered two major setbacks last month,” a Palm Springs Desert Sun editorial states. First, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education withheld accreditation for the school because of concerns about a lack of state funding, and then the new state budget package cut funding from the University of California system. In response to these challenges, the editorial states that “Desert Healthcare District should make the $12 million commitment” to UC-Riverside’s medical school, as requested by Dean G. Richard Olds. Palm Springs Desert Sun.
Senate Panel Approves Health Insurance Rate Regulation Bill
Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Health voted 5-3 to pass legislation that would authorize state regulators to reject health insurance rate hikes deemed excessive. The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sacramento Bee et al.
Obama To Call Meeting Aimed at Resolving Impasse on Budget Deal
Tomorrow, President Obama plans to convene a meeting with congressional leaders in an effort to revive stalled talks on budget and deficit-reduction deals. Obama noted that Democrats are prepared to discuss changes to entitlement programs such as Medicare. New York Times et al.
California Hospitals Receive High Rankings for LGBT Care
Several California hospitals and health systems received high rankings in a report that rated care for patients who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. California facilities that ranked high in the report include California Pacific Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, UC-Davis Medical Center and UC-San Francisco Medical Center. The report was released by the advocacy group Human Rights Campaign Foundation and was based on performances of 87 hospital systems that represent 375 facilities in the U.S. San Francisco Chronicle, Dayton Business Journal.
Prison Medical Workers Among Highest Paid State Employees
Yesterday, state Controller John Chiang released compensation data for California’s state employees. The data show that of the 1,400 workers who collected more than $200,000 last year, 790 are prison medical employees. Los Angeles Times et al.
New Research Links Autism to Environmental Factors
Environmental factors during pregnancy might play a slightly larger role than genetics in the development of autism spectrum disorders, according to two studies in the Archives of General Psychiatry. In one study, researchers at Stanford University and UC-San Francisco found that genetics account for about 38% of the risk of autism and that environmental factors account for about 62%. In a second study, researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California system found that children faced a higher risk of autism if their mothers took antidepressants during the year prior to giving birth. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
CMS Releases Draft Rules on Hospital, Physician Payments
Last week, CMS issued draft rules for Medicare hospital and physician payments in fiscal year 2012, proposing a 29.5% cut in physician reimbursement and further tying hospital payments to clinical outcomes. CMS said the physician payment rule must reflect current law, which calls for a nearly 30% cut in physician payments beginning in 2012 under the sustainable growth rate formula. The rules are open to public comment until Aug. 30. The final rules are expected to be released on Nov. 1. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Modern Healthcare.
Medicaid Pay Reductions Could Lead to Shortage of Providers in Program
States increasingly are slashing payments to Medicaid providers in an effort to address rising costs in the program. However, such payment cuts could exacerbate a shortage of health care providers who treat Medicaid beneficiaries. Kaiser Health News/USA Today.
Editorial: Rate Control Bill Would Be ‘Right Step Forward’
On Wednesday, the Senate Health Committee is slated to vote on legislation granting “state oversight of [health] insurance premiums,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial states. It notes that opponents of the measure “predict fewer benefits will result from controls on premiums,” and health care providers “worry about lower payments for services.” However, the editorial states, “California’s consumers deserve a chance to question ever-rising rates. AB would be the right step forward.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Auditor Urges State To Resolve Disputes Over Medi-Cal Drug Rebates
A report by state Auditor Elaine Howle calls for California officials to be more aggressive in resolving disputes over $355 million in Medi-Cal drug rebates that might be owed to the state. Rebates representing about 2% of sales have remained in dispute in recent years. California Watch.