Latest California Healthline Stories
IOM Report Says Flawed Medicare Data Lead to Inaccurate Payments
An Institute of Medicine report states that Medicare payments often are inaccurate because of unsound regional data. The report calls for Medicare to use a single set of payment areas for health care providers instead of separate hospital and physician zones. MedPage Today et al.
Editorial Calls for Improved Hospital Infection Reports
Three years after California lawmakers passed legislation aimed at improving public access to data on hospital-acquired infections, “the state has produced partial reports, heavy on numbers and codes that mean little to people not in the health care field,” a Sacramento Bee editorial states. The editorial calls for increased efforts to publicize hospital-acquired infection data, adding, “Excuses about lack of money and short-handed staff are just that, excuses.” Sacramento Bee.
Senate Passes Legislation on Workplace Maternity Leave
On Tuesday, the state Senate passed a bill that would prohibit employers from canceling health plans while women are on maternity leave for up to four months. Sen. Noreen Evans, who sponsored the bill, said it would bring the state’s pregnancy leave laws in line with other state and federal family and medical leave laws. The bill passed 26-11 and now moves to the Assembly. AP/Sacramento Bee.
HHS Eases Eligibility Rules, Lowers Premiums for High-Risk Insurance
On Tuesday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the Obama administration is reducing premiums and relaxing eligibility requirements for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan in response to lower-than-expected enrollment figures. National Journal et al.
Columnist: Insurers Fighting Oversight With ‘Bogus’ Facts
Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik writes that California’s health insurance companies have “mustered bogus facts and figures” about legislation that would “prevent health insurance premium increases from going into effect without the prior approval of the commissioner of insurance or the director of the Department of Managed Health Care.” For example, Hiltzik discusses how the California Association of Health Plans cited an Assembly committee analysis finding that it would cost $30 million annually to give regulators “prior-approval capability,” but CAHP “doesn’t mention that the expense would be covered by fees charged to the insurers.” Los Angeles Times.
Executives Could Be Target of Health Care Fraud Cases
Federal regulators say they might start targeting senior executives of drug companies, medical device manufacturers, nursing home chains and other major health care businesses as they work to crack down on health care fraud. In the past, companies charged with health care fraud often negotiated financial settlements with the government. However, federal officials say executives of companies involved in such fraud cases could face criminal charges and be banned from working with government health programs. AP/San Diego-Union-Tribune.
Counties Start Moving Medi-Cal Beneficiaries to Managed Care
Starting today, 16 California counties will begin enrolling about 380,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries in managed care plans. The change, which will affect seniors and people with disabilities, will be phased in over the next year. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Sen. Boxer Introduces Bill on Work Force for Eldercare
Last week, Sen. Barbara Boxer introduced legislation that would provide repayment of loans to health care providers with geriatrics and gerontology training who agree to work in underserved areas. The bill also would open up the National Health Service Corps to primary care providers who have training in geriatric specialties. Nancy Lundebjerg of the Eldercare Workforce Alliance praised the legislation and said more needs to be done to address an estimated need for 3.5 million additional eldercare professionals by 2030. Politico‘s “Pulse.”
Panel Awards Job Training Funds to Health Care Groups
Last week, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency’s employment training panel announced that it had approved $11,960,182 in job training funds for 45 health care facilities, businesses and other organizations. The majority of the funds are slated to go to health care organizations, including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Citrus Health Partners, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital of Southern California and Sharp Healthcare. San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Advocates Fighting To Restore Funding to Adult Day Health Care Services
As lawmakers continue budget talks, advocates are lobbying for a bill that would allocate $85 million to resurrect California’s adult day health care services. Recently passed budget legislation eliminated state funding for the program. Ventura County Star, Torrance Daily Breeze.