Latest California Healthline Stories
State Insurance Exchange Board Faces Range of Issues
California was the first state in the nation to set up a Health Benefit Exchange Board, which will oversee the state’s online health insurance exchange. The board now must address a number of issues, such as how participating health plans should be regulated, how to administer federal subsidies to help low-income individuals purchase insurance, and balancing the number of healthy and sick individuals in the exchange. Kaiser Health News.
State To Audit Salinas Valley Hospital Over CEO’s Retirement Pay
California’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee has approved a comprehensive audit of Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital’s finances. The hospital has been in the spotlight over reports that its outgoing CEO received $3.9 million in extra retirement pay. Monterey County Herald et al.
CMA Petitions Court To Prevent Raiding of Medical Board Funds
The California Medical Association has filed a petition with the California Supreme Court to prevent the state from taking surplus funds from the Medical Board of California. The state plans to borrow $9 million from the board this year. AP/Ventura County Star.
Studies Identify Likely Beneficiaries of Health Reform Law in California
Two new UCLA studies find that many Californians who would be newly eligible for coverage under the federal health reform law might be less likely to use costly health services. Riverside Press-Enterprise‘s “Daily News Digest,” UCLA Center for Health Policy Research release.
Oral Arguments Heard in Appeals of Lawsuits Against Reform Law
On Tuesday, appeals court judges hearing two separate cases challenging the federal health reform law appeared to agree with the Obama administration’s argument that all individuals will require health insurance at some point in their lives. Washington Post et al.
Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Could Save Billions in Health Costs
If California adopts a 64 mile-per-gallon fuel standard by 2025, the state could save about $7.2 billion in health care and other costs, according to an American Lung Association report. The report says stricter fuel-economy standards would translate into 400 fewer premature, respiratory-related deaths; more than 8,000 fewer asthma attacks; and about 28,100 fewer lost work days annually. Los Angeles Times‘ “Greenspace” et al.
Lab-Testing Company Settles Medi-Cal Overbilling Lawsuit
Quest Diagnostics, a diagnostic laboratory testing company, will pay $241 million to settle a civil lawsuit alleging that the company overcharged Medi-Cal. The lawsuit — filed by Hunter Laboratories in California Superior Court — claimed that Quest Diagnostics failed to comply with “comparable charge” regulations that led to overpayments for lab-testing services. Under the agreement, the company will provide Medi-Cal with a discount through July 2012. Reuters, Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal.
Report: Mass. Residents Face Long Waits for Doctor Visits
Although most Massachusetts residents have health coverage, many face long wait times for physician appointments, and many doctors in the state do not accept subsidized insurance programs, according to a report by the Massachusetts Medical Society. The survey found that many primary care physicians do not accept MassHealth, Massachusetts’ Medicaid program, and even fewer accept Commonwealth Care and Commonwealth Choice, which are programs for low-income and moderate-income residents. Reuters.
Most California Doctors Using Electronic Health Records, Report Finds
A new report from the California HealthCare Foundation finds that 55% of primary care physicians in California use electronic health record systems. The report also finds that EHR adoption has increased significantly at community clinics statewide. Modern Healthcare et al.
State’s Costs for Long-Term Care Exceed U.S. Average
The median annual cost of long-term care in an assisted living facility is $42,000 in California, compared with a national median cost of $39,135, according to a study from Genworth Financial, a provider of long-term care insurance. The study found that the annual cost of a private nursing home room is $91,250 in California, compared with $77,745 nationally. However, the study also found that the annual cost of long-term care in California is accelerating at a slower pace compared with national rates. Sacramento Business Journal, U.S. News & World Report‘s “The Best Life.”