Latest California Healthline Stories
Riverside County To Tweak Medical Indigent Program
Riverside County plans to revise its medical indigent program to qualify for a federal low-income health program that would match every dollar the county spends treating low-income patients. Currently, participants in the county’s medical indigent program receive care at the county’s 10 public health clinics and the Riverside County Regional Medical Center. Under the federal matching program, participants would be assigned to public health clinics in an effort to provide more primary, preventive care and avoid specialist and emergency department visits. The county could receive at least $20 million through the program, according to Riverside County Regional Medical Center CEO Dough Bagley. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
GOP Report Suggests AARP To Benefit From Reform Law
This week, House Ways and Means Committee members Wally Herger and Dave Reichert released a report finding that AARP will benefit financially as a result of its support for the federal health reform law. Republicans argue that AARP supported a provision in the overhaul that cut $200 billion from the Medicare Advantage program because the group will benefit when seniors replace their coverage with supplemental Medicare policies — known as “Medigap” policies — that the group endorses. Washington Post.
Brown, Democratic Lawmakers Ponder Next Steps on Budget
After negotiations with Republicans broke down this week, Gov. Brown and Democratic leaders are considering other strategies to close the state’s remaining $15.4 billion deficit. One option could involve deeper cuts to state spending. Sacramento Bee et al.
NEJM Perspective Outlines Reform Law Hurdles in Calif.
“The stakes for Californians and their physicians are enormous” under the policy changes that will take effect under the federal health reform law, Andrew Bindman of UC-San Francisco and Andreas Schneider of the George Washington University School of Public Health write in a New England Journal of Medicine perspective. They discuss how California is working to roll out the reform law by “pursuing three main implementation strategies”: expanding “coverage to the uninsured before 2014 on a county-by-county basis”; using the five-year, $8 billion Medi-Cal waiver to support safety-net hospitals; and expanding enrollment in Medi-Cal managed care programs. However, the authors caution that the state faces numerous obstacles, such as “daunting budget challenges” and low rates “of physician participation in Medicaid.” New England Journal of Medicine.
Group Urges Creation of Independent Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office
Many local eldercare ombudsmen in California are calling for a not-for-profit organization to replace the statewide long-term care ombudsman office. Sen. Lois Wolk is supporting the effort and working on legislation that would establish the independent office. California Watch.
Report: Drug Shortages Cost Hospitals $200M Annually
Prescription drug shortages cost hospitals about $200 million annually and put patients at a higher risk for medication errors, according to an analysis by Premier Healthcare Alliance. The report found that more than 240 drugs were in limited supply or were unavailable in 2010, a 300% increase over 2005. In addition, more than 400 generic drugs were backordered for more than five days last year, according to the analysis. Wall Street Journal‘s “Health Blog” et al.
Congressional Hearings Analyze Federal Health Reform Law Spending
On Wednesday, Senate and House panels hosted hearings on health reform law funding. Federal budget and CMS officials defended divergent projections on cost estimates, while HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius warned that a long-term care program faces financial uncertainty. National Journal et al.
Stanford, March of Dimes To Study Premature Birth
The March of Dimes will provide up to $20 million across a decade to Stanford University to study the causes of premature birth, which contributes to an estimated $26 billion annually in health care costs and is the top cause of death among newborns in the U.S. Stanford will house the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center, which will recruit experts from various disciplines to conduct research. San Francisco Business Times, Contra Costa Times.
Medi-Cal Waiver Might Boost Enrollment by Nearly 400K by 2013
Recently filed enrollment plans suggest that California’s federal Medi-Cal waiver could extend health coverage to nearly 400,000 residents over the next two years. Most new beneficiaries are expected to enroll through the Medicaid Coverage Expansion program. Payers & Providers.
Lawmakers Edge Closer to Possible Agreement on Federal Budget Bill
Democrats and Republicans are closer to agreeing on a federal budget measure, though disagreements over health care-related funding could hinder progress. Lawmakers have not reached an accord on GOP-backed policy riders that would remove health reform law funding. Washington Post et al.