Latest California Healthline Stories
Columnist: Dave Jones Laying Out Vision To Stop Rate Hikes
“Talk with [California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones] and you’ll get the feeling he’ll make his top priority gaining the power to regulate health insurance rates just like other insurance rates,” Salinas Californian columnist Thomas Elias writes. Elias discusses legislation Jones supports that would give the insurance commissioner the power to reject excessive rate hikes. Elias concludes, “If he can do it, he’ll have established a permanent new brake on the profligate profit-seeking of the big health insurers who are raising the tax-like premiums they collect from hundreds of thousands of Californians.” Salinas Californian.
Governor Calls Off Budget Talks With Republican Legislators
Gov. Brown announced that he has halted budget negotiations with Republican lawmakers because the two sides have been unable to reach a compromise. Lawmakers have until June 15 to close the state’s remaining $15.4 billion deficit. Sacramento Bee et al.
Stockton Officials Look To Trim Health Care Benefits
Stockton city officials are seeking to make a host of changes to benefits for city employees to address an estimated $34 million shortfall in the general fund. Some of the proposed cuts — which were outlined in a letter to the Stockton City Employees’ Association — include eliminating retiree health care benefits for new city workers and placing a cap on the city’s contributions toward premiums. Stockton Record.
Report: Calif., Other States Overpay for Medicaid Drugs
In 2009, Medi-Cal spent $102 million more on popular brand-name medications than it would have if beneficiaries opted for lower-cost, generic drugs, according to a study by the American Enterprise Institute. Nationwide, state Medicaid programs incurred at least $329 million in unnecessary spending on drugs, according to the report. The study’s author recommends changes to encourage or mandate the use of generic medications before the federal health reform law expands Medicaid rolls. HealthLeaders Media.
Raising Eligibility Age for Medicare Would Save $7.6B, Hike Other Costs
A Kaiser Family Foundation report states that changing Medicare’s eligibility age to 67 would save the U.S. government $7.6 billion but increase costs for the elderly and businesses. The report says premiums under Medicare also would be higher. CQ HealthBeat, Kaiser Health News.
Ventura County Taking Steps To Launch New Medi-Cal Plan
Ventura County officials are moving forward with plans to begin operating a restructured Medi-Cal managed care plan on July 1. Gold Coast Health Plan administrators, who will run the plan, said it will take $298.3 million in state and federal funding over one year to pay for the plan. The California Department of Health Care Services, which controls the funding, still must approve a contract with Gold Coast. Ventura County Star.
HHS Calls for Nationwide Rollout of ACOs as It Readies Proposed Rule
HHS is calling for the nationwide implementation of accountable care organizations despite prior suggestions that the agency would first pilot ACOs. The agency is expected release a proposed ACO rule this week. CQ HealthBeat, New York Times‘ “Prescriptions.”
More Nurse Practitioners Could Take On Primary Care Responsibilities
California is one of 23 states that allows nurse practitioners to perform some duties of a primary care provider. As the state works to implement medical home models of care, nurse practitioners could play a greater role in providing primary care services. Los Angeles Times.
California Counties To Receive Federal Aid for Indigent Care Programs
This summer, California counties could start receiving federal funds to expand health services for indigent residents. State officials negotiated with the Obama administration to obtain early access to the funds, which come from the federal health reform law. Kaiser Health News.
HHS Targets Youth To Garner Support for Health Reform
The Obama administration is working to generate support for the federal health reform law by promoting the benefits of the law to young adults and their parents. For example, HHS created a Facebook page targeted at young adults and their parents to answer questions on the overhaul. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius also is touting a provision under the law that enables young adults to retain health insurance through their parents’ policies. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” CQ HealthBeat.