Latest California Healthline Stories
Blue Shield To Proceed With Rate Hike, Hire Independent Actuary
Despite a request from Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Blue Shield of California declined to delay a March rate hike for individual policyholders. However, Blue Shield said it would hire an outside actuary to review its rates. Sacramento Bee et al.
Reps. Argue Reform Repeal Would Hurt Consumers
“[T]he top priority of the new Republican majority in the House is eliminating your new health care rights and benefits” under the federal health reform law, Reps. John Garamendi and George Miller write in a Contra Costa Times opinion piece. They argue that if the GOP is successful “in repealing the health care law, insurance companies will have the power” to rescind coverage “for women who become pregnant or get cancer, [d]eny care to children with pre-existing conditions, [s]top allowing young people under the age of 26 to be covered under their parents’ plan,” and raise premiums “any time by any amount without being held accountable.” Contra Costa Times.
Calif. Budget Expert Weighs In on Brown’s Spending Plan
Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project, said Gov. Brown’s newly released budget plan is “much more realistically put together than budgets in recent years.” However, Ross expressed concern about the possible effects of Brown’s proposed cuts to health and human services, including changes to Medi-Cal. Sacramento Business Journal, KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Calif. Insurance Chief Gears Up To Tighten Scrutiny of Rate Hikes
New Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones already has started cracking down on health insurers that have proposed rate increases for individual policyholders. Jones has said he would support legislation allowing the insurance commissioner to reject rate hikes. Wall Street Journal.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of January 14, 2011
This week, officials at San Diego’s Alvarado Hospital sent layoff notices to 249 employees, including 91 nurses. Meanwhile, Washington Hospital has reached an agreement with Anthem Blue Cross that will allow Anthem policyholders to use the facility as an in-network hospital.
Ehnes Expected To Step Down in March as Leader of DMHC
Cindy Ehnes, director of the Department of Managed Health Care, will not seek reappointment and is expected to step down in March. Ehnes was appointed by then-Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2004 to lead DMHC. Sacramento Bee.
House Plans Final Vote Next Week on Repeal of Health Care Reform Law
Aides to House GOP leaders say the chamber is planning a final floor debate next Tuesday and a vote next Wednesday on legislation to repeal the federal health reform law. Work on legislation in the House has been postponed following the shooting in Arizona. Politico et al.
Advocates Concerned Over Proposed Adult Care Cuts
Gov. Brown’s budget proposal would eliminate funding for adult day health care services as part of $1.7 billion in cuts to Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. There are 311 adult day care centers in the state that serve more than 30,000 individuals. Senior advocates say a funding reduction could violate the Americans With Disabilities Act. Santa Cruz Sentinel, Orange County Register.
Adventist Hospitals Launch Association on Health Policy
Seventy-two Adventist hospitals and more than 300 affiliated health care facilities have formed the Adventist Health Policy Association to contribute to policy discussions about federal health care legislation and regulations. Adventist Health in Roseville and Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center are among the five hospital systems serving as the association’s founding members. Sacramento Business Journal.
Columnist Calls Out Insurers on New Gender-Pricing Law
Some California health plans “appear to be playing fast and loose with ending what regulators call a discriminatory practice [and] what used to be an industry standard: Factoring in a person’s gender when determining monthly premiums,” Los Angeles Times columnist David Lazarus writes. On Jan. 1, a new law took effect that prohibits the practice, but “Blue Shield of California appears to be the only major insurer to have fully complied with the law,” Lazarus writes. He concludes, “The new insurance commissioner should tell insurers that no rate increase will be approved for 2011 until each company lives up to the terms of the bargain.” Los Angeles Times.