Latest California Healthline Stories
Prime Healthcare Plans To Bolster Not-for-Profit Division
For-profit hospital operator Prime Healthcare aims to transfer one of its hospitals every year to its not-for-profit Prime Healthcare Foundation, according to CEO Lex Reddy. Observers are questioning whether Prime is seeking to better serve local communities or strengthen itself. Payers & Providers.
Calif. Medical Groups File Lawsuit Over New Glaucoma Regulations
The California Medical Association and the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons are suing the state Board of Optometry in an attempt to block new state rules allowing optometrists to treat patients with glaucoma. Orange County Register, HealthLeaders Media.
Chamber of Commerce Supports GOP Measure To Repeal Reform Law
Speaking on the state of U.S. business, Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue said the chamber is backing Republican legislation that would repeal the federal health reform law. Chamber officials say they will support efforts to slow the law’s implementation. Politico et al.
Report: Reform Repeal Would Raise Costs for Job-Based Coverage
A new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group estimates that if Congress repealed the federal health reform law, millions of small businesses would lose access to tax credits, and employer-based health insurance costs would increase significantly. MedPage Today.
Brown Lobbies for GOP, Democratic Support for New Budget Proposal
Yesterday, Gov. Brown started promoting his budget plan to Republicans and Democrats in the state Legislature. Meanwhile, health care stakeholders are expressing concern about how Brown’s proposed Medi-Cal cuts would affect their organizations. Sacramento Bee et al.
MedPAC Criticizes Effort To Expand MA Bonus Payments
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recently sent a letter to CMS Administrator Donald Berwick criticizing the expansion of quality bonus payments to lower-scoring insurers in the Medicare Advantage program. According to the letter, the new bonus program will reward even plans described on the Medicare website as being poor performers over a period of three years. Kaiser Health News.
New Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Delays Launch to March
CalViva Health has delayed the launch of its Medi-Cal managed care program from Feb. 1 until March 1 to provide the California Department of Health Care Services with sufficient time to review reimbursement rates in the new contract. CalViva Health will partner with Health Net Community Solutions to operate the managed care plan for residents of Fresno, Kings and Madera counties. Fresno Business Journal.
Editorial: Reform Law Could Tackle Insurer Rate Increases
“Blue Shield of California has levied three rate increases in rapid succession that could raise some premiums as much as 59%,” a Los Angeles Times editorial states. The editorial continues that this means “Blue Shield is attracting fewer healthy customers for its individual plans, leaving fewer people to shoulder the rising burdens.” The health care reform law can address this issue “by gathering individual policyholders into one big group through new statewide exchanges that can bargain for lower rates, and by requiring everyone to obtain coverage,” the Times states. Los Angeles Times.
Kaiser, Calif. Nurses Union Agree to Tentative Contract
Kaiser Permanente and the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract. The pact involves 17,000 registered nurses and nurse practitioners at 61 facilities. Kaiser employees are expected to hold ratification votes through early February. San Francisco Business Times, Sacramento Bee.
Jones Asks Three More Insurers To Postpone Planned Rate Hikes
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is asking three of the state’s largest health insurers to delay planned rate increases for individual policyholders by at least 60 days. Jones issued a similar request to Blue Shield of California last week. Sacramento Bee et al.