Latest California Healthline Stories
Judge Rules on State’s Authority Over Autism Coverage Disputes
A Superior Court judge ruled that the Department of Managed Health Care did not take the proper steps when it changed its policy for reviewing coverage disputes related to autism therapy. However, the judge did not issue an injunction against DMHC. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
ProPublica: California Lags in Oversight of Dialysis Centers
At least half of California’s dialysis centers have not undergone certain safety inspections — called recertification surveys — for five years or more, according to a recent investigation by the not-for-profit news organization ProPublica. The investigation found that about 10% of California dialysis centers have not undergone recertification surveys since 2000. ProPublica, Merced Sun-Star.
California Gears Up To Implement New Rules on Medical Wait Times
State officials are preparing to administer new regulations limiting the amount of time California patients must wait before receiving care. The rules, which take effect Jan. 17, target HMO members and those covered by PPOs from certain health plans. Ventura County Star.
Health Officials Push for New Drinking Water Standards
Officials from California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment are seeking more stringent standards for the levels of the hexavalent chromium chemical in drinking water. According to agency researchers, exposure to the chemical in infants and young children could increase cancer risk later in life. The proposal for tougher standards is undergoing a public comment period, and a final benchmark is expected by mid-2011. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Rural Areas of Calif. Facing Dire Shortage of Physicians
Many rural areas in California such as Mendocino County already face a physician shortage, and the problem is expected to grow worse over the coming years as more doctors retire. Some health officials are pursuing new initiatives to bolster the rural health care work force through telemedicine, education programs and a greater reliance on nurses and other health professionals. San Francisco Chronicle.
Sen. Leno Discusses Ways To Address State Budget Crisis
California faces a “projected $25.4 billion budget gap over the next 18 months [and] we must brace ourselves for even more” cuts to health care and social services, Sen. Mark Leno writes in a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece. Leno writes that voters should consider “mitigating the dismantling of our state infrastructure by extending temporary tax increases enacted two years ago,” as well as other tax-related initiatives, concluding, “These are the questions we need to ask in the coming months.” San Francisco Chronicle.
L.A. Supervisor Seeks Reports on Nursing Home Compliance
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich is requesting that Department of Public Health officials provide a compliance report and quarterly updates on nursing homes’ reporting of quality ratings. A state law mandates that nursing homes publicly disclose how they score on a five-star CMS rating scale. Contra Costa Times.
Brown Aims To Shift Control of Some State Services to Counties
Gov. Brown has started promoting a plan to shift control of some state services to local agencies as part of an effort to address California’s budget deficit. Brown said his realignment proposal could affect Medi-Cal and CalWORKS. Sacramento Bee et al.
Health Industry CEOs Received Large Bonuses During Overhaul Debate
Public tax records from 2009 reveal that top health industry officials received large compensation packages that year during the debate over health care reform. CEOs at nine trade organizations received packages of at least $1 million. Kaiser Health News/Politico.
States’ GOP Lawmakers Balance Health Reform Rollout, Opposition
All states have begun work on implementing provisions of the health reform law even as Republican lawmakers seek to repeal it. The Republican Governors Association is preparing to help state leaders combat implementation of the law. Politico, The Hill‘s “Ballot Box.”