Latest California Healthline Stories
Applicant Sues Anthem Blue Cross for Failing To Protect Personal Data
The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status, claims that Anthem failed to protect applicant data during a recent security breach. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles County health center recently reported the improper sale of thousands of patient records. Los Angeles Times et al.
Revenue Offsets Will Be Key To Repealing Reform Law’s 1099 Tax Provision
Republican and Democratic lawmakers seeking to eliminate the federal health reform law’s tax-reporting requirements will need to agree on strategies to offset lost revenue. At least four proposals to repeal the provisions currently are circulating in Congress. CQ Today.
Hospital District Votes Down Health Benefits for Board
Last week, the board of The Eden Township Healthcare District voted 4-0 to reject a proposal to offer health and dental benefits to members of the hospital district’s board of directors. The plan initially was proposed as a strategy for attracting quality candidates to the board, but ultimately was voted down because of its expected costs. Oakland Tribune.
Emergency Departments Across California Seeing Surge in Patient Visits
In Ventura County, the number of Medi-Cal beneficiaries seeking care at emergency departments for conditions not requiring admission rose 35% from 2005 to 2009. ED visits also are on the rise in other counties. Ventura County Star, Riverside Press-Enterprise.
State Encouraging Residents To Obtain Influenza Vaccines
California’s Department of Public Health has purchased 865,000 doses of this year’s influenza vaccine, which offers protection against the H1N1 virus and two other flu strains. An additional 1.75 million flu vaccine doses will be available from local health agencies and the Vaccines for Children program. California health officials are encouraging all residents older than six months to receive the vaccination. Sacramento Bee.
State Approval Process Delays Launch of New Medi-Cal Plan
The launch of CalViva Health, a new Medi-Cal managed health care plan in Fresno, Kings and Madera counties, has been delayed from Oct. 1 to Feb. 1 because the Department of Health Care Services still is negotiating reimbursement rates with CalViva, state officials announced last week. The state approval process has been “complicated by the state budget,” CalViva CEO Greg Hund said. Fresno Bee.
Columnist: Health Insurance Exchange Still Up in the Air
Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters calls two bills to create a statewide health insurance exchange “the biggest bit of legislation this year.” According to Walters, Gov. Schwarzenegger’s “own advisers are said to be divided” on the bills, “mostly because of the potentially heavy hit on the budget,” and the California Chamber of Commerce and “other business groups are weighing whether to mount a full-court press for a veto.” Still, “chances are high that [Schwarzenegger] will sign the two bills,” Walters writes. Sacramento Bee.
San Luis Obispo Families Feel Effect of Economic Recession
In an 11-week reporting project, the San Luis Obispo Tribune and the California HealthCare Foundation’s Center for Health Reporting investigated the economic recession’s effect on families in San Luis Obispo County. For the series, reporters talked to county and state mental health officials, community clinic administrators, therapists and others. San Luis Obispo Tribune.
CMS To Unveil Proposed Regulations To Combat Health Program Fraud
CMS is slated to release new proposed regulations aimed at increasing federal officials’ ability to fight fraud in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. A 60-day public comment period on the proposed rules begins Thursday. USA Today.
Aetna Secures State Approval for Plan To Raise Health Plan Rates
Last week, Aetna became the latest health plan to obtain state approval to raise health insurance premiums. The company is slated to raise rates by an average of 19% for about 65,000 individual policyholders starting Oct. 1. Los Angeles Times.