Latest California Healthline Stories
White House Names Head of Health Insurance Exchanges
Joel Ario — the insurance commissioner of Pennsylvania — has been tapped to direct HHS’ Office of Insurance Exchanges, which oversees the creation of state-based health insurance exchanges. The exchanges will be established by 2014 to allow individuals and small businesses to compare and select insurance plans. Ario — who was appointed insurance commissioner in 2007 — will assume his new duties on Aug. 30. Philadelphia Business Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer.
San Gabriel Valley Looks at Strategies To Address Physician Shortage
Health care stakeholders in San Gabriel Valley have proposed new residency programs and health care provider partnerships to address a doctor shortage. The situation is expected to worsen as more residents obtain coverage under the health reform law. Whittier Daily News.
Opinion: High Stakes for SEIU in Kaiser Union Election
Next month, Kaiser Permanente workers will begin voting on whether to be represented by the incumbent Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West or the National Union of Healthcare Workers, and “America hasn’t seen a private-sector labor election this big since the United Auto Workers organized Ford in 1941,” according to Matthew Kaminski, a member of the Wall Street Journal editorial board. Kaminski writes that California residents comprise a third of SEIU’s members, “so losing Kaiser would be a grave blow.” He concludes that “SEIU can remain a political powerhouse and the leading patron of Democratic candidates only as long as it keeps membership rolls strong and growing.” Wall Street Journal.
Stakeholders Spar Over Power of Health Insurance Exchanges
Insurance industry leaders say allowing California’s health insurance exchange to negotiate rates might negatively affect the health plan market. However, consumer advocates say a powerful exchange could curb excessive rate hikes. California Watch Blog.
Nursing Home Lays Off 38 Following Five-Day Strike
Thirty-eight members of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West were laid off over the weekend after a five-day strike at Oakland-based Piedmont Gardens, an assisted living facility. The strike stemmed in part from disagreements over health care costs in contract negotiations. San Francisco Chronicle.
Recession Forcing Many To Cut Back on Doctor Visits, Drug Regimens
One in five U.S. residents reported skipping medical care for a recent ailment, with cost cited as a major factor, according to a new survey. The recession also has caused some Californians with cancer to change their medication habits. HealthLeaders Media, HealthDay/USA Today.
Denti-Cal Cuts Leading to Drop in Adult Visits for Preventive Services
In 2009, California eliminated adult dental benefits provided through Medi-Cal. Public health officials say the benefit cuts and the recession have contributed to a downward trend in the number of adults seeking preventive dental care. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Panel OKs Fee Designed To Avert Cuts to In-Home Care
Last week, the state Legislature’s budget conference committee approved a proposal to levy a fee on the in-home care industry. The state would use the fee to draw down federal matching funds, which would be used to return funding to the in-home care industry and avert planned cuts to state in-home care services. HealthyCal.
Insurers, Health Providers Pledge To Promote Health IT
During a National Press Club forum last week, insurers, health care providers and professional organizations that manage physicians announced a series of private-sector initiatives aimed at promoting wider use of electronic health records. At the forum, federal health care officials stressed that the private sector will be crucial in ensuring widespread “meaningful use” of EHRs. The Hill’s “Healthwatch.”
Attorneys Call for Retrial in Recent Case Against Nursing Home Chain
Attorneys for Skilled Healthcare filed a motion for a retrial in a class-action lawsuit that imposed damages of about $677 million on the nursing home chain. The lawyers said they are seeking a retrial because of juror misconduct. Eureka Times Standard, Reuters.