Latest California Healthline Stories
Expand Mental Health Care Coverage, Editorial Says
Under the health reform law, insurers are required to provide coverage for mental health care at the same levels as other medical care, but health plans with 50 or fewer employees are exempt, according to a San Jose Mercury News editorial. A bill, by Assembly member Jim Beall, would extend mental health parity to all California residents with insurance, and “it’s time for the governor to acknowledge California’s moral obligation to treat the mentally ill. He should sign the parity bill,” the editorial concludes. San Jose Mercury News.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 30, 2010
Gov. Schwarzenegger attended a demolition ceremony marking the start of efforts to build the March LifeCare medical facility. Meanwhile, former Redlands Community Hospital workers won a class-action lawsuit alleging the hospital owed them millions in unpaid wages and overtime.
Poll Finds Opposition to Health Care Reform Law Has Declined in July
A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll concludes that support for the health reform law has remained steady while opposition to it has dropped. Overall, Americans are split as to whether the overhaul will leave their families better or worse off. Washington Post et al.
Contra Costa Votes To Keep First 5 Out of County Rule
The Contra Costa County board of supervisors voted not to make the county’s First 5 commission a government department, thwarting a recommendation from a grand jury. The grand jury report concluded that First 5 members could be engaged in conflict-of-interest practices. The board will request a yearly report from the commission as a way to increase oversight. First 5 uses tobacco tax revenue to fund early childhood health and education programs. Contra Costa Times.
WellPoint Posts 4% Increase in Profit for Second Quarter
On Wednesday, health insurance company WellPoint reported a second-quarter profit increase of 4% on $722.4 million in revenue, a 26% increase in earnings from the same period in 2009. However, CEO Angela Braly said she expects losses in California — possibly at more than $100 million — because of obstacles preventing Anthem Blue Cross from going through with planned rate increases. Braly called the situation in California “unsustainable” and said there is need for rate hikes to cover the growth in medical costs. Los Angeles Times, Indianapolis Star.
Officials, Advocates Call for Bristol-Myers Squibb To Cut HIV Drug Prices
Controller John Chiang and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation are urging Bristol-Myers Squibb to lower the price of its HIV/AIDS drug Reyataz. California’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program dispensed 69,709 prescriptions of Reyataz last fiscal year. Payers & Providers, Sacramento Bee.
Editorial: End Brand-Name Rx Makers’ Control of Market
The practice of allowing brand-name prescription drugmakers to pay makers of generic drugs to delay market entry of generic products should be stopped, a Washington Post editorial states. The editorial supports legislation before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee that would ban such practice for competitive reasons, concluding that consumers could wind up saving billions of dollars. Washington Post.
Gov. Declares Financial State of Emergency, Orders Furloughs
Yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a financial state of emergency and ordered more than 150,000 state workers to take three monthly furlough days starting in August. Certain agencies and union members are exempt from the order. Los Angeles Times et al.
HHS Clarifies Rules for Children’s Health Care Insurance Policies
HHS has issued new rules on how health insurers can structure coverage for children’s plans. The agency released the updated policy after hearing confusion about how insurers can offer children’s insurance policies under the health reform law. The Hill, CQ HealthBeat.
Ventura County To Expand Inmate Mental Health Care
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to expand a diversion program that transfers county jail inmates with mental health issues to an outpatient treatment program. The board will fund the expansion of the Multi-Agency Referral and Recovery Team program using funds from California’s 2004 Mental Health Services Act. Ventura County Star.