Latest California Healthline Stories
Employers Compete for Access to $5B in Early Retiree Health Benefits
California and other large employers are preparing to apply for a program to offset health benefit costs for early retirees. The health reform law set aside $5 billion for the program, but some employers are concerned that the money will run out before 2014. Wall Street Journal.
State Regulators Order Reviews of Insurers’ Proposed Rate Hikes
Today, the California Department of Insurance is expected to order independent reviews of proposed premium increases for individual policyholders sought by Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and Health Net. Los Angeles Times.
Senate Democrats Scale Back Medicare Payment Fix in ‘Extenders’ Bill
Amid opposition to the cost of the “extenders” bill, Senate Democrats developed a scaled-back version that would delay a scheduled cut to physicians’ Medicare reimbursements for seven months, rather than the 19-month delay included in an earlier proposal. Washington Post et al.
Editorial Urges Strengthening of Patient Privacy Protections
“Details are murky about Tri-City Medical Center’s decision to fire five employees and discipline a sixth for allegedly discussing patients on Facebook,” a San Diego Union-Tribune editorial states. It continues that “medical privacy is likely to become a bigger and bigger issue” because the federal economic stimulus package included funds to encourage health care providers to adopt electronic health records. The editorial concludes, “We hope Tri-City’s latest firings deter any more privacy scandals at local hospitals. Patients deserve their privacy — and the letter and the spirit of the laws protecting them are clear.” San Diego Union-Tribune.
AMA Study: 20% of Physician Claims Processed Inaccurately
The nation’s seven largest health insurers inaccurately process claims from physicians about 20% of the time, according to a report card issued Monday by the American Medical Association. According to the assessment, Coventry Health Care ranks highest for accurate processing, while Anthem Blue Cross ranks last of the seven insurers. America’s Health Insurance Plans spokesperson Robert Zirkelbach said that insurers and doctors should work together to ensure accurate processing, adding that accuracy would improve if more doctors submitted claims electronically. Chicago Tribune et al.
Audits Find Reporting Lapses in California’s Mammogram Program
Two new state audits find that the California Department of Public Health failed to provide sufficient reports on its Every Woman Counts breast cancer screening program. The department said it would address the reporting issues. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, Contra Costa Times.
FDA To Oversee Genetic Test Kits Aimed at Consumers
Last week, FDA sent letters informing five genetic testing companies that their products are considered medical devices and therefore must receive agency approval before they can be marketed to consumers. The companies targeted by the letters include 23andMe in Mountain View, Illumina in San Diego and Navigenics in Foster City. Last month, FDA sent a similar letter to San Diego-based Pathway Genomics after the firm announced plans to sell its genetic testing kits at Walgreen stores. San Jose Mercury News, AP/Ventura County Star.
Medicare ‘Doughnut Hole’ Fix To Benefit Many in California
California has the largest number of Medicare enrollees who will benefit from one-time $250 checks from the federal government to offset expenses the incurred while in the prescription drug benefit coverage gap, also known as the “doughnut hole.” The health reform law initially addresses the doughnut hole with the checks and then gradually closes the gap by offering discounts on medications. About four million beneficiaries are expected to receive the checks. San Francisco Chronicle‘s “Politics Blog,” San Jose Mercury News.
California Legislators Approve, Reject Health Care-Related Measures
The Assembly unanimously approved a bill that would create a high-risk insurance program for state residents. Meanwhile, a Senate panel rejected a bill to reduce pension benefits for new state workers. AP/Monterey County Herald, AP/San Jose Mercury News.
Lawmakers Expected To Miss Today’s Deadline To Pass Budget Package
Today is the constitutional deadline for California lawmakers to approve a budget package, but a 10-member Assembly and Senate conference committee still is struggling to reach a compromise on strategies for closing the state’s budget gap. Sacramento Bee et al.