Latest California Healthline Stories
Hospital Charity Care Policies Are Ineffective, Survey Finds
Many not-for-profit hospitals and health systems are not adequately informing patients about their eligibility for charity care, according to a survey conducted Access Project and Community Catalyst. In 2003, the American Hospital Association established voluntary guidelines regarding billing and collections procedures for charity and discounted care that encouraged hospitals to disseminate information to patients about charity care and make “good-faith” efforts to contact patients before billing collection agencies. Modern Healthcare, Columbus Dispatch.
Insurance Firms Seek To Clarify Medical Spending Rules Under Reform Law
Many insurance companies are arguing that spending on health information technology and other areas should qualify as medical expenditures under provisions of the health reform law that require insurers to spend a certain percentage of premiums on medical care. CQ HealthBeat.
Editorial: Federal Gov’t Needs Power To Regulate Premiums
A New York Times editorial calls for a “national law that would allow the federal government to block unjustified” health plan premium increases “where state officials lack the authority to do so.” It adds that the story of Anthem Blue Cross of California’s planned premium increases “shows how difficult it is to measure what’s reasonable and how a confusing mélange of factors can affect the setting of premiums.” New York Times.
Lawmakers Continue To Pressure WellPoint Over Rate Hikes, Rescissions
During his weekly address, President Obama criticized the insurance industry and disparaged rescission practices. Sen. Dianne Feinstein aims to hold a hearing to examine the rate calculation system used by WellPoint subsidiary Anthem Blue Cross of California. Los Angeles Times.
House Panel Considers Health Care Pricing Transparency Proposals
Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee agreed that health care providers need to be more transparent about their pricing. However, the panel did not reach a consensus on any of the three proposals that would facilitate such improvements. CQ Today et al.
Sacramento County Sued Over Planned Mental Health Care Cuts
Yesterday, disability advocates filed a lawsuit alleging that Sacramento County’s planned cuts for mental health services at the end of June would leave thousands of low-income patients at greater risk of injury or death. Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento Bee.
$3.6M Grant Will Help Sutter Health Boost Patient Safety
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is contributing $3.6 million for a patient safety program at Sutter Health. The hospital will spend an additional $7.2 million on the two-year project, which aims to develop ways to reduce sepsis, help patients control their blood sugar and support nurse leadership. Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Business Journal.
Judge Says Medi-Cal Must Cover Mentally Ill Juveniles
Youth with mental illnesses who are held in juvenile halls are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage of care in psychiatric hospitals, Judge Peter Busch of San Francisco Superior Court ruled Tuesday. According to a suit brought by San Francisco and Santa Clara counties, the state had been denying such coverage for juveniles in county facilities and leaving the cost of care to counties, in violation of federal law. The state had assumed the cost of juveniles held in state facilities. San Francisco Chronicle.
Panel Urges U.S. Government To Study Possible Cancer Links
On Thursday, the President’s Cancer Panel released a report urging the federal government to do more to protect U.S. residents from thousands of toxic chemicals and gases and high levels of radiation in the environment, which can increase residents’ risk of cancer and other severe ailments. PCP noted that very little is known about the toxins’ impact on human health and that it “was particularly concerned to find that the true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated.” Reuters.
Reform Law Could Help 57M Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions
A new report from Families USA estimates that 57 million nonelderly U.S. residents have been diagnosed with a pre-existing condition. The new health reform law prohibits health plans from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions. CQ HealthBeat, Modern Healthcare.