Latest California Healthline Stories
Riverside Supervisors To Find Funds for New Medical School
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously agreed to find $10 million to help open a medical school at the University of California-Riverside by 2012. Congress in 2009 appropriated $4 million for the school’s construction; however, the state Legislature has not been able to approve $10 million in start up costs. Kaiser Permanente also has said it would contribute $10 million to the school. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
GOP Senate Candidates Perform Balancing Act Over Reform Law
The three candidates competing for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Barbara Boxer in November must court registered Republicans who fiercely oppose the new health reform law. However, in the general election, the eventual nominee likely will have to moderate his or her stance on the reform law to avoid turning off swing voters. Los Angeles Times.
Uninsured Encounter Limited Options for Treatment in L.A.
The temporary weeklong clinic set up in Los Angeles at the end of April treated more than 6,600 people, yet many of those patients require additional care and options can be limited. Some might qualify for Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, when eligibility is expanded under the federal health reform law. Others could find help through community clinics; however, many clinics already are overwhelmed with new patients who recently lost their health insurance. Los Angeles Times.
Affiliated Computer Services To Operate Medi-Cal System
California has signed a 10-year, $1.6 billion contract with Affiliated Computer Services, a unit of Xerox, to manage the management information system for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. The company will pay provider claims, train providers, facilitate beneficiary services, operate hotlines, and handle security, privacy and other administrative duties. Electronic Data Services previously contracted with the state to fill such functions. San Francisco Business Times.
Health Care Groups Spent $876M on Reform Lobbying
Health care interest groups paid more than $876 million from January 2009 to March 2010 to attempt to influence the debate over health reform legislation, according to a CQ MoneyLine analysis of lobbying disclosures. Drug companies spent the most, at $253 million, while hospitals spent $108 million and physicians and surgeons spent $59 million. Roll Call.
Eligibility, Enrollment Improvements Could Add Costs, Report Finds
The money saved by moving the eligibility and enrollment process for California’s health and welfare programs online likely would be outweighed by the cost of increased enrollment in the programs, according to a new Legislative Analyst’s Office report. HealthyCal, LAO report.
Eighteen States Decline To Run High-Risk Health Insurance Pools
Eighteen states have decided not to administer their own high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions. Two other states have not yet informed HHS of their decisions. Some governors said Congress did not allocate enough funding for the states to operate their own pools. CQ HealthBeat, Washington Post.
Lawmakers Mull Long-Term Fix to Medicare Payment Formula
Congressional lawmakers soon will begin discussing proposals to delay a scheduled 21% cut in Medicare physician reimbursements and will consider fixes to the current payment formula. Last month, Congress delayed the scheduled payment cuts until May 31. CQ HealthBeat, CongressDaily.
Study of Calif. Hospitals Finds EHRs Linked to Higher Costs
A study of 326 California hospitals over 10 years found that hospital electronic health records systems often are associated with higher costs and higher nurse staffing levels. However, hospitals with more advanced EHR implementations experienced better results, leading Arizona State University researchers to conclude that hospitals’ cost savings could improve over time. Arizona Republic et al.
Health Reform Could Lead to Primary Care Improvements
The new health reform law includes several provisions that aim to support primary care medicine and make the practice more attractive, according to an excerpt of a book from the Washington Post called, “Landmark: The Inside Story of America’s New Health Care Law and What It Means for Us All.” The book notes that the law provides $26.4 billion over 10 years to increase Medicare payments for primary care; for training programs, loan-forgiveness programs and incentives; and to investigate alternatives to the fee-for-service models Medicare and Medicaid use. Washington Post.