Latest California Healthline Stories
Some Insurers To Extend Insurance to Young Adults Prior to Mandate
Four health insurers announced that they will put into effect ahead of schedule a provision of the health reform law that allows dependents to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is urging other health plans to do the same. USA Today et al.
Costs Remain Concern Under New Health Care Reform Law
Although the new health reform law provides subsidies for low-income people to purchase health insurance, some consumers still might face difficulty affording the premiums. The reform law also provides subsidies to help small business owners purchase group coverage for their workers, but employers still would need to cover upfront costs before they would receive the subsidy in the form of tax credits. Los Angeles Times.
Bill Would Require Calif. Physicians To Disclose Board Certifications
California lawmakers are considering legislation that would require physicians and other health workers to inform their patients about the procedures they are licensed to perform and the specific board that provided their certification. HealthLeaders Media.
Bills Would Revise Ban on Public Hospitals Hiring Docs
A California law preventing state hospitals from directly hiring doctors has hampered efforts to increase the number of care providers in rural areas of the state. The state Legislature is set to consider two bills (AB 646 and AB 648) that would allow public hospitals to hire doctors and establish a pilot program to allow rural health facilities to directly employ doctors. Sacramento Bee.
Concerns Raised Over Reform Law’s Ability To Control Premium Hikes
Some lawmakers and consumer groups are raising concerns that the health reform law does not go far enough to control premium hikes. Last month, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced a bill that would allow HHS to deny or modify rate increases before they take effect. CQ Weekly et al.
Nursing Homes Cut Staff Despite Funding Boosts, California Watch Reports
A 2004 California law aimed to help nursing homes boost wages and increase staff by changing Medi-Cal reimbursement policies. However, a new California Watch investigation finds that many nursing homes have cut staff and wages since the law’s passage. San Jose Mercury News.
Lawsuit Alleges Understaffing at 22 Calif. Nursing Homes
A class-action lawsuit filed in Humboldt County Superior Court on behalf of 32,000 Californians alleges that Skilled Healthcare Group understaffed 22 nursing homes over thousands of days between 2003 and 2009. The suit, which seeks both punitive and statutory damages, could affect how nursing homes around the state are staffed. Fresno Bee.
GAO Report Calls for More CMS Oversight of Nursing Home Facilities
A new report from the Government Accountability Office suggests that some problematic nursing homes have made improvements in recent years while others continue to face problems. The report recommended that CMS increase its regulation of nursing home facilities. CQ HealthBeat.
Experts Raise Concerns Over Dental Care in Pregnancy
Health officials in Contra Costa County have started encouraging physicians to discuss dental health issues with pregnant women in an effort to curb the transmission of oral bacteria to infants. Earlier this year, the California Dental Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists held a panel session that concluded the benefits of dental care during pregnancy outweigh the risks. Contra Costa Times.
Stockton Reaches Agreement Over Prison Medical Facility
Last week, Stockton officials announced that they had reached a settlement agreement with federal prison receiver J. Clark Kelso and state correctional officials over the construction of a prison medical facility southeast of the city. The deal paves the way for the construction of the 1,722-bed California Medical Facility, which will house physically and mentally ill inmates. Stockton Record.