Latest California Healthline Stories
DOJ Files Brief in Support of Suit Challenging In-Home Care Cuts
In an amicus brief filed last week, Obama administration attorneys contend that Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal to reduce eligibility for California’s In-Home Supportive Services program could violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Lawmakers approved the IHSS cuts in an effort to reduce state spending by $82.1 million this fiscal year. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Jones Stumps for California To Regulate Insurance Rates
Assembly Health Committee Chair Dave Jones defended a recent committee hearing into Anthem Blue Cross’ proposed rate hikes and called for the Legislature to approve AB 2578, which would give the state authority to regulate health insurance rates. Sacramento Bee.
Anthem Premium Hikes Bolster Democratic Push for Health Care Reform
President Obama and congressional Democrats are pointing to Anthem Blue Cross of California’s planned premium increases as an example of the urgency of national health care reform. Anthem’s announcement of the cuts has sparked congressional hearings and an HHS summit. Los Angeles Times.
Report: Minority, Low-Income Women in L.A. County Face Care Gaps
A recent report finds that minority and low-income women in Los Angeles County tend to have lower rates of preventive screenings and higher rates of chronic conditions. Researchers suggest that limited access to care could be a contributing factor. Los Angeles Times.
Obama To Hit the Road With Effort To Promote National Health Reform
This week, President Obama is scheduled to travel to Philadelphia and St. Louis in an effort to generate public support for health care reform legislation and encourage lawmakers to cast a final vote. Recent polls show that public support for reform might be growing. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
California Paying Heavy Overtime to State Nurses
Thirty-five of the 50 state employees who were paid the most in overtime compensation in 2009 were registered nurses. State Auditor Elaine Howle is questioning the state’s staffing practices and whether large amounts of overtime could compromise nurses’ performance. Sacramento Bee.
California Universities Tapped for Chronic Disease Initiative
UC-Berkeley, UC-San Francisco, UC-Irvine and Charles Drew University are among the recipients of $2.4 million in grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation aimed at testing how personal health records and other technologies can capture data for use in chronic disease care. RWJF announced the grants Wednesday. San Francisco Business Times, Healthcare IT News.
Report: CMS Missing Many Hospital ‘Never Events’
HHS’ Office of the Inspector General has released a report indicating that CMS’ system to identify adverse events is missing many incidents, resulting in Medicare overpayments to hospitals. Federal law bars Medicare from reimbursing hospitals for treatment of 10 conditions arising from adverse events. HealthLeaders Media.
Sebelius Asks Insurers for More Transparency on Premium Increases
Yesterday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius met with the executives of five major insurance companies and asked them to justify recent premium hikes for individual policyholders. Sebelius called for the insurers to post information about their rates online. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Court Sides With Governor Over State Medical Board Furloughs
On Thursday, a Superior Court judge upheld the legality of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s mandated furloughs for California Medical Board employees. The decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the California Medical Association. Capitol Weekly, Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”