Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: More Californians Have Lost Health Insurance
On Thursday, health care reform group Health Access California released a report that found one million more California residents are unemployed than were out of work 18 months ago and 500,000 more Californians are without health insurance. The report also found that nearly one out of seven U.S. residents who have become uninsured during the economic recession live in California. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Support in Congress Builds for New Tax on Job-Based Insurance
More Democratic lawmakers are indicating support for proposals to tax some employer-sponsored health insurance benefits as part of an effort to fund a larger health care reform initiative. Disagreements remain on which health benefits packages should be taxed. Washington Post et al.
Report: States Should Expand Medicaid Managed Care
Expanding Medicaid managed care programs would help states reduce health care spending while improving patient outcomes and quality of care, according to a new Lewin Group report that was prepared for America’s Health Insurance Plans. A comparable study five years ago by the Lewin Group had similar findings. HealthLeaders Media.
Private Market at the Core of Republican Health Reform Measures
Congressional Republicans introduced legislation yesterday that would use tax credits and other market-based strategies to expand health insurance coverage. Supporters of the bills said the proposals are intended as an alternative to other efforts under consideration. Roll Call et al.
Medical Tourism Appeals to Many Americans, Poll Finds
A new Gallup Poll found that many U.S. residents, especially those without insurance, are willing to travel abroad for major medical procedures if they believe the quality of care is comparable but significantly cheaper outside the U.S. According to Gallup, the survey findings indicate that the increasing cost of U.S. medical care and the large number of uninsured residents is making medical tourism a practical option. HealthLeaders Media.
San Bernardino County To Cut County Officials’ Benefits
On Tuesday, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of cutting certain medical and retirement benefits for elected officials beginning in the next term to help address the county’s budget deficit. The cuts are expected to save the county $147,000 in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, and the savings are expected to grow in subsequent years. San Bernardino County Sun.
Public Hospitals Have Less Funds To Treat More Patients
Public hospitals in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are struggling to treat an increase in patients at a time when the state has capped Medi-Cal funding to some hospitals. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
U.S. Agencies Ratchet Up Efforts To Combat Fraud in Medicare, Medicaid
HHS and the Department of Justice’s announcement of the program coincided with an announcement that President Obama’s administration is recommending a 50% increase in next year’s budget for fraud prevention efforts in Medicare and Medicaid. Washington Post et al.
UnitedHealthcare To Provide Support for CalRHIO
UnitedHealthcare/PacifiCare of California will provide support to the California Regional Health Information Organization to deliver medication history, laboratory results and claims-based clinical data through the health information exchange to hospital emergency departments in the state. UnitedHealthcare is the first insurer to support and pay for health data exchange services in the state. Health Data Management, Healthcare IT News.
California Imposes Fines Against 13 Hospitals for Patient Safety Violations
Yesterday, the Department of Public Health issued its latest round of $25,000 fines against 13 California hospitals for lapses that seriously endangered patients in 2007 and 2008. Fines will be doubled to $50,000 for violations that occur this year. Contra Costa Times et al.