Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Consumer-Directed Testing, Treatment Growing
A California HealthCare Foundation report released last week found that there has been a rapid expansion of drugs and devices that let patients test, monitor and treat medical conditions without having a physician visit. HealthLeaders Media.
Single-Payer Health Care Plan Faces Hurdles in Congress
Supporters of a single-payer plan say it is the best option for the U.S. health care system, but it faces an uphill battle in Congress. The segment includes comments from Roger Hickey, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future, David Himmelstein, co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Susan Dentzer, editor-in-chief of Health Affairs. WAMU’s “The Diane Rehm Show.”
Report Finds Discrepancies in Health Insurance Policies
At the state Capitol on Friday, researchers from the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute presented a report on the California health insurance market that found that residents enrolled in different individual and small group policies experienced significantly different out-of-pocket costs. The researchers recommended developing a standardized approach to health insurance disclosure that consumers can easily understand. Stockton Record.
Advocates Raise Concerns About Detainees’ Treatment
Disability-rights lawyers and advocates say that federal immigration detainees with severe mental illnesses are being held in private psychiatric hospitals in conditions that violate state and federal law. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it is reviewing its detention policies nationwide but did not comment on allegations about specific hospitals. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Challenge of Blue Shield Rescission Goes Before Orange County Jury
For the first time in California, a jury will consider a lawsuit alleging that a health insurer improperly rescinded an individual health insurance policy. Insurers’ rescission practices have drawn widespread criticism in recent years and resulted in more than $13 million in state fines. Los Angeles Times.
Health Industry Groups Stand Behind Health Savings Pledge
In a joint statement on Friday, six health industry groups reaffirmed their commitment to President Obama to reduce national health care spending by $2 trillion over the next decade. The organizations’ statement comes in response to media reports suggesting that they were backing away from their promise. The Hill.
President Talks About Health Care in Weekly Radio, Internet Address
President Obama said he is “heartened” by events suggesting that stakeholders are willing to work together on health care reform. In the Republican response to the address, Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany warned that a “government takeover of health care” would lead to tax hikes and new limits on care. The Hill et al.
Federal Funding Rules Limit California on Medi-Cal Cuts
Gov. Schwarzenegger has called for $750 million in cuts to Medi-Cal to help balance the state budget, but he will have to win approval from federal officials to go ahead with the plan or risk losing other funds. Separately, county and local governments are warning that they might have problems providing safety net services if the state taps into local funds. Sacramento Bee et al.
Health Care Reform Around the Nation for the Week of May 18
Missouri legislators approved legislation that aims to help the state draw down more federal matching funds for its Medicaid program. Meanwhile, the governor of West Virginia vetoed a bill that would have increased Medicaid reimbursements for mental health care.
Tulare County Supervisors Cut Health Agency Jobs
Last Tuesday, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors approved a third round of job cuts at the Health and Human Services Agency. The latest job cuts affected three vacant positions. Tulare Advance-Register.