Latest California Healthline Stories
Medi-Cal Pay Crunch Destabilizes Homes for People With Disabilities
A consultant who works with homes for the disabled warns that many facilities will be able to continue operating without Medi-Cal funds for only one or two weeks. A state official said he expects Medi-Cal’s emergency reserve fund to run dry around July 24. Contra Costa Times.
CMS Says Medicare Audit Program Found $700M in Overpayments
A Medicare audit program that was piloted in California, Florida and New York has recovered $700 million in improper payments to health care providers, who have been critical of the effort. CMS is continuing efforts to expand the program to additional states. Wall Street Journal.
State Must Enforce Fine Against Anthem Blue Cross
California health insurance regulators need to enforce the $1 million fine it levied in March 2007 against Anthem Blue Cross for “routinely rescinding health insurance policies in violation of state law,” according to an editorial. It states, “It’s outrageous enough when an insurer cancels policies at its whim, but when a state regulatory system lacks the backbone to enforce its own laws, California might as well turn over the keys to the insurance company.” Contra Costa Times.
California Gears Up To Boost Capacity at UC Medical Schools
The UC Board of Regents already has greenlighted the planning process for a new medical school at UC-Merced and will consider a similar proposal for a medical school at UC-Riverside next week. The proposals come as the state works to address a growing doctor shortage. California sends more students out of state to medical schools than any other state in the nation. San Francisco Chronicle.
Obama Touts Health Tax Credit for Small Businesses
In San Diego on Sunday, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) told the National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil rights and advocacy group, that he plans to give tax credits to small businesses that offer health insurance to their employees. Los Angeles Times.
Psychiatric Group Draws Fire for Ties With Drug Industry
The American Psychiatric Association is facing increased scrutiny over its ties with the pharmaceutical industry, and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has called on the group to detail its financing. In 2006, the drug industry accounted for about 30% of AMA’s $62.5 million in financing. New York Times.
Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of July 14
A new report on the Massachusetts health insurance law traced $1.3 billion in annual health care costs to rules requiring health plans to cover certain services. Meanwhile, a group issued a report arguing that Georgia’s new health care laws will not significantly reduce the uninsured.
L.A. County’s Female Inmates Wait Months for Treatment
A report released Friday found that female inmates in the Los Angeles County jail system sometimes wait months for medical treatment that should have been required within 24 hours. In response to the report, the Sheriff’s Department plans to implement a new plan to ensure medical treatment within 24 hours of requests. Los Angeles Times.
More People Hit Lifetime Coverage Caps as Health Care Costs Increase
Consumer advocates warn that people whose health plans have $1 million lifetime spending caps could hit those caps after just a few surgeries for a serious condition. California Rep. Anna Eshoo plans to introduce a bill dealing with lifetime caps in Congress. AP/Detroit News.
California Anti-Smoking PSAs To Air on New DVDs
On Friday, California announced a new deal with six major movie studios to air anti-smoking public service announcements through 2009 on new movie DVDs that include smoking scenes and are rated G, PG or PG-13. Sacramento Bee.