Latest California Healthline Stories
Doctors Oppose Plan To Halt ‘Balance’ Billing Practice
During a hearing in San Diego yesterday, physicians asked officials to reconsider a proposal to prohibit physicians and hospitals from billing emergency department patients for charges not covered by health plans. Supporters of the plan say patients should not be used as pawns in billing disputes. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Advocates Mount Opposition to Medi-Cal Cuts in Revised Budget
A report by the Dental Health Foundation and the California Primary Care Association said that a proposal to drop dental benefits for adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries would undermine dental care for children and weaken California’s health care system. Meanwhile, immigrant advocates criticized plans to roll back Medi-Cal services for documented immigrants. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
SEIU Challenges Outcome of Nurses Union Vote
The Service Employees International Union has challenged the results of a recent union election in which the California Nurses Association fell just shy of the majority vote needed to take over representation of more than 1,000 nurses at three Las Vegas hospitals. The challenge could delay another election for months, giving SEIU additional time to persuade nurses to stay with their current union and negotiate an improved contract for the nurses. Las Vegas Sun.
Schwarzenegger’s Revised Budget Plan ‘Unacceptable’
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s revised budget plan is “unacceptable,” according to an editorial. It states, “Less than a year ago Schwarzenegger was beating the drum for comprehensive reform that would bring health care to all Californians,” but now he “is proposing cuts that would deny care to 429,000 low-income Californians currently receiving care, including tens of thousands of children.” San Jose Mercury News.
California Regulators Try Again To Write Ban on Balance Billing
This will be the Department of Managed Health Care’s third attempt over the past two years to outlaw balance billing, a practice in which patients are charged for the remainder of a hospital bill that their insurer does not cover. The situation often arises when members seek emergency treatment at facilities outside of their health plan’s networks. San Diego Union-Tribune, Los Angeles Times.
Medi-Cal Payment Cuts Will Push Doctors Out of Program, Survey Finds
The Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association recently surveyed 193 physicians and found 56% said they would not accept new Medi-Cal patients, 33% would reduce their hours with Medi-Cal patients, and 29% would no longer treat them. Contra Costa Times.
Health Care Reform News Around the Nation for the Week of May 19
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill that would have expanded public health insurance coverage. CMS approved an expansion of Indiana’s version of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Iowa’s governor signed a bill that will expand coverage to uninsured children.
Federal Report Says Problems Persist at Transplant Programs
The Government Accountability Office found that of the 72 programs identified in 2005 as having low survival rates, about 40% were still not meeting basic survival standards. Federal regulators are working to boost oversight of transplant programs. Los Angeles Times.
Indictments Issued in Alleged UCLA Cadaver Sales Case
On Friday, Henry Reid, the former director of UCLA’s cadaver program, and businessman Ernest Nelson were indicted on eight felony counts related to selling donated human body parts on the black market. The indictments allowed prosecutors to avoid a preliminary hearing scheduled Friday. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
SEIU, Nurses Union Continue To Compete Over Workers
The Service Employees International Union and the California Nurses Association continue to fight over workers as SEIU filed a lawsuit against CNA last week alleging that the nurses union illegally acquired a confidential mailing list of SEIU members. Wall Street Journal.