Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS Weighs New Regulations for Medicare Advantage Plans
Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems said the agency is considering new rules governing how private insurers contact beneficiaries to market Medicare Advantage plans. Some lawmakers are pressing CMS to give states more authority over MA plans. CongressDaily, CQ HealthBeat.
California Measure Aims To Tighten Rules on Insurance Cancellations
The bill aims to expand state regulators’ oversight of health insurers’ cancellations of health insurance policies. The measure was introduced after Blue Cross of California drew significant criticism for asking physicians to identify omissions on new members’ applications. San Francisco Chronicle.
Hospitals Seek $25 Million From Kaiser in Pay Dispute
Eight of Prime Healthcare Services’ hospitals said that Kaiser denied claims, paid only small portions of claims and reimbursed at lower rates than normal. Kaiser has been hit with lawsuits from at least three other hospital operators, as well as a state fine, over similar allegations. East Bay Business Times, San Diego Union-Tribune.
States’ Rx Comparison Sites Lack Adequate Data, Report Finds
State Web sites set up to help consumers compare prescription prices at various pharmacies often list outdated data and fail to list when the sites were last updated, according to a report from the Center for Studying Health System Change. AP/Wall Street Journal, AP/Tampa Tribune.
New York Launches Probe Into Insurers’ Out-of-Network Fees
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo plans to file a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group as part of an investigation into whether insurers are charging excessive amounts for care at out-of-network providers. Cuomo alleges that insurers underestimate the usual and customary rates for services. New York Times et al.
More Research Focuses on Culturally Competent Care
While a growing amount of research is being devoted to whether cultural differences can affect care, no study has proven that cultural competency training is effective in reducing health disparities. Some states, including California, have called for cultural sensitivity training for physicians. USA Today.
Health Costs Drive Spending on Seniors’ Entitlements
A newspaper analysis found that medical costs were the chief factor driving up the cost of government-sponsored benefits for seniors by 24% more than the rate of inflation since 2000. The Medicare prescription drug benefit accounts for about one-quarter of the increase. USA Today.
Assembly Speaker Says He Doesn’t Expect Health Care Reform This Year
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez on Tuesday said health care reform probably will not be revived this year. Later in the day, Gov. Schwarzenegger said “we won’t give up” on the issue and restated his commitment to overhauling California’s health care system. San Jose Mercury News.
Universal Health Coverage Bill Introduced in Congress
The system would be modeled after the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. One of the bill’s sponsors said that an employer mandate included in the legislation would be a major hurdle to passage. CongressDaily, CQ HealthBeat.
More Insured People Use Rx Drugs for Chronic Diseases
A pharmacy benefit manager says that the percentages of Americans taking medications to treat diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and other chronic ailments are on the rise, while use of painkillers and hormone replacement therapies is falling. USA Today.