Latest California Healthline Stories
California, New York Mull Response to New Kids’ Insurance Rules
Health care advocates in California and New York charge that new federal guidelines to restrict eligibility for Healthy Families to the lowest-income children will derail efforts to expand health insurance coverage. Ventura County Star et al.
Stalled Budget Prompts Clinic Closure, Lay Offs
Eleven Delta Health Care employees temporarily were laid off until the state budget is approved and state funding resumes. Delta Health Care also was forced to shut down its Lodi family-planning clinic and reduce services at high school clinics. Stockton Record.
Doctors, Regulators Raise Concerns About Health Plans’ Physician Ranking
Health plans say the physician ranking programs aim to help consumers select quality providers. However, critics say that health insurers focus more on cost than quality when providing preferred labels and that the data used to rank physicians is flawed. Wall Street Journal.
Tulare County Weighs Single-Provider Ambulance System
Under the proposed system, the single provider would be required to staff an ambulance in various communities and provide backup equipment in an area if the ambulance leaves on a call. The county board of supervisors is seeking more details before considering the proposal. Fresno Bee.
White House Moves To Restrict Eligibility for Kids’ Insurance
The Bush administration has outlined tighter eligibility rules for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to limit the program to low-income children. The move could severely hamper efforts in California and other states to expand eligibility for the program as part of larger health care reform efforts. New York Times et al.
CalRHIO Awards Grants to Local Health Data Networks
The California Regional Health Information Organization will provide four safety net organizations funding to ramp up their health information exchange programs. The projects should aid CalRHIO in its efforts to develop a statewide exchange, according to a spokesperson. San Francisco Business Times, Healthcare IT News.
Health Plans Target Individual Market With New Products
As employers increasingly reduce or limit health care coverage, health plans are marketing new plans to individuals. John Garamendi, California’s lieutenant governor and the state’s former insurance commissioner, has criticized these plans. Wall Street Journal.
Medicare Drug Benefit Expanded Rx Coverage for Seniors, Survey Finds
The survey found that the percentage of seniors without prescription drug coverage dropped from 33% in 2005 — before the Medicare drug benefit took effect — to 8% in 2006. However, some seniors remain vulnerable to high medication costs under the benefit. Los Angeles Times et al.
Payment Cuts to Medicare Advantage Plans Win Support
An editorial backs a House proposal to reduce payments to Medicare managed care plans, arguing that the extra cost of the payments further strains Medicare’s finances. Washington Post.
California Group Expands Insurance Tool Nationwide
The Web site, first developed by the Foundation for Health Coverage Education for California, now will help consumers nationwide determine their eligibility for public and private health plans. Consumers also can use a toll-free hot line to find eligibility information. Washington Post.