Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. Care Health Plan Fined $150K by DMHC Over Claims Payment Issues
The Department of Managed Health Care has levied a $150,000 fine against L.A. Care Health Plan after an audit revealed a pattern of unfair payment practices. The audit found that L.A. Care Health Plan paid the wrong interest payments on seven of 73 claims, giving them a compliance rate of 90%, which is below the state’s mandated compliance rate of at least 95%. The audit found the health plan also did not respond in a timely manner to 19 of 93 disputed claims, resulting in a compliance rate of 80%. Payers & Providers.
UC-Irvine To Create Nursing School With $40M Donation
UC-Irvine has received a $40 million donation that it will use to increase faculty and enrollment in its nursing program to create a full-fledged nursing school. The gift was donated by Pacific Investment Management Co. Co-Founder William Gross and his wife Sue. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Groups Alter Prop. 30 Ballot Initiative To Garner More Support
A coalition of health and youth advocacy groups has altered a ballot initiative aimed at expanding income taxes under Proposition 30 after Gov. Brown argued that exempting the revenue from the state’s “rainy day fund” was a “fatal flaw” in the measure. A strategist for backers of the initiative said, “We’re very hopeful that with these amendments, we’ve got the best shot we can.” Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Budget Plan Aims To Sway Unions To Pay Into Retiree Health Fund
Gov. Brown’s fiscal year 2016-2017 budget plan includes $350 million in funding for “potential employee compensation increases” as a way to incentivize unions to accept new retiree health fund contributions. However, Brown likely faces difficult negotiations, particularly with lower-paid state workers. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
VA OIG Investigator Questions Reduction in Claims Backlog
At a congressional hearing on Tuesday, a Department of Veterans Affairs investigator questioned VA’s recent announcement that it has considerably reduced the number of backlogged claims. During the hearing, Brent Arronte, VA’s deputy assistant inspector general for audits and evaluations, said that VA’s Office of Inspector General has found several cases of data manipulation, meaning that assertions about reducing the backlog might not be accurate. Modern Healthcare.
Louisiana Becomes 31st State To Expand Medicaid
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday signed an executive order to expand the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care. Louisiana is now the 31st state to expand Medicaid under the ACA. According to the Louisiana Legislative Fiscal Office, about 298,000 uninsured Louisiana residents will be eligible for the expanded coverage, as well as 224,000 state residents with private health plans. AP/Modern Healthcare, New York Times.
HHS, Advocacy Groups Target Latinos for Enrollment in Health Coverage Through ACA Exchanges
HHS and community advocacy groups have launched an effort to encourage Latino U.S. residents to enroll in health coverage during the Affordable Care Act’s current open enrollment period, which is scheduled to end Jan. 31. At least 15 national organizations are holding events online and locally during the Latino Week of Action. The events aim to educate Latino residents about their enrollment options and provide resources to help them sign up for coverage through the ACA’s exchanges. HealthDay/U.S. News & World Report.
SOTU: Obama Stumps for Effort To Find Cancer Cure, Defends ACA
During his final State of the Union address, President Obama vowed to launch a national effort, which will be led by Vice President Biden, to cure cancer. Obama also defended the Affordable Care Act, noting that the law has expanded access to insurance, slowed health care inflation and created new jobs. The Hill et al.
Bill Would Fund Mental Health Care for Children Experiencing Trauma
Assembly member Rob Bonta has introduced legislation to restore funding for a California program that provides mental health services to children struggling with anxiety, withdrawal and other symptoms related to trauma and stress. The bill has garnered support from State Attorney General Kamala Harris and Children Now. San Francisco Chronicle.
Obama Admin To Update Rules for ACA Special Enrollment Periods
Acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt says the Obama administration will eliminate certain criteria for special enrollment periods for the federal health insurance exchange and make criteria language easier to understand in response to concerns that people have been misusing the special enrollment periods. Insurers say special enrollment periods could destabilize markets and cause premiums to rise. Wall Street Journal et al.