Latest California Healthline Stories
Nursing Programs Across California Reporting Long Wait Times for Admittance
Collegiate nursing programs across California have long waiting lists, delaying aspiring nurses’ careers sometimes for years. For instance, the wait for some students to enter Cabrillo College’s nursing program is six years or longer because of a new state-approved multicriteria selection process. Other factors contributing to long waiting lists for nursing programs in the state include insufficient faculty or facilities and budget constraints. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Medicaid Expansion Boosts Access to Care for Low-Income Residents
A new Commonwealth Fund study finds low-income U.S. residents living in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act saw greater improvements in health care access than those living in states that did not. The study also finds that the method for expansion did not have a significant effect on access. USA Today et al.
HHS’ OIG Report Questions Accuracy of ACA Tax Credit Payments
An HHS Office of Inspector General report finds “a risk” that CMS in 2014 incorrectly calculated the amount of tax credits insurers should be paid because the agency relied on aggregated information from insurers. CMS officials say the issue has been addressed and note that OIG did not find any evidence of overpayments. Wall Street Journal.
Lawmakers Working To Fix Error in Medical Marijuana Regulations
California lawmakers say new measures establishing statewide medical marijuana regulations include an error that has spurred many cities to impose bans on cultivation. Lawmakers now are working on a new bill that would remove a deadline for cities to adopt land-use regulations for medical marijuana cultivation, among other things. Sacramento Business Journal et al.
East Contra Costa Fire District Weighs Imposing $337 Fee for Emergency Medical Services
Next week, the East Contra Costa Fire District is expected to vote on a measure that would allow the district to charge individuals who receive emergency medical services from firefighters a $337 fee. The measure would empower the district to collect the fee “in any other manner authorized by law” from individuals who refuse to or cannot pay. San Jose Mercury News.
Surrogate Files Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of California’s Surrogacy Law
On Monday, a surrogate mother filed a lawsuit in California challenging the constitutionality of the state’s surrogacy law after the biological father asked her to abort one of the fetuses or face monetary damages. In the lawsuit, the woman, Melissa Cook, argues that the $33,000 contract she signed with the biological father and the California surrogate law on which it is based violate due-process and equal-protection rights. Cook also is seeking custody of at least one of the triplets she was asked to abort. New York Post, Daily Mail.
Brown’s Budget Proposal To Address Health Care Issues in California
Tomorrow, Gov. Brown is expected to release his fiscal year 2016-2017 budget proposal, which likely will address several health care issues. For example, the proposal could include funding for the state’s Medicaid program, expand managed care to seniors and people with disabilities and levy tobacco taxes. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” State of Health.
Covered California Ramps Up Enrollment Efforts Ahead of Jan. 31
Covered California is increasing its efforts to sign up residents for health care coverage ahead of the exchange’s Jan. 31 open enrollment deadline. For example, the exchange is hosting weekly enrollment assistance events and has partnered with the National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians to bolster awareness. San Jose Mercury News et al.
HHS Finalizes Rule Allowing Some Providers To Share Mental Health Information With FBI Database
On Monday, HHS finalized a rule allowing certain health care providers to disclose — without consent — the names of patients with mental health issues to the FBI’s firearms background check database. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, launched in 1998 and is used by gun dealers to ensure they are not selling weapons to individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms, such as individuals with severe mental health issues and those convicted of felonies. The final rule modifies HIPAA to allow certain covered entities to disclose to the NICS the names of individuals who are barred from owning a firearm for mental health reasons. Politico, Health Data Management.
Obama Signs Bill To Expand Eligibility for Meaningful Use Exemptions for Providers
President Obama has signed into law a bill, by Sen. Rob Portman, that expands providers’ eligibility for hardship exemptions to Stage 2 of the meaningful use program. Under the 2009 economic stimulus package, providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments. Leslie Krigstein, vice president of congressional affairs at the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, said the bill will allow providers flexibility and help CMS better facilitate the process of granting hardship exemptions. EHR Intelligence, FierceEMR.