Latest California Healthline Stories
Legal Case Challenging the Constitutionality of ACA Appealed to Supreme Court
The Pacific Legal Foundation on Monday asked the Supreme Court to hear a case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. According to the lawsuit, the bill that became the ACA was first passed in the Senate instead of in the House, which the suit claims violated the Constitution’s origination clause. Under the clause, tax-related bills must originate in the House and pass there first before moving onto the Senate. AP/Washington Times.
Silver-Level Federal Exchange Plan Premiums To Increase by 7.5%
New HHS data show premiums for silver-level health plans sold through the federal health insurance exchange for 2016 will increase by an average of 7.5%. Insurers requested the increases in part because the costs associated with providing exchange coverage exceeded their projections. Wall Street Journal et al.
White House, Congress Reach Budget Deal With Health Care Changes
The Obama administration and congressional leaders have reached an $80 billion, two-year budget that would stave off a premium increase for some Medicare beneficiaries and eliminate an Affordable Care Act mandate that requires large companies to automatically enroll employees in health plans unless the workers opt out of the coverage. Associated Press et al.
Covered California Plans Have Stabilized Risk Scores, Premiums
An analysis of state data by researchers from Covered California and the state Department of Health Care Services finds that insurers selling plans through the exchange have stabilized risk scores and kept premium increases low, largely because of the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act and insurers’ ability to enroll a diverse population of consumers. Health Affairs.
California Agencies’ Policies on Coverage for Costly Hepatitis C Drugs Vary
California paid $58 million to treat prison inmates with advanced hepatitis C with Sovaldi and Harvoni, the only two drugs that can cure the disease at a cost of $95,000 for a 12-week treatment. However, data show that privately insured patients and Medi-Cal patients have to go through lengthy appeals processes to get coverage for the treatments and that a majority of those patients are denied coverage. Charles Bacchi, president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, said health plans are covering the drugs, noting that state agencies each have their own guidelines for allowing coverage and such guidelines are “all evolving.” Los Angeles Daily News/Long Beach Press-Telegram.
The Sacramento Native American Health Center has started construction on a $3.8 million expansion that will more than double the clinic’s square footage. The not-for-profit clinic is expected to reopen in mid-January 2016 and will be able to serve up to 20,000 patients. It currently serves about 12,000 patients. Sacramento Business Journal.
San Francisco To Be Fifth Calif. County To Implement Laura’s Law
San Francisco County on Nov. 2 will begin implementing Laura’s Law, which allows involuntary treatment of individuals with severe mental illness. It will be the fifth in the state — after Contra Costa, Kern, Nevada and San Diego counties — to implement the law. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Report: 10 California Cities Among Top 100 Best Places for Nurses
A report by financial research firm ValuePenguin finds that 10 California cities are among the top 100 places in the country to work as a registered nurse. Three California cities were among the top 10, including Redding, which ranked first overall. Boston Globe, ValuePenguin report.
House Republicans Vote for 61st Time To Repeal Some Provisions of ACA Through Budget Reconciliation
The House on Friday voted 240-189 to approve legislation that would repeal several of the Affordable Care Act’s provisions through the budget reconciliation process. The vote marked the 61st time House Republicans have voted to repeal the law. The measure was approved mostly along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor of the bill and Democrats voting against it. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, Reuters.
Ninth Co-Op Established Under ACA To Shut Down
Another not-for-profit cooperative health plan established under the Affordable Care Act has announced it will shut down in part because of lower-than-expected federal financial aid through the so-called risk corridors program. Consumers’ Choice Health Insurance, a co-op operating in South Carolina, currently covers about 40% of the 168,000 individuals who have purchased coverage through South Carolina’s exchange. The co-op’s decision to close means that 67,000 individuals and business customers will have to seek new coverage once their current plans expire at the end of the year. AP/Sacramento Bee.