Latest California Healthline Stories
Affiliation Agreement Between CNA, NUHW In Limbo
According to a post last week on the National Union of Healthcare Workers’ website, “Top officials at the California Nurses Association are trying to dissolve the affiliation agreement that NUHW members overwhelmingly voted for in January 2013.” Under the 2013 deal, the two unions said they “shared a unified vision that a strategic alliance of all who work side-by-side in hospitals and other health care settings best furthers” efforts to improve patient care and unionized workers’ benefits and working conditions. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Few Physicians Using Medicare Coordinated Care Benefits, CMS Says
CMS data show few providers caring for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions are using federal funding dedicated to efforts to coordinate care. While CMS estimates that about 35 million Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for coordinated care benefits, the agency has received reimbursement requests for just 100,000 beneficiaries so far. Modern Healthcare.
Senators Introduce Bill To Expand Telehealth Services for Veterans
A new bill introduced by Sens. Joni Ernst and Mazie Hirono would allow Department of Veterans Affairs physicians to provide telehealth services across state lines to veterans in their homes. Currently, VA only can waive state licensure requirements if the patient and physician both are located at a federally owned facility. FierceHealthIT et al.
Three California-Based Health Care Execs Make Modern Healthcare’s 2015 ‘Up & Comers’ List
Modern Healthcare has announced its 2015 “Up & Comers” list, which recognizes 12 young executives who are rising stars in health care administration, management or policy. This year’s list includes three California-based individuals: Delvecchio Finley, CEO of Alameda Health System in Oakland; Sachin Jain, CMO at CareMore in Cerritos; and William Miller, deputy director at the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity in Sacramento. Modern Healthcare.
Healdsburg Backs Off New Over 21 Age Limit for Buying Tobacco Amid Litigation Threats
On Monday, Healdsburg sent notices to local tobacco retailers saying it would no longer enforce a new ordinance that requires individuals to be at least 21 years old to buy tobacco products. The decision comes after a national tobacco group threatened to challenge the ordinance in court. Santa Rosa Press Democrat, San Francisco Chronicle.
California Medical Association Finds Success in Lobbying Efforts
The California Medical Association has largely been successful in its lobbying efforts on various health-related bills and ballot initiatives, such as the state’s new childhood vaccine law. The group now has its eye on a November 2016 ballot initiative to impose a $2-per-pack tobacco tax. Some of the proceeds of the tax would go toward increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Xerox Will Not Finish Implementing Medi-Cal Management System
Yesterday, Xerox announced that it will not finish implementing new Medicaid payment management systems in California and Montana, both of which have experienced delays in launching their respective platforms. The company will continue to process Medicaid claims in both states via existing legacy systems to avoid service interruptions. AP/Sacramento Bee, Wall Street Journal.
Gov. Brown Signs More Health Care-Related Bills Into Law
Gov. Brown has signed into law several health care-related bills, including one to establish a closed prescription drug formulary in the state’s workers’ compensation program and another measure requiring crisis pregnancy centers to provide information about abortion, contraception and prenatal care. Business Insurance et al.
Report: U.S. Health Care Spending Reaches 18.2% of GDP
Health care spending reached 18.2% of the U.S. gross domestic product in July, up from 17.7% of the GDP in July 2014, according to an Altarum Institute report released last week. The spending increase was driven in large part by higher spending on prescription drugs and health plan administration. Despite the spending gains noted in the report, Altarum analysts said there are signs the increases will slow. Modern Healthcare.
Study Finds Many Calif. Doctors Would Work While Sick
A study presented last week at IDWeek 2015 shows that 96% of California doctors surveyed said they would work if they had cold symptoms and that 36% said they would work if they had the flu. The study was based on a survey of 474 doctors at a California academic hospital. Doctors in medical residency training were the most likely to say they would work while sick with the flu, while more-tenured attending physicians were the least likely to say they would work with the flu, according to the study. CBS News.