Latest California Healthline Stories
Family Leave Bills Pass Through Committees, Despite Opposition
Yesterday, two California legislative committees advanced bills aimed at expanding the state’s paid family leave rules. One bill would extend paid family leave job protection to workers at businesses with 25 or more employees, while another bill would increase the amount of paid time off Californians can take. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
UC-San Francisco Looks To Address LGBT Health Issues
On Thursday, UC-San Francisco is set to launch a study of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health issues by collecting data from iPhone and Internet users to develop the largest database of physician, mental and social issues that affect those individuals. The PRIDE study aims to identify the health issues affecting the LGBT community and create strategies to address them. San Francisco Chronicle.
DMHC Fines Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Anthem
This month, the Department of Managed Health Care has fined Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Anthem Blue Cross of California a total of $350,000. DMHC fined Kaiser $250,000 over allegations of mishandling a business associate contract, while Anthem Blue Cross was fined $100,000 regarding 10 coverage cancellations that occurred without the 30-day grace period required under California law. Payers & Providers.
Vaccine Bill Support, Opposition Picks Up Ahead of Assembly Vote
Supporters and opponents of a bill that would end personal belief exemptions to California’s childhood vaccination requirements have launched several campaigns ahead of an expected vote in the Assembly today. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” AP/Sacramento Bee.
Brown Signs $167.7B Budget With Few Line-Item Vetoes
Yesterday, Gov. Brown signed a budget plan that includes funding to expand Medicaid to undocumented children in California and increase pay for In-Home Supportive Services providers. Brown used line-item vetoes to trim $1.3 million from the budget — the smallest amount of vetoes to the state budget since 1982. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal” et al.
Some pediatricians use the Internet to find resources on rare medical conditions when scientifically proven data are unavailable. Physicians typically use recommendations from medical groups or their health care institution to make decisions on how to treat patients. However, some providers are looking at real-world experiences posted online by patients or their families that can offer a wider perspective on possible outcomes. Wall Street Journal.
UnitedHealth To Leave America’s Health Insurance Plans
UnitedHealth Group on Monday announced it will leave America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry’s trade group, by June 30. UnitedHealth spokesperson Matt Stearns said, “AHIP has set forth a strategy and direction it feels best serves a membership profile and need that does not fit UnitedHealth Group and our diversified portfolio.” Reuters.
House Approves IPAB Repeal; Senate Prospects Uncertain
The House has approved a bill that would eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s Independent Payment Advisory Board. However, it is unclear if the bill has enough votes to overcome a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate will soon consider a separate House-approved bill to repeal the ACA’s medical device tax. AP/Miami Herald et al.
HHS’ OIG Urges CMS To Bolster Oversight of Medicare Part D
The HHS Office of Inspector General has released two reports detailing questionable billing patterns in the Medicare Part D program and urging CMS to bolster its oversight of the program. One of the reports calls out Los Angeles for having particularly high billings for certain medications in 2014. Modern Healthcare, ProPublica.
Bill Calls for Verification of State Employee Health Plan Dependents
A bill headed to Gov. Brown would require state employers to verify the eligibility of the dependents listed on their health plan rolls. The bill comes after a 2014 CalPERS audit found that thousands of individuals were improperly listed as dependents of state workers and retirees. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”