Latest California Healthline Stories
Lee Slams Orange County Register Editorial, Defends Covered California
In an Orange County Register opinion piece, Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee criticizes a recent Register editorial for its “narrow” coverage of a Kaiser Family Foundation consumer survey and claims that “Covered California is in financial jeopardy.” Lee highlights several studies from KFF and Health Affairs that demonstrate “evidence of the [Affordable Care Act] working in California, putting health insurance within reach for many millions in both exchange-based health coverage and Medi-Cal for the first time.” Orange County Register.
Sacramento County Officials Approve $13M To Bolster Mental Health Care Services
On Tuesday, Sacramento County supervisors voted to approve $13.7 million in spending to improve the county crisis stabilization unit’s ability to care for mental health patients. The money will be used to add three 15-bed crisis residential facilities, 20 sub-acute beds, staff members and pharmaceutical supplies to the unit. Sacramento Business Journal.
Brown Reverses Position, Signaling Openness to Tobacco Tax Increases Without Voter Approval
This week, Gov. Brown said upcoming special legislative sessions, including one on Medi-Cal, as part of the state budget deal could lead to tax increases on tobacco. This marks a change in position from his 2010 campaign in which he said he would not enact taxes without voter approval. California Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff criticized Brown’s new openness to taxes, noting that the state is “awash in money” and is “paying down debt.” Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ.”
Drug Industry Money Could Have Influenced Vaccine Debate in Calif.
Campaign finance and lobbying reports show that California lawmakers received millions of dollars from pharmaceutical companies and related trade groups ahead of a debate on whether to eliminate personal belief exemptions to the state’s childhood vaccination requirements. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of June 19, 2015
Palomar Health executives have recommended closing down the Palomar Health Downtown Campus in Escondido. The Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System has added a 4,000-square-foot expansion to its Community Outpatient Clinic in Oxnard.
Health Insurance Plans Not Required To Cover Labor, Delivery for Dependent Children
Health insurers are not required to cover labor and delivery costs for dependent children, despite various other coverage requirements mandated under the Affordable Care Act. In May, the federal government issued a clarification on the ACA’s mandates, noting that preconception and prenatal care must be covered without cost-sharing for dependent children in all health plans that do not have grandfathered status under the law. NPR’s “Shots.”
Public Often in the Dark About Why FDA Rejects Drugs
Drugmakers typically do not publicly disclose the reasons why some medications are not approved by FDA, even though the treatments often are rejected because of concerns about the their safety and effectiveness, according to a study published last week in BMJ. The study found drugmakers often did not make any announcements about rejections or omitted a majority of the reasons why FDA denied approval. Peter Lurie — FDA’s associate commissioner for public health strategy and analysis and the study’s lead author — said sharing more details about complete response letters would help to bolster transparency and stave off misconceptions about why new drugs are rejected. Reuters.
HHS Increases Reimbursements for ACA Reinsurance Program
HHS says it will increase reimbursements under an Affordable Care Act program designed to help insurers that offer coverage through the exchanges. The program requires insurers to pay into a funding pool that can be used to reimburse them if their claims exceed a certain threshold. The Hill, CQ HealthBeat.
Tax Exemptions for Not-for-Profit Hospitals Doubled Over a Decade
A new Health Affairs study finds that tax exemptions for not-for-profit hospitals have nearly doubled from $12.6 billion in 2002 to about $24.6 billion in 2011. Observers say the findings bolster long-running debate over whether hospitals receiving the tax breaks are providing enough benefits for their communities. Modern Healthcare, Washington Post.
SEIU To Shift 70K Workers Out of United Healthcare Workers West
The Service Employees International Union plans to transfer 70,000 workers from United Healthcare Workers West to a new local chapter for long-term care workers. SEIU President Mary Kay Henry said the plan will create “one strong union with one clear goal,” but UHW President Dave Regan called it a “massive betrayal.” San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk,” Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”