Latest California Healthline Stories
Lee: Covered California Could Be Affected by SCOTUS’ ACA Ruling
Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee says that a Supreme Court ruling against subsidies offered on health plans sold through the federal exchange could lead to revisions in the Affordable Care Act. Such changes potentially could reduce the amount of federal aid available through state-run exchanges, according to Lee. Los Angeles Times.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of June 12, 2015
Loma Linda University Health and San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital are in talks with Adventist Health about a possible affiliation. The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento has overturned a lower court decision that cleared Rideout Memorial Hospital in the death of a patient.
Four California-Based Community Health Projects Win BUILD Health Challenge Funding
Four California-based projects have been awarded up to $250,000 to improve health at the community level. The funding is part of the BUILD Health Challenge, which was started by the Advisory Board Company, the de Beaumont Foundation, the Colorado Health Foundation, the Kresge Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Healthcare Finance.
California Northstate University Medical School Receives Accreditation, Plans To Open in September
On Thursday, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education accredited California Northstate University College of Medicine, allowing the college to start offering classes in September. The Elk Grove-based college plans to enroll up to 60 students. Sacramento Business Journal.
Kern County Report Card Shows Improvement in Children’s Health Coverage, Vaccinations
Nine out of 10 children in Kern County had health insurance in 2013, according to the county’s annual report card released on Wednesday. In addition, the report card shows that the percentage of fully vaccinated children starting kindergarten in Kern County exceeded the statewide rate of 90.4%. Bakersfield Californian, 23ABC News.
OIG Fraud Alert Warns About Doctor Payment Agreements
The HHS Office of Inspector General in a fraud alert released Tuesday is telling physicians to be cautious about entering into payment agreements that could violate the anti-kickback statute. In the alert, OIG tells physicians entering into such payment arrangements that their compensation must reflect the services’ market values. Further, OIG notes that such an arrangement could violate the anti-kickback statute if it seeks to increase the number of referrals the organization receives from those physicians. Modern Healthcare.
Emergency department-bound patients in Riverside County sometimes have to wait up to eight hours before paramedics can transfer them to a hospital, according to a survey by the Riverside County Emergency Medical Services Agency. Officials attributed the delays in part to an increase in ED visits related to Affordable Care Act implementation, a rise in demand for mental health services at hospitals and inefficient management of hospital beds. Riverside Press Enterprise.
Health Care Access Varies by County for Calif.’s Undocumented
Varying interpretations of a California law have led to disparities in access to health care for undocumented residents. The law requires counties to “relieve and support all incompetent poor, indigent persons,” but leaves the interpretation up to counties. Currently, 11 counties offer low-cost medical care to undocumented immigrants. Los Angeles Times.
Private-Sector Health Care Spending To Grow at Slower Rate in 2016
A PricewaterhouseCoopers report predicts that private-sector health care spending will increase by 6.5% in 2016, down from 6.8% in health care spending growth that was anticipated in 2015. The report attributed the slowdown in growth to the Affordable Care Act’s so-called “Cadillac Tax” on costly health plans, increased use of telehealth and new health advisers. The Hill.
Analysis: 4M Medicare Beneficiaries Account for 41% of Spending
A USA Today analysis of county-level Medicare data from 2012 shows about 66% of beneficiaries ages 65 and older in the traditional Medicare program have multiple chronic conditions. The analysis finds about 15% beneficiaries have at least six chronic conditions, accounting for more than 41% of Medicare’s $324 billion in spending. USA Today.