Latest California Healthline Stories
Inland Empire Seeks More Doctors To Treat Underserved Populations
Efforts in Riverside and San Bernardino counties to lure more physicians to the region could be used as a model by other areas with underserved populations. For example, Inland Empire Health Plan is providing grants to defray the cost of hiring new doctors and UC-Riverside is offering scholarships to medical students who commit to practicing in the area. Kaiser Health News.
California Senate Moves To Limit Medi-Cal Estate Recovery
A California bill that aims to limit the state’s ability to recoup assets from deceased Medicaid beneficiaries has been unanimously passed by the state Senate and now heads to the Assembly. Gov. Brown vetoed a similar measure last year, saying that the “cost of this change … needs to be considered alongside other worthwhile policy changes in the budget process.” Los Angeles Times.
New Rules Require Southern Calif. Facilities To Alert Locals to Health Risks From Toxic Emissions
On Friday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board approved rules that will subject dozens of Southern California facilities — such as aerospace plants, metal factories and oil refineries — to reduce toxic emissions or notify local residents of the health risks posed by their operations. The rules follow new guidelines from California environmental officials that estimate toxic air contamination has caused the cancer risk to triple. Los Angeles Times.
On Tuesday, Orange County Board of Supervisors Chair Todd Spitzer requested the county compile a report comparing local salaries for mental health workers with those in the surrounding counties in response to concerns about funding. Jennifer Muir, incoming general manager of the Orange County Employees Association, says the county is facing a funding crisis that threatens the safety of individuals with mental illnesses and the general public. Orange County Register.
Kaiser Permanente Reaches Deal With Health Care Workers on New Three-Year Contract
Kaiser Permanente has reached a three-year agreement with health care employees in California that includes an annual wage increase ranging from 3% to 4%. In addition, the agreement will improve workers’ dental benefits, maintains retiree medical benefits and adds incentives for workers to stay healthy. San Jose Mercury News.
CMS To Require Background Checks for ‘High Risk’ Medicaid, CHIP Providers
On Tuesday, CMS in a letter to state Medicaid directors said the states by March 2016 must submit a list ranking all of a state’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program providers as having either a “limited, moderate or high risk” of potentially defrauding the programs. Those categorized as “high risk” will be subject to criminal background checks, which will include fingerprinting. Modern Healthcare.
Hospitals’ uncompensated care costs would decline by $4.5 billion over the next year if states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act do so, according to a White House Council of Economic Advisers report released Thursday. According to the report, uncompensated care costs in the 28 states that have expanded their Medicaid programs are on track to drop by $4.4 billion next year. USA Today.
CMS Final Rule Offers ACOs More Flexibility, Delays Penalties
CMS has unveiled a final rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program that offers accountable care organizations an extra three years before imposing penalties. In addition, the final rule creates an additional track where participants can assume more financial risk of patient care. Modern Healthcare, CQ HealthBeat.
Plan Seeks To Require Voter Approval for Changes to Pension Benefits
Yesterday, pension-change advocates seeking to rein in rising retirement benefit costs introduced a plan that would require California to put any proposed pension and retirement benefit changes — including those for health insurance — to a public vote. The measure has received strong opposition from CalPERS and labor unions. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Lawmakers Aim To Establish Medical Marijuana Regulatory Framework
Yesterday, the California Assembly passed a bill to regulate the state’s medical marijuana industry. The measure would establish a two-tier system for medical marijuana licensure and create a new Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation. AP/KPCC’s “KPCC News” et al.