Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Bill Aims To Divert Inmates With Mental Health Issues From Jails
Yesterday, state Sen. Bob Hertzberg introduced legislation that seeks to increase funding for programs to divert inmates with mental health issues from county jails. Meanwhile, other state officials announced their intent to join a national initiative with similar goals. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
On Wednesday, a Covered California official told lawmakers that about 50% of uninsured individuals who are eligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act are employed. Kirk Whelan, director of the individual and small business sales division at Covered California, said that the exchange’s Small Employer Health Options Program plans to target those individuals and bolster enrollment through the exchange this fall. Sacramento Business Journal.
DMHC Levies $110K Fine Against Western Dental Services
Western Dental Services, an Orange-based dental insurance plan, has been fined $110,000 by the Department of Managed Health Care for payment delays and underreporting enrollees to the agency. DMHC claims that the dental plan failed to pay providers in a timely manner and to report enrollees who received services from its provider network for the first quarter of 2013. Payers & Providers.
Survey: One in Four Californians Received Surprise Medical Bill
A new survey commissioned by the Consumer Reports National Research Center finds that nearly 25% of privately insured Californians in the last two years have received a medical bill in which their insurer paid less than they expected. Most California respondents said they tried to resolve the issue, but 40% said they took no action. KQED’s “State of Health” et al.
HHS OIG: Covered California Was Vulnerable to Attack
Covered California was not completely compliant with federal security requirements, such as performing a vulnerability scan to identify weaknesses, and could have been vulnerable to hackers, according to an HHS Office of Inspector General report. However, the report found no evidence of attacks and noted that as of June 2014, some federal security measures were in place. The Hill.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of May 8, 2015
A telehealth program at Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital has helped improve patient outcomes and satisfaction among patients with multiple chronic conditions. El Centro Regional Medical Center and UC-San Diego Health System have entered into a long-term management services agreement.
Senate Passes Legislation To Allow Nurse Practitioners To Practice Without Physician Supervision
The California Senate has advanced a bill that would allow nurse practitioners to practice without the supervision of a physician if certified by an authority such as a hospital, medical group, accountable care organization or clinic. Under the bill, by Sen. Ed Hernandez, nurse practitioners could manage the health of patients, conduct assessments and order and prescribe medications, lab tests and medical devices. The bill now heads to the Assembly. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
U.S. Birth Rate at All-Time Low, CDC Report Finds
The U.S. birth rate stayed at an all-time low in 2013, declining by less than 1% from 2012 because of a considerable decrease in teenage birth rates, according a CDC report published in Pediatrics. There were 3.9 million births in the U.S. in 2013, according to the report. Birth rates decreased among women in their 20s, while birth rates increased for women in their 30s and late 40s. The birth rate among teenagers ages 15 to 19 fell to a new low of 26.5 per 1,000 teenagers, a 10% drop from 2012. HealthDay/Philadelphia Inquirer.
Fla. Governor Continues To Be Against Medicaid Expansion
Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday said he will not expand his state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, despite pressure from the Obama administration. Scott said he remains against Medicaid expansion because he still is not certain the federal government would continue funding the expansion at the levels promised. Modern Healthcare.
IBM Announces Watson Cancer Research at 14 Health Organizations
IBM has announced that 14 health systems and cancer centers by late 2015 will use its Watson supercomputer in their cancer care efforts. The participants include Monrovia-based City of Hope National Medical Center and the University of Southern California Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. Modern Healthcare et al.