Latest California Healthline Stories
Study: About 17M Newly Insured Since ACA Coverage Expansions
A new RAND study finds that about 17 million U.S. residents have gained health coverage since the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges and Medicaid expansion went into effect. The researchers estimate that the total number of uninsured U.S. residents is 25.8 million, down from 42.7 million in September 2013. Modern Healthcare et al.
California Lawmakers Consider Requiring Rx Label Translations
A bill being considered by the Assembly would require pharmacists to provide prescription drug labels and instructions in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Pharmacists do not oppose the requirement to provide written translations, but some are calling for more flexibility in the process. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” AB 1073.
DMHC Slams Aetna for ‘Unreasonable’ Small Business Rate Increase
The California Department of Managed Health Care is criticizing Aetna for imposing a nearly 20% rate increase for small businesses, which affects about 16,000 individuals. This marks the third time since 2013 that DMHC has criticized Aetna over rate increases. Sacramento Business Journal, Los Angeles Times.
Report Ranks Calif., Other States on Nursing Competition, Opportunity
A new WalletHub report ranks California 21st in the country for nurses. However, California ranks third for fewest projected nurses per capita by 2022 and 11th for opportunity and competition among nurses. Louisville Courier-Journal et al.
California Departments Behind on Plans To Replace Future Retirees, Audit Finds
California government departments, including health care agencies, are struggling with hiring plans to replenish its aging workforce, according to an audit released Monday. In the report, California Auditor Elaine Howle wrote that nearly 41% of state employees are at least 50 years old and the Department of Human Resources has done little to assess how departments plan to replace and train new workers. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Sonoma County Working To Create Behavioral Wellness Campus in West Santa Rosa
Sonoma County officials are developing a comprehensive behavioral wellness campus that will allow the county to deliver more immediate treatment in a mental health crisis. In the fall, the county hopes to move its psychiatric emergency services to a development in west Santa Rosa called The Lakes and to lease more space in the future for outpatient behavioral health services. Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
UCSF-Led Research Team Proposes a Move Toward ‘Trauma-Informed’ Primary Care
Screening and treatment for trauma, such as childhood abuse and domestic violence, should be a standard part of mainstream primary care, according to research published Wednesday by a UC-San Francisco-led team. The researchers propose transitioning toward “trauma-informed” primary care, in which providers gain an understanding of how their patients are affected by trauma and identify ways to make them feel safe and seek help. San Francisco Chronicle.
Quality Markers Do Not Decline After Hospital Closures
When hospitals close, death rates and other quality markers generally do not appear to worsen, according to a study published Monday in Health Affairs. The researchers found that the changes in death rates for Medicare beneficiaries in areas where hospitals closed were no different from those in similar locations where a hospital had not closed. Kaiser Health News.
Hundreds of Groups Call for Repeal of Independent Payment Advisory Board
More than 500 groups in a letter to lawmakers have called for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s Independent Payment Advisory Board. The groups expressed concern that because IPAB is tasked with considering savings in annual timeframes, it would be “more likely to consider short-term savings in the form of payment cuts for health care providers” than to “pursu[e] long-term reforms that may not achieve immediate savings.” They added, “This would be devastating for patients, affecting access to care and innovative therapies.” The Hill.
Senate Adopts Joint GOP Budget Proposal With ACA Repeal Provision
The Senate has adopted a joint GOP budget agreement that includes a provision to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act through the budget reconciliation process. In addition, the proposal would allow Republicans to use reconciliation to implement a contingency plan if the Supreme Court strikes down subsidies to help consumers purchase coverage through the federal exchange. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.