Latest California Healthline Stories
CMS: Pioneer ACO Program Saved Nearly $400M Over Two Years
New CMS data show that the Pioneer ACO program saved nearly $400 million in 2012 and 2013. The findings make it the first Affordable Care Act alternative payment program to be certified to cut costs while improving quality, allowing CMS to begin rolling out elements of the program nationwide. Wall Street Journal, Journal of the American Medical Association.
Coalition Proposes Ballot Initiatives To Increase Calif. Cigarette Tax
Yesterday, the Save Lives California coalition submitted two proposed ballot initiatives to increase the state’s tobacco tax by $2 per pack. Meanwhile, the Assembly voted to broaden the state’s ban on e-cigarette sales to minors. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal,” Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
The California Legislature should pass two bills that aim to correct problems related to health insurers’ provider networks, a Los Angeles Times editorial states. The first bill would require insurers to make available online an up-to-date list of providers in their networks. The second bill would protect patients who are treated at an in-network hospital from being billed for out-of-network rates for care received at the facility. The editorial argues, “With the ACA requiring all adult Americans to buy coverage, insurers simply have to deliver accurate provider lists. And providers shouldn’t be able to undermine that insurance by seeking out-of-network rates from patients who stay within their networks for care.” Los Angeles Times.
California Chief Justice Says Mental Health Courts Should Be Available in Every County
California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said that each of the state’s 58 counties should have a mental health court, but currently such courts are operating in just 27 counties. Cantil-Sakauye said the state legislature has made $15 million in one-time funds available to counties to create “collaborative” courts, including those for individuals with mental health issues, but some counties might not be able to sustain the efforts once the funding expires. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Southern California Ambulance Companies To Pay $11.5M Settlement in Federal Kickback Lawsuit
Five ambulance companies in Orange County and San Diego have agreed to pay $11.5 million settlement in a federal kickback lawsuit. The lawsuit claimed the companies offered hospitals and skilled nursing facilities large discounts to handle Medicare patient referrals. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Calif. Lawmakers Considering Statewide Rules for Medical Marijuana
The California Legislature is considering several bills that would establish statewide regulations for the use and cultivation of medical marijuana. The bills would make it illegal to deny organs to transplant patients because they use medical marijuana and establish a two-tier system for medical marijuana licensure, among other things. AP/Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times.
Bill for Undocumented Health Coverage Could Cost $740M
California could pay up to $740 million annually under a bill to extend health care to undocumented immigrants, according to a fiscal analysis released yesterday. Meanwhile, a state Senate committee has put the bill on hold until it can be reviewed against the state’s revised fiscal year 2015-2016 budget. San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
ED Visits Up Despite Hopes That ACA Would Curb Use
Emergency department visits continued to grow despite predictions that the Affordable Care Act would curb ED use, according to a survey published Monday by the American College of Emergency Physicians. ACEP said reasons for the uptick could include a number of hospital and ED closures and newly insured Medicaid beneficiaries struggling to find physicians who accept their coverage. Wall Street Journal.
VA OIG Investigative Reports Show Mistreatment of Veterans, Other Problems
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General has released nearly 140 investigative reports on veterans’ health care that previously had been withheld. The new reports detail several instances of mistreatment of veterans or other dysfunction, including missed diagnoses, misuse of funds and potential overprescribing of narcotics. USA Today.
Nearly Half of State-Operated Exchanges Face Financial Challenges
Data show that nearly half of state-operated exchanges under the Affordable Care Act are facing financial problems. Faced with increasing costs — particularly for IT work needed to correct faulty software — officials in several states are considering potential solutions, such as partially or fully switching to the federal exchange. Washington Post, Washington Post‘s “GovBeat.”