Latest California Healthline Stories
House Democrats Introduce Bill To Repeal ACA’s ‘Cadillac Tax’
Several House Democrats are pushing to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s “Cadillac tax” on high-cost health plans through new legislation. The lawmakers say the tax unfairly targets individuals who live in more costly regions of the U.S., while lawmakers who support the tax say it will only affect U.S. residents with the highest incomes. The Hill.
Report: 70% of Californians Live in Areas With Unhealthy Air Pollution
A new report by the American Lung Association finds that more than 28 million California residents live in communities with poor air quality, potentially harming their health. In addition, many of the U.S. cities with the most ozone and particle pollution are located in California. NBC News, San Bernardino Sun.
33K New Covered California Enrollees Were Unaware of Tax Penalty
Yesterday, Covered California said that more than 33,000 of the residents who enrolled through the exchange since February had been unaware of the tax penalty for remaining uninsured. Under the Affordable Care Act, residents who do not have health coverage in 2015 will have to pay $325 or 2% of their incomes, whichever is higher, when they file their taxes. Merced Sun-Star et al.
Third Senate Panel Advances California Vaccine Bill After Amendment
Yesterday, the California Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would strengthen the state’s childhood vaccination requirements, sending it next to the state Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill was amended to cover just the 10 vaccines currently required by the state Department of Public Health. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Los Angeles Times Editorial Calls for ‘Workable Version’ of Pharmaceutical Drug Cost Disclosure Bill
“The lack of transparency about pricing is a problem throughout the health care industry, and Congress is doing little about it,” leaving it to state lawmakers to pry open the health care black box,” a Los Angeles Times editorial writes. For example, a bill by Assembly member David Chiu that would require drugmakers to submit an annual report to the state on the costs of producing drugs with a wholesale cost of $10,000 or more per course of treatment. While acknowledging that pharmaceutical companies have some “legitimate concerns” about the bill, the editorial calls for negotiations to create “a workable version” that would shine a light on drug pricing. Los Angeles Times.
Some Orange County Cities Get New Ambulance Provider
On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to replace Doctor’s Ambulance Service of Laguna Hills with Care Ambulance Service of Orange in 12 cities, despite local officials’ concerns that the change could negatively affect the service. The board also renewed ambulance service contracts in seven north Orange County cities. Orange County Register.
California Assembly Committee Advances Competing Medical Marijuana Regulatory Bills
On Tuesday, the California Assembly Business and Professions Committee approved two bills that would regulate medical marijuana. The first bill, by Assembly members Rob Bonta and Reginald Jones-Sawyer, would give the state Department of Alcohol Beverage Control regulatory control over pot dispensaries and the state Department of Food and Agriculture regulatory control over growers. The second bill, by Assembly member Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), would establish a two-tier system for medical marijuana licensure that includes both state and local governments. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
GAO: Electronic Medicare Cards Could Cut Fraud, Errors
Replacing paper Medicare cards with electronically readable cards could reduce Medicare fraud, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. Further, GAO wrote that the electronic cards “could reduce reimbursement errors and improve medical record-keeping.” However, the report noted that CMS and Medicare providers could face costs and challenges to updating their systems. Health Data Management.
Many Taxpayers Have Had To Repay Portion of Insurance Subsidies Under the ACA, Analysis Finds
About two-thirds of taxpayers who received subsidies to help them purchase coverage through an Affordable Care Act insurance exchange have had to repay a portion to the federal government, according to an analysis of H&R Block customers. The analysis found that those whose subsidies were too high repaid an average of $729. The analysis also showed that about one-quarter of tax filers received too little in subsidies and therefore received a higher refund. The average underpayment was $425. The Hill.
GOP Budget Agreement Could Repeal Parts of ACA via Reconciliation
Congressional aides familiar with the ongoing GOP budget negotiations between the House and Senate say a final agreement could be unveiled today, with the House and Senate both likely to consider the measure this week. Sources say the final budget agreement would allow the Senate to repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act through the budget reconciliation process. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.