Latest California Healthline Stories
California Lawmakers Call for Review of Denti-Cal Program
Earlier this month, Assembly member Jim Wood and state Sen. Richard Pan asked the Little Hoover Commission to review the state’s dental program for low-income residents and make recommendations for improving access to care. The request follows criticism that the program has failed to provide adequate dental services to low-income children in the state. Sacramento Bee.
68K+ Enrolled in Federal Exchange During Special Enrollment Period
As of April 13, more than 68,000 U.S. residents had enrolled in coverage through HealthCare.gov during its special open enrollment period. Every state with its own exchange — except Colorado, Idaho and Massachusetts — is holding special enrollment periods, but a national tally of those enrollments has yet to be released. CNBC, The Hill.
Endoscope Maker Warned Europe Two Years Before Calif. Outbreaks
Olympus Corporation, the maker of the medical endoscopes linked to superbug outbreaks at two Los Angeles hospitals, warned European hospitals about the risks associated with the devices nearly two years before issuing a similar alert for U.S. facilities. Rep. Ted Lieu says the new information underscores the need for congressional action. Los Angeles Times.
CMS Allocates $3B To Help States Build, Upgrade Medicaid Systems
CMS has proposed extending federal matching rates intended to encourage states to create and maintain Medicaid eligibility and enrollment systems. CMS estimates its proposal will cost the federal government about $3 billion, and it expects several states to take advantage of the renewed funding. Modern Healthcare, CMS proposed rule.
NYT Editorial: Calif. Lawmakers Must Work To Ensure Virtually All Students Are Vaccinated
“California is in the midst of a dispute” over a “sensible bill pending in the Legislature [that] would … allow exemptions only for students with medical conditions that would make vaccination unsafe,” a New York Times editorial states. It adds that while the opposing sides make their respective cases, the legislators “must keep their eye on the most important goal: ensuring that virtually all students have been vaccinated,” adding, “Universal vaccination would reduce the risk of spreading diseases to students who can’t be vaccinated because of medical conditions … or to people in the community who can’t be vaccinated or whose vaccinations for various reasons don’t protect them from infection.” New York Times.
Stanford Researcher To Share $500K Biomedical Prize
Karl Deisseroth of Stanford University is one of two medical researchers who will share the $500,000 Albany Medical Center Prize in Biomedicine and Biomedical Research for 2015. Deisseroth’s research includes creating imaging technology that helps brain researchers examine various psychiatric diseases and other conditions, such as addiction and Parkinson’s disease. AP/San Jose Mercury News.
L.A. Care Launches Program To Allow Consumers Without Bank Accounts To Pay Their Premiums in Cash
The not-for-profit health plan L.A. Care is allowing customers of L.A. Care Covered, a health plan offered through Covered California, to pay monthly premiums in cash at more than 680 locations, including 7-Eleven and Family Dollar Stores. Under the new policy, individuals who do not have traditional bank accounts can make their cash payments at the register at no extra cost. Kaiser Health News.
California Nurses Association Purchases Oakland Office Building for $65M
On Wednesday, the California Nurses Association completed its purchase of a highly coveted office building in Oakland. CNA, which has about 250 employees, purchased the Lake Merritt Tower for about $65 million. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Real Estate INC.”
Mont. Senate Approves Medicaid Expansion Plan; Gov. Likely To Sign Measure
On Saturday, the Montana Senate voted 28-21 to pass a bill to expand the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. The bill, which would use federal funding to expand Medicaid to state residents with annual incomes of up to 138% of the federal poverty level, now heads to Gov. Steve Bullock, who is expected to sign the measure. If the measure is implemented, Montana would become the 30th state to expand Medicaid under the ACA. Great Falls Tribune, AP/Modern Healthcare.
CMS Proposes 1.1% Increase in Inpatient Payments for FY 2016
On Friday, CMS issued its inpatient prospective payment system proposed rule for fiscal year 2016, which includes a 1.1% increase to acute-care payments as well as several cuts. Overall the proposal is expected to increase acute-care hospital payments by $120 million in FY 2016, compared with FY 2015. MedPage Today et al.