Latest California Healthline Stories
Hospitals Call for Another Delay of Enforcing ‘Two-Midnight’ Rule
Hospital officials are urging lawmakers and CMS to extend a delay on enforcing the “two-midnight” rule. Legislation to either permanently replace Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula or temporarily delay scheduled reductions to Medicare physician reimbursement rates could include such an extension, according to officials. Modern Healthcare.
Sen. Feinstein Endorses California End of Life Options Act
Yesterday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced her support for California’s End of Life Options Act, which would give mentally competent patients with terminal illnesses the right to seek life-ending medication from their doctor. The bill will have its first hearing in the state Senate Health Committee next week. Vallejo Times-Herald.
State, Federal Exchange Plan Premiums Increased by 2.9%
A new Urban Institute report shows that premiums for the lowest-cost silver plans sold through the Affordable Care Act’s federal and state exchanges increased by an average of 2.9% across the U.S. between 2014 and 2015. According to the researchers, insurers kept rates low by “developing more limited provider networks.” The Hill, Urban Institute report.
Officials Revoke Blue Shield of California’s Tax-Exempt Status
The California Franchise Tax Board has stripped Blue Shield of California of its tax-exempt status. The not-for-profit insurer has said it will protest the decision, which comes as Blue Shield faces criticism for rate hikes, executive pay and a lack of transparency. Los Angeles Times.
Sonoma Seeks Tougher Restrictions on Tobacco Products
Sonoma city officials have proposed an ordinance that would bar new businesses from selling tobacco products and electronic cigarettes within city limits and require existing businesses to obtain a special license in an effort to curb use of such products among minors. However, the American Vaping Association, a trade group for e-cigarette makers, says their products are a safer way to help people quit smoking. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Calif. DOJ Investigates Shuttered Berkeley Health Center
The California Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the closed Berkeley Health Center and the Bay Area Consortium for Quality Health Care, which ran the center for low-income individuals. The health center closed in February and vacated its property after filing for bankruptcy amid allegations of mismanaging public funds, but health center staff left thousands of confidential medical records in the building. East Bay Express, AllGov.
Audit: L.A. Care Spent $476K on Meals, Entertainment
The not-for-profit health plan L.A. Care, which administers Medi-Cal coverage and manages more than $4 billion in public funds, spent $476,000 on meals and entertainment between October 2013 and January 2015, according to an audit released last week. Although the audit found that the health plan is in good financial shape and that administrative costs were less than those of comparable plans, the auditors raised concerns about the meal spending and recommended the agency create guidelines and dollar limits for discretionary spending. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Patients Could Lose Care Access if Health Center Funding Expires
A new report predicts access to care problems for millions of Medicaid beneficiaries and other low-income individuals in California and other states if federal funding for community health centers is not restored by October. U.S. News & World Report, National Association of Community Health Centers report.
Diabetes Prevention Initiative Launched by AMA, CDC
The American Medical Association and CDC on Thursday announced a partnership on an initiative aimed at lowering the number of U.S. residents with Type 2 diabetes. The initiative, called Prevent Diabetes STAT (Screen, Test, Act Today), will focus on “delay[ing] or prevent[ing] the development of Type 2 diabetes,” according to Ann Albright, director of CDC’s division of diabetes translation. HealthDay/Philadelphia Inquirer.
Female Physicians Earn Less Than Their Male Colleagues
Female physicians’ median earnings are about 69% of their male colleagues’, according to national income data released Monday by the Census Bureau. The data examined median earnings for full-time, year-round workers over the previous 12 months. The data showed that in 2013 male physicians had median earnings of $202,533 and female physicians had median earnings of $140,036. Modern Healthcare.