Latest California Healthline Stories
Maine Asks SCOTUS To Review Medicaid Ruling
Maine Gov. Paul LePage has asked the Supreme Court to consider a lower court decision that said the state could not eliminate Medicaid beneficiaries who are ages 19 and 20 from its program. Last November, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Maine’s proposal to cut 19- and 20-year-olds from the program, saying the move would violate an Affordable Care Act provision ensuring “children do not lose health insurance as the country transitions from the pre-ACA Medicaid regime to the post-ACA Medicaid regime.” Maine argues that the denial violates a 2012 ruling that leaves Medicaid expansion decisions to the states. Reuters.
‘Balance Billing’ Still an Issue for Consumers Under ACA
Although the Affordable Care Act includes provisions designed to reduce medical bankruptcies, it does not prohibit the practice of “balance billing,” in which out-of-network providers charge patients for the difference between what patients’ insurers cover and what providers charge for the care. Some consumer advocacy groups are asking regulators to place more limits on balance billing. Kaiser Health News.
ACA Sign-Ups Reach 11.4M During Second Open Enrollment Period
Yesterday, the Obama administration announced that 11.4 million U.S. residents have signed up for or re-enrolled in exchange plans during the Affordable Care Act’s second open enrollment period. Obama administration officials expect about 9.1 million individuals to complete the enrollment process and keep their coverage by paying their premiums through 2015. New York Times et al.
Analysis Finds More Cases of Psychiatric Drugs Given to Children
A Los Angeles Times analysis finds that hundreds more children in the Los Angeles County foster care and juvenile delinquency systems have been given psychiatric drugs than previously reported. A preliminary review also finds that the extra cases did not receive mandated court approval. AP/Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times.
Early Poll Results Show Calif. AG Kamala Harris a Strong Contender for U.S. Senate Race
Nearly 50% of likely California voters are inclined to support California Attorney General Kamala Harris in her bid to fill Sen. Barbara Boxer’s seat, according to a statewide Field Poll. The early poll results showed that Harris, the only formal candidate so far, came in just behind former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is not expected to run. Sacramento Bee.
Calif. Unions Intensify Debate of Sale of Safety-Net Hospital Chain
Debate over the contentious sale of six safety-net hospitals in California is heating up between the California Nurses Association and the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, which are on opposite sides of the issue. State Attorney General Kamala Harris is scheduled to approve or reject the sale this week. Los Angeles Times.
UC-San Diego Researchers Release Initial Findings on Physician Interactions with EHRs, Patients
Researchers from UC-San Diego have published initial findings from their “lab-in-a-box” project that aims analyze doctors’ behavior and better understand doctors’ interactions with electronic health records while patients are in the room. The “lab-in-a-box” consists of a suitcase-sized container equipped with software and sensors that record activity in the office and measure physicians’ interactions. Health Data Management.
Report: Five Calif. Cities Among Top 10 in U.S. for Physical Activity
Half of the 10 most physically active cities in the U.S. are in California, a new report finds. Rankings were based on cities’ access to and spending on public parks, and the percentage of their populations that had a healthy weight and had exercised in the last 30 days. Sacramento Bee‘s “Healthy Choices,” BetterDoctor.com report.
Disneyland Executives Sought To Distance Theme Park From Measles Outbreak
Following the measles outbreak last month, Disneyland executives sent emails to the California Department of Public Health and local public health officials asking them to tell the public the theme park was not responsible for the illnesses and was safe for vaccinated individuals to visit, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press. The documents show no evidence that Disney officials sought to downplay the seriousness of the outbreak or mislead the public. AP/New York Times.
Majority of Largest U.S. Drugmakers Spent More on Marketing Than Research in 2013
Nine of the 10 largest drugmakers spent more on marketing and sales efforts than on research in 2013, according to data from health care research firm GlobalData. The data show that among the 10 largest drug companies, only Roche spent more on R&D than on marketing and sales. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”