Latest California Healthline Stories
Opinion Pieces Argue for, Against End-of-Life Bill
In an Orange County Register opinion piece, physician Robert Olvera argues that the “End-of-Life Option Act (SB 128) would allow a mentally competent, terminally-ill person in the final stages of their disease to request life-ending medication from a physician to bring about a peaceful death.” A separate opinion piece in the Register argues that SB 128 would “place vulnerable individuals at risk,” adding that “[s]ocial acceptance of physician-assisted suicide will undermine” efforts to reduce suicide rates. Orange County Register.
CMS Revising Nursing Home Compare Rating System
CMS has revised its Nursing Home Compare rating system in a way that makes it harder for facilities to receive five stars. The revised ratings, which will be made public Friday, follow a media investigation that revealed nursing home ratings largely were based on unverified, self-reported data from the facilities. New York Times, Modern Healthcare.
California Aims To Protect Kids From Effects of Trauma, Other Issues
California Attorney General Kamala Harris has created the Bureau of Children’s Justice to prevent childhood trauma and other issues that can affect the health of children in the state. In addition, the state Department of Justice has been selected as part of a national initiative to screen children for exposure to trauma. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now,” Office of the Attorney General release.
Just 27K Vets Have Used VA Choice Cards To See Private Doctors
Department of Veterans Affairs officials say 27,000 veterans have used the VA’s Choice Card program to schedule appointments with private health care providers. The number is far fewer than initially expected and represents a fraction of the nine million veterans who participate in the VA health care system. Washington Post‘s “Federal Eye.”
Calif. Considers Bill To Bar ‘Skinny’ Health Plans for Large Employers
A new bill by Assembly member Roger Hernández aims to bar insurers from offering large employers health plans that cover less than 60% of the cost of essential care. Gov. Brown vetoed a similar measure last year. Sacramento Business Journal.
Covered California Extends Enrollment Deadline for Some
Covered California is giving consumers who started an application or made an appointment with an enrollment counselor by Feb. 15 additional time to complete the enrollment process. As of Friday, the exchange was about 400,000 enrollees short of its 1.7 million enrollment goal. Modesto Bee et al.
San Jose Cuts Pension Reduction Offer in Half
On Thursday, San Jose leaders offered to reduce retirement concessions for municipal workers by $25 million annually, down from their previous proposal of $50 million annually. The cuts follow a 2012 voter-approved pension initiative — called Measure B — that reduced pensions for new hires and trimmed health plans for retirees, resulting in $25 million in annual savings. San Jose Mercury News.
113 Measles Cases Confirmed in California
On Friday, California public health officials confirmed 113 measles cases in the state, of which about two-thirds are linked to an outbreak that began at Disneyland in December 2014. Officials say most of the individuals affected were not vaccinated. AP/KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Medi-Cal Accounts for 17% of National Medicaid Rolls
Medi-Cal has added more than 2.7 million people to its rolls since the program was expanded under the Affordable Care Act. Medi-Cal now has 12 million beneficiaries. Twelve percent of the U.S. population resides in California, but the state accounts for 17% of the nation’s Medicaid enrollment. AP/Sacramento Bee.
GAO Report Says VA Is a ‘High-Risk’ Budget Issue
The Government Accountability Office has labeled Veterans Affairs a “high-risk” budget issue, adding the department to a list of federal programs that are particularly vulnerable to “fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement,” according to a report released Wednesday. In the report, GAO wrote that VA has failed to completely address more than 100 GAO recommendations. Some of the recommendations are more than 10 years old, according to the report. Wall Street Journal.