Latest California Healthline Stories
Blue Shield To Begin Mailing Letters to HMO Members About Provider Changes Amid Contract Dispute
If Sutter Health fails to reach a contract agreement with Blue Shield of California by Saturday, the insurer will begin mailing letters to 140,000 HMO members informing them that they must change or be reassigned to providers at other health systems by April 1. Observers say the impending action could prompt the two organizations to reach an agreement before the letters are sent. Sacramento Business Journal.
Feds Estimate Up to 6M Households Could Face ACA Penalties
Yesterday, the Obama administration estimated that as many as six million U.S. households could have to pay a penalty for being uninsured in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. Federal officials said between 10% and 20% of individuals who did not have health plans in 2014 will qualify for an exemption from the penalty. Wall Street Journal et al.
Study: Some Insurers Using Rx Costs To Discourage Sicker Patients
A new study finds that some insurers might be trying to discourage sicker patients from enrolling in coverage by making consumers responsible for more of the cost of certain medications. The study shows that 12 of the 48 plans analyzed categorized all HIV drugs in the highest-cost category. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog” et al.
Chinese-Americans in California Face Barriers to Cancer Screenings
A study published in BMJ Open finds that Chinese-American immigrants in California are less likely to receive cancer screenings if they have limited health literacy and English proficiency. For example, 77.8% of all female respondents underwent a cervical cancer screening/Pap smear, while just 59.4% with low health literacy did so. Payers & Providers.
With Half of Calif. Kids Enrolled in Medi-Cal, Access Concerns Grow
Advocates and policymakers are raising concerns about the state Medicaid program’s ability to adequately provide care for children, as the rate of California children enrolled in the program nears 50%. In the past two years, about one million children have been added to the state’s Medicaid rolls. Kaiser Health News.
California officials say the measles outbreak linked to Disneyland has spread to eight states and Mexico, affecting a total of 95 people, 79 of whom are in California. Meanwhile, 66 unvaccinated students at Palm Desert High School on Wednesday were told to stay home until Feb. 9 over measles concerns. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Kaiser Health Plan Fined $90K Over Arbitration Cases
The California Department of Managed Health Care has levied a $90,000 fine against Kaiser Foundation Health Plan for failing to properly redact seven arbitration cases submitted to the agency. The health plan was fined $12,857 per case. Payers & Providers.
Poll Finds Support for Retiree Health Care Funding Plan in Brown’s Budget Proposal
A majority of Californians favor Gov. Brown’s proposal for state employees to begin contributing toward their retirement health benefits, according to a statewide poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California. The poll showed high job approval ratings for Brown and bipartisan support for his fiscal year 2015-2016 budget proposal. AP/Sacramento Bee.
92% of Eligible Covered California Enrollees Have Renewed Plans
Covered California officials say that about 92% of eligible consumers who purchased a health plan through the state insurance exchange last year have renewed their coverage. Data show that Kaiser Permanente had the highest retention rate, at 99%, followed by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California, both at 94%. KPCC’s “KPCC News” et al.
Myriad Reaches Settlements Over Breast Cancer Test
Myriad Genetics has settled or is in the process of settling various patent infringement lawsuits it had filed against companies offering tests to screen for increased breast cancer risks, according to a company spokesperson. So far, Myriad spokesperson Ronald Rogers said settlements have been reached with LabCorp, Invitae and Pathway Genomics. Meanwhile, the company is in settlement negotiations with Ambry, Counsyl, GeneDx and Quest Diagnostics. New York Times.