Latest California Healthline Stories
Indiana’s Alternative Medicaid Expansion Plan Approved
On Tuesday, the federal government approved Indiana’s alternate Medicaid expansion plan, known as Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0. The move makes Indiana the 28th state — and the 10th with a Republican governor — to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act. Wall Street Journal.
CBO Lowers Cost Projection for ACA Coverage Expansion Provisions
The Congressional Budget Office has lowered its cost projections for the Affordable Care Act’s coverage expansion in part because of an overall slowdown in the growth of health care costs and estimated lower coverage premiums. The report estimates the law will cost about $571 billion from 2015 to 2019, down from $710 billion. New York Times et al.
UC Doctors Set To Walk Out Over Alleged Unfair Labor Practices
Today, 150 doctors at 10 University of California student health centers are holding a strike over alleged unfair labor practices amid contract negotiations between UC and the Union of American Physicians and Dentists. Meanwhile, the California Nurses Association has ratified a three-year contract with Kaiser Permanente. AP/U-T San Diego et al.
HHS Announces Plan To Move Toward Alternative Payment Models
Yesterday, HHS announced a plan to shift more Medicare payments for hospitals and physicians from fee-for-service to alternative payment models, such as accountable care organizations and bundled payments. HHS has created a Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network to facilitate the transition. Wall Street Journal et al.
Bill Would Ban E-Cigarettes in Public Spaces, Increase Penalties
A new bill by state Sen. Mark Leno would regulate electronic cigarettes as tobacco and ban their use in public spaces, such as restaurants and bars. The bill also would increase penalties for selling e-cigarettes to minors. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal” et al.
Californians Received $3.2B in Federal Health Subsidies Last Year
Covered California officials say that about 800,000 households in the state received an average of more than $5,200 in federal health insurance subsidies last year. Experts say the high subsidy rate indicates that most enrollees had lower incomes. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
Oakland School District, Alameda Health Agency Awarded $12.2M To Improve Health Education Programs
On Thursday, the Atlantic Philanthropies and the California Endowment awarded $12.2 million in grants to the Oakland Unified School District and the Alameda Health Care Services Agency to increase the number of students in health career programs. The funding will also help develop a public-private partnership to bolster health education programs and improve health in low-income parts of Oakland. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Survey: Drinking Water in Parts of Central Valley Contains Potentially Unsafe Levels of Uranium
Nearly 25% of household water wells in the eastern and western parts of California’s Central Valley contains potentially harmful levels of uranium, according to a U.S. Geological Survey. The federal survey attributed the higher-than-expected uranium levels to farming that is allowing more naturally occurring uranium into underground water reserves used for drinking water. AP/San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Officials Confirm at Least 83 Cases of Measles in California, Other States
On Monday, the California Department of Public Health confirmed there are now at least 83 cases of measles in seven states and Mexico. The Ventura County Health Care Agency has reported an additional case, which would bring the total number of cases in California to 74, of which 50 can be linked directly to Disneyland. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now,” Reuters.
Proposal To Change ACA Open Enrollment Period Could Have Mixed Effects for Consumers
State insurance regulators and industry officials have said a proposal to change the Affordable Care Act’s next open enrollment period so it begins about one month earlier in 2015 than it did in 2014 could help consumers in some ways and hurt them in others. Changing the enrollment period’s timeline could help uninsured U.S. residents to avoid penalties under the law’s individual mandate. However, the change in the short-term could create problems for insurers, which would need to meet tight deadlines for submitting health plans and premium rates. AP/Modern Healthcare.