Latest California Healthline Stories
California Unemployment Rate Falls to 7%, With Job Growth in Health Care, Other Sectors
California’s unemployment rate dropped to 7% last month, with job growth in several sectors, including health care, according to the California Employment Development Department. The new unemployment rate is down from 8.3% a year earlier, but it is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 5.6%. Los Angeles Times.
HHS Responds to Concerns, Boosts HealthCare.gov Protections
Following reports that the federal exchange website was sharing certain information with third-party companies, HHS over the weekend said it has added another encryption layer to protect the privacy of consumers’ data. Meanwhile, lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee sent a letter to HHS seeking more information about how the federal exchange is using and sharing consumers’ data. The Hill et al.
Debate Likely Over Retiree Health Care Funding in Brown’s Budget
Gov. Brown’s fiscal year 2015-2016 budget proposal likely will face some opposition from unions over how to fund the state’s retiree health benefits. Some union leaders say it could be problematic to require employees to contribute more to pension funds, while others say such a plan could work. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
California Health Agencies Saw Significant Payroll Increases in 2014
Updated information in a Sacramento Bee database shows that California state workers overall earned $16.43 billion in 2014, up by $1.1 billion from the previous year. Some of the highest increases occurred in health-related departments, according to the data. Sacramento Bee et al.
Few Calif. Hospitals Will Profit From CMS’ Performance Programs
A new Kaiser Health News analysis finds that only 28% of hospitals awarded value-based performance bonuses will come out even or profit from CMS’ pay for performance programs. In California, the analysis shows that out of 283 hospitals assessed, 49% will receive a bonus, while 52% will receive a penalty. Kaiser Health News.
Bill Would Require Insurers To Improve Provider Network Lists
California lawmakers are considering a bill that would require insurers to update their in-network provider directories weekly and make that information available online. Further, the bill would require state regulators to develop a standard for provider directories. Los Angeles Times, Sen. Hernandez release.
Bill Clinton Praises Irvine-Based, Collaborative Effort To Improve Patient Safety, Reduce Deaths
During the 2015 Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit on Friday, former President Bill Clinton praised the Irvine-based Patient Safety Movement for “building a unique network of creative cooperation” and saving about 6,000 lives since they launched in 2013. The movement is a partnership between clinicians, hospitals, patient advocates and technology companies to eliminate patient deaths due to medical errors by 2020. Orange County Register.
Public Health Officials Confirm Two Flu-Related Deaths in Napa, Placer Counties
On Friday, Napa County public health officials confirmed the area’s first influenza-related death, making it the fifth flu-related death reported in the Bay Area over the past week. Meanwhile, officials in Placer County said they believe the flu was a contributing factor in the death of an adult man. Bay Area News Service/San Jose Mercury News, Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ.”
Calif. Dental Board Takes Three Years To Resolve a Case
The Dental Board of California typically takes more than three years to review and close a case, double the board’s goal of resolving disciplinary cases within a year-and-a-half. The board, which has 26 investigators, issues 15 dentistry-related licenses, and permits and oversees about 86,00 dental professionals, as well as 50,000 unlicensed dental assistants. U-T San Diego.
Arkansas Governor Endorses Alternative Medicaid Expansion Plan Through End of 2016
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday said the state will keep its alternative Medicaid expansion through the end of 2016, and then reconsider it. He also discussed plans to create a legislative task force to research other options for providing health coverage to low-income individuals after 2016. Bloomberg.