Latest California Healthline Stories
Sacramento City Unified School District, Teachers Delay Talks Over 2015 Health Plan Changes
The California Public Employment Relations Board has agreed to temporarily delay mediation between the Sacramento City Unified School District and the Sacramento City Teachers Association over changes to 2015 health insurance options. The teachers union in October filed a claim alleging the school district’s unilateral switch in health insurers for 2015 violates state employment law, breaches its contract and could disrupt health care for employees and retirees. The board had proposed beginning mediation this week. Sacramento Bee.
CIRM Retracts $19M Alzheimer’s Disease Program Loan Awarded to StemCells
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has pulled a 10-year, $19.3 million loan from Newark’s StemCells, the board of which former CIRM President Alan Trouson recently joined. A Securities and Exchange Commission filing by StemCells attributed the agency’s decision to StemCells’ Alzheimer’s disease program not hitting certain milestones. San Francisco Business Times‘s “BiotechSF.”
Fewer Than 1% of Calif. Women Undergoing Abortion Experience Major Complications, Study Finds
California women who underwent abortion procedures experienced a major complication rate of less than 1%, according to a recent study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. For the study, UC-San Francisco researchers analyzed data on more than 50,000 beneficiaries enrolled in California’s fee-for-service Medicaid program who underwent abortion procedures between 2009 and 2010. Reuters.
Fitch, Moody’s Issue Negative Forecasts for Not-for-Profit Hospital Sector
A pair of credit-rating agencies have predicted that not-for-profit hospitals should expect a negative financial forecast for a second consecutive year. Reports issued last week by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service predicted a negative outlook for the not-for-profit hospital sector. Modern Healthcare.
ACA Coverage Options Prompt Some Small Businesses To Halt Plans
Some small businesses appear to be dropping their company-sponsored health coverage as more options become available on the individual market and through the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, few large employers appear interested in private health exchanges. Kaiser Health New, Reuters.
Feds Push Exchange Enrollment Ahead of ACA’s Dec. 15 Deadline
The Obama administration is encouraging individuals looking to enroll or re-enroll in health plans to visit HealthCare.gov by midnight tonight to sign up for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2015. The deadlines vary for state exchanges, but California also has a Dec. 15 deadline for residents to enroll in coverage starting Jan. 1, 2015. Politico et al.
Report: California Ranks 26th in Tobacco Control and Prevention
A new report ranks California 26th in the U.S. for its tobacco control and prevention efforts. California plans to spend $58.9 million on such efforts during fiscal year 2015 — less than 17% of what CDC recommends. Washington Post‘s “GovBeat” et al.
Exchange Glitch Incorrectly Diverts Calif. Consumers to Medi-Cal
Last week, Covered California officials announced that some consumers have been affected by a glitch on the exchange’s website that diverts individuals who qualify for private coverage to Medicaid instead. Officials say it is unclear how many people have been affected. U-T San Diego.
Covered California Focusing on Enrolling Uninsured Latinos
Covered California is targeting Latinos during its second open enrollment period, which ends Feb. 15. The insurance exchange is using about 40% of its $29 million media budget to target the approximately 600,000 uninsured Latinos who are eligible for subsidized coverage. San Jose Mercury News.
Senate Sends $1.1 Trillion Spending Package to Obama
On Saturday, the Senate voted 56 to 40 to pass a continuing resolution omnibus spending bill, or “cromnibus,” to fund the federal government through September 2015. The $1.1 trillion spending package contains various health provisions that eventually could affect hospitals, home health agencies and drugmakers. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature. New York Times.