Latest California Healthline Stories
On Thursday, HHS’ Office of Inspector General released a report that found that 100% of California children on Medicaid received at least one no-cost preventive exam or screening in 2013, exceeding the department’s 80% goal. However, as a whole, the nation is far below the target, with just 63% of low-income children receiving regular wellness exams, dental checkups and vision and hearing tests.
Anthem, Stanford Health Care Reach New Contract Deal
Anthem Blue Cross and Stanford Health Care have signed a new three-year contract that allows the Stanford hospital system to rejoin Anthem’s provider network, after allowing their contract to expire in September. Terms of the new deal, which is retroactive to September 8, were not disclosed. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Tustin Makes $4.3M Early CalPERS Payment
The Tustin City Council has authorized a $4.3 million early payment to CalPERS. Pamela Arends-King, the city’s finance director and treasurer, said the early payment would result in $973,024 in savings over the next five years. Orange County Register.
If the Supreme Court rules that subsidies are illegal in the Affordable Care Act’s federal exchange, states could create a state-run exchange while still maintaining many functions of the federal exchange, according a Commonwealth Fund analysis. Researchers found that states currently using the federal exchange could run their own exchange by establishing the legal authority necessary to operate an exchange, submitting exchange plans for federal approval and establishing a governing body to manage the exchange. They noted that such states still could use HealthCare.gov for enrollment functions, meaning they would not have to fund the technical infrastructure behind an exchange. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”
GOP Likely To Propose Health Reforms, ACA Repeal in Budget
Senior House aides say the chamber will likely pass a budget plan that overhauls both Medicare and Medicaid and repeals the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, a former White House adviser says the Obama administration should compromise with the GOP on the definition of a full-time employee under the ACA’s employer mandate. New York Times et al.
Analysis Finds Medicare Spending on Drug Screening ‘Soaring’
A Wall Street Journal analysis of 2012 billing data shows an increase in Medicare reimbursements for tests that screen beneficiaries for use of illicit drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. The analysis links the rise in such tests to efforts to reduce substance use disorders, but many of the tests screen for drugs that are rarely misused by seniors. Wall Street Journal.
Survey: UC System Ranked Best Medical Research Institute in 2013
A survey by the journal Nature Biotechnology ranks the University of California system as the best medical research institute in 2013. The rankings are based on NIH funding, licensing agreements and other metrics. Rochester Business Journal, Nature Biotechnology.
Calif. Increasing Efforts To Ensure Care Access for Female Veterans
California’s Department of Veterans Affairs is increasing efforts to help female veterans access health care. For example, the agency has published a toolkit to help advocates, employers and government agencies ensure female veterans have access to mental health and other medical services. Sacramento Bee, CalVet toolkit.
Covered Calif. Turns to Social Media, Word-of-Mouth Marketing
During a bus tour that began on Monday, Covered California officials are highlighting a marketing campaign that aims to reach uninsured individuals through word-of-mouth and social media. The “I’m In” campaign urges Californians who have enrolled in health coverage to encourage their friends and family members to obtain insurance. Merced Sun-Star et al.
Skin Cancer Treatment Costs Rose at Significantly Faster Rate Than Other Cancers
The cost of skin cancer treatment in the U.S. has increased five times faster than the cost of treating all other cancers, according to a CDC study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study found that the average annual cost of skin cancer treatment rose by 126% between 2002 to 2006 and 2007 to 2011, while the average annual cost of treatment for all other cancers rose by about 25% during the same time period. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”