Latest California Healthline Stories
Health and Environment Groups File Lawsuit Over Clean Air Plan for Los Angeles Area
On Friday, four health and environmental groups filed a lawsuit asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of a clean air plan for the Los Angeles area. The lawsuit — which was filed by the Sierra Club, Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Communities for a Better Environment — alleges that the plan allows polluters to avoid regulations and forces Los Angeles residents to breathe smoggy air. San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
California SHOP Premiums To Increase by an Average of 5.2%
Yesterday, Covered California announced that premiums for small business health plans sold through the exchange likely will increase by an average of 5.2% for coverage beginning in 2015, while some increases will be lower than 2%. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” Covered California release.
AMA Launches Tool To Identify Physician Shortages
The American Medical Association has launched an interactive mapping tool — called Health Workforce Mapper — that displays the geographic location of health care providers and clinicians. The tool uses AMA data to highlight provider locations and identify areas where there are shortages of providers. AMA members can access the tool at no cost, while limited access is available for non-AMA members. Health Data Management, Government Health IT.
Users Report Glitches During Testing of Federal SHOP Exchange Website
Federal officials said they identified several glitches in the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchange for small businesses after testing began last week, but they said they should be able to resolve the problems before the exchange officially launches on Nov. 15. Users of the SHOP exchange website pilot said they found several glitches, including premiums and other prices occasionally appearing as percentages instead of dollar values, the absence of some approved plans and other problems. New York Times.
CMS Releases Final Rules for FY 2015 Medicare Physician Payments
CMS has released nearly 3,000 pages of regulations that finalize payment rules for different Medicare providers and services for 2015. Among other things, the CMS rules create new payments for chronic care management programs, launch efforts to streamline payments for individuals’ hospital care and expand the agency’s Physician Compare website. The Hill et al.
Uninsured Rate Falls Five Percentage Points Since September 2013
A new HHS report finds that the uninsured rate fell from 20.3% in September 2013 to 15.1% in June 2014. The report notes that about 10.3 million previously uninsured U.S. residents have gained health coverage through Medicaid or the insurance exchanges since the Affordable Care Act’s first open enrollment period. Modern Healthcare, ASPE Issue Brief.
Covered Calif. Plans Lack Quality Maternity Care for High-Risk Women
A recent study by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University finds that Covered California plans provide standard quality care for women with average health risks but do not include sufficient coverage for high-risk women. Medical Daily, GWU Milken Institute release.
Survey: California Medical Liability Premium Rates Unchanged in 2014
A recent survey finds that medical liability premiums in California remained flat between 2013 and 2014 for three common specialties. However, opponents of Proposition 46, which would increase the state’s cap on pain-and-suffering awards in medical malpractice lawsuits, argue that the measure could increase liability insurance rates. Modern Healthcare, Medical Liability Monitor release.
Calif. Should Enact ‘Right to Death’ Law, Editorial Argues
A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that California should enact a law “allowing physicians to help terminally ill patients end their lives ‘by some painless means.'” The editorial states, “Many people do not want their final days to be marked by the loss of physical and mental abilities, the inability to draw full breaths or weeks spent in a haze of painkillers — or worse, in pain that palliative care does not fully alleviate,” adding, “Right to death laws do not impose death on the very sick. Rather, they allow people who face imminent death to do so peacefully and without agony.” Los Angeles Times.
Poll: Most California Residents Not Concerned About Ebola
A new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll of registered California voters shows that nearly 70% of respondents are not concerned about Ebola. According to the poll, more than 50% of all respondents expressed confidence that local, state and federal officials will be able to handle the disease. KPCC’s “KPCC News, Los Angeles Times.