Latest California Healthline Stories
Opinion Piece Argues for Calif. ‘Right To Death’ Law
In an Orange County Register opinion piece, Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC-Irvine School of Law, argues, “The right to death with dignity should be seen as a fundamental aspect of a person’s privacy.” He notes that just three states — Oregon, Washington and Vermont — have laws that “allow terminally ill patients to have physician assistance to end their lives” and urges California to “adopt a law, through the Legislature or by initiative, permitting death with dignity.” Orange County Register.
On Tuesday, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced that UnitedHealthcare was awarded $2.3 million in tax credits for investing $11.5 million in a low-income housing project in downtown San Diego. The project helped improve residents’ access to mental health services, a medical clinic, substance misuse treatment and other services. Times of San Diego.
About 25% of privately insured U.S. residents said they would not be able to cover the out-of-pocket costs of a major unexpected illness or injury, according to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. The survey found that adults with high-deductible plans expressed the most fear about affording coverage. In addition, the poll found that individuals often skipped care as a way to cope with high costs. AP/Philadelphia Inquirer.
159,000 Medi-Cal Applications Remain Backlogged
As of early this month, state officials said there is a backlog of 159,000 Medi-Cal applications in California. California Department of Health Care Services spokesperson Norman Williams said the state has made progress to improve they system that processes the delayed applications and expects the upcoming open enrollment period to go more smoothly. Wall Street Journal.
Covered California Awarded $184M in No-Bid Contracts, Data Show
An Associated Press review of contracting records obtained through California’s Public Records Act shows that the state’s insurance exchange awarded $184 million in contracts without the usual competitive bidding process. Several of the no-bid contracts went to firms with close ties to Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee. AP/U-T San Diego, Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
CDC Updating Ebola Protocols After Nurse Contracts Virus in Dallas
CDC officials say the agency is reviewing and updating its protocols for containing Ebola, after a Dallas nurse contracted the virus while caring for an infected patient. Meanwhile, President Obama is urging global leaders to increase their efforts to help combat Ebola in West Africa. New York Times et al.
Small California Hospitals Closing; Trend Likely To Continue
Experts say that more small, independent and rural hospitals across California are likely to continue to close as they face increasing pressure to reduce costs while receiving lower reimbursements from private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act likely will exacerbate the issue, observers say. U-T San Diego.
10K Covered California Enrollees Fail To Verify Immigration Status
Yesterday, Covered California officials announced that more than 130,000 Californians enrolled in coverage through the exchange verified their legal presence in the state by a Sept. 30 deadline. However, about 10,000 enrollees failed to do so and will receive pre-termination notices from the exchange. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” Merced Sun-Star.
L.A. Receives $36M in Federal Grants To Improve Access to Education, Social Services
Los Angeles was awarded $36 million in federal grants to fund a program that aims to bolster social and educational services to local low-income students and their families. The program, called Promise Zone, aims to improve access to food, nutrition counseling, prenatal care and mental health services, among other things. Los Angeles Times.
California Officials Confirm 32 Cases of Enterovirus
On Friday, California public health officials confirmed that 32 individuals in California have been diagnosed with enterovirus D68, more than double the number of reported cases in the previous week. The respiratory virus has affected eight patients in San Diego County, five in Alameda County, four in Los Angeles County, three in Orange County and San Francisco, and one patient each in Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Solano County, Ventura County, Long Beach and Berkeley. AP/U-T San Diego, Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”