Latest California Healthline Stories
New California Law Will Restrict Guns for Mentally Ill Individuals
Under a new state law, family members and friends beginning in 2016 will be able to contact law enforcement if they believe an individual could be a threat to themselves or others, and officers then could ask a judge for the temporary restraining order. KPCC’s “KPCC News” et al.
Drug, Device Makers Gave Calif. Providers $638M Over 5 Months
Data posted on CMS’ Open Payments System show that California physicians and hospitals accounted for about 18% of payments made to health care providers from pharmaceutical and medical device makers in the last five months of 2013. Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register.
Rural Hospitals Left Behind in ACA Efforts To Improve Care
Many rural hospitals in the U.S. are “being left out” of efforts under the Affordable Care Act to improve quality of care. For example, HHS has not yet incorporated the nation’s 1,256 rural critical access hospitals into Medicare’s pay-for-performance programs. As a result, fewer than one in 20 critical access hospitals are taking part in accountable care organizations. Chicago Tribune/Kaiser Health News.
75% of U.S. Residents Confused About ACA, Poll Finds
About three-fourths of U.S. residents believe the Affordable Care Act is difficult to understand, according to an AP-GfK poll. Respondents said that the ACA was the most complicated of the 10 issues surveyed, including the Federal Reserve’s interest rates and financial security of Social Security over the long term. The Hill.
Brown Signs 10 Bills To Overhaul Assisted-Living Facilities in Calif.
On Sunday, Gov. Brown signed 10 bills to overhaul assisted-living facilities in California. The new laws include reforms to increase staff training and provide statutory rights to senior citizens, among other things. Sacramento Business Journal et al.
RAC Program Recouped $3B for Medicare in FY 2013, Report Finds
CMS’ annual report to Congress shows that Medicare recovery audit contractors recouped $3.75 billion in inappropriate payments to physicians and hospitals in fiscal year 2013. After accounting for RAC shares of the recouped funds, underpayments and appeals costs, CMS recovered $3 billion for Medicare’s trust fund. Modern Healthcare, CMS report.
CMS Launches Physician Payment Website
CMS today launched its Open Payments database, which details the payments health care providers receive from drugmakers and medical device manufacturers. Industry groups have criticized the database, saying that it includes incomplete information that could confuse consumers and that the launch should be delayed. Modern Healthcare et al.
Medi-Cal To Cover Teledentistry Services Beginning in 2015
A new state law requires California’s Medicaid program to cover teledentistry services beginning next year and expands the scope of practice for dental assistants and hygienists. The law also calls for professional groups to offer training to dental assistants and hygienists for being part of a teledentistry team. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules,” Pew Charitable Trusts release.
New Law Allows Undocumented Immigrants To Practice Health Care
Gov. Brown has signed a bill that calls for occupational licensing boards in the state — including those that authorize dentists, doctors and nurses — to accept a federal taxpayer identification number as proof of identification instead of a Social Security number. KPCC’s “Multi-American.”
Scripps Researcher Receives $2.2M DOD Grant To Build Artificial Immune System
Floyd Romesberg, a Scripps Research Institute scientist in La Jolla, has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the Department of Defense to develop an artificial immune system. The technology is being developed to protect against chemical and biological warfare attacks. U-T San Diego.