Latest California Healthline Stories
Sutter Health’s HMO Lowers Prices, To Be Offered in Sacramento With Competing Plans
Sacramento will offer Sutter Health’s new HMO alongside Kaiser Permanente and Western Health Advantage next year, after the plan’s prices have dropped to comparable rates. The HMO, called Sutter Health Plus, announced that as of September it had more than 7,000 enrollees. Sacramento Business Journal.
Services To Prevent Diabetes Out of Reach for Many California Residents
Californians diagnosed with pre-diabetes have few options to help manage and control their blood sugar levels because Medicare and many private insurers do not offer diabetes prevention services. In addition, California opted out of an Affordable Care Act grant that would have increased access to diabetes prevention care for low-income individuals enrolled in Medi-Cal. HealthyCal.
Medical Data Worth More on Black Market Than Credit Cards, Cybersecurity Experts Say
Cybersecurity experts say that stolen medical information draws ten times more money on the black market than stolen credit card numbers. They also note that medical data theft often goes unnoticed longer, meaning thieves have more time to reap financial benefits. Reuters.
Use of Generic Rx Discount Programs Up, Study Finds
About one in four eligible U.S. residents take advantage of programs that offer discounts on generic medications, according to a recent University of Tennessee Health Science Center research letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The finding marks a significant increase from the estimated 4% of eligible consumers who used the programs in 2007, the year after they were launched. Reuters.
Community Health Centers Face Financial Strain From ACA Enrollees
Many individuals with bronze exchange plans face higher out-of-pocket costs, including copayments and deductibles, that they cannot afford. As a result, many individuals are unable to pay for care at community health centers, which are facing financial strain. Modern Healthcare.
Three More ACOs Announce Departure From Pioneer Program
Three more accountable care organizations have decided to exit the Medicare Pioneer ACO program, with two planning to transition to Medicare’s Shared Savings Program. Medicare’s Pioneer ACO program started with 32 elite organizations but is now down to 19 remaining ACOs. Modern Healthcare, Healthcare Informatics.
Consumer Watchdog Sues Two More Insurers Over Narrow Networks
In lawsuits filed this week, Consumer Watchdog alleges that Cigna and Blue Shield of California misled customers about which physicians and hospitals were included in their provider networks. Consumer Watchdog filed a similar lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross in July. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules,” ABC7.
Gov. Brown Signs, Vetoes Three Health Care-Related Bills
Yesterday, Gov. Brown vetoed a bill that would have limited the amount of assets the state can recoup from deceased Medicaid beneficiaries’ estates. Meanwhile, he signed measures to ensure access to no-cost contraception services and to bar prisons from forcing inmates to be sterilized as a method of birth control unless it is medically necessary. Los Angeles Times et al.
UC-San Diego Researchers Tapped To Join $41M Research Program To Study Autoimmune Diseases
UC-San Diego has been named to a $41.6 million program, called Accelerating Medicines Partnership, to research treatments for autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. UC-San Diego researchers will leverage their expertise in genomics and epigenomics to collect and analyze blood and tissue samples from individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. U-T San Diego.
California Cancer Screening Program Aims To Address ACA Coverage Gap
A California cancer-screening program for women attempts to fill gaps in coverage created by the Affordable Care Act, particularly by providing care to undocumented immigrants. The program, called Every Women Counts, helps low-income women who are at least 40 years old receive breast exams and those who are at least 21 years old receive cervical exams. HealthyCal.