Latest California Healthline Stories
Investigation Finds Wage Fraud at Several California-Based Residential Care Facilities
On Tuesday, officials said that a recent investigation found that caregivers at off-the-books residential care homes in Walnut Creek, Concord, Brentwood and Antioch worked between 12 and 16 hours for as little as $4 an hour. The investigation examined fraud allegedly committed by the owners of 19 facilities. Inside Bay Area News.
Health Advisory Issued for Northern California Counties in Wake of New Wildfire
Northern California counties have been affected by smoke from the King Fire, which started Saturday. As a result, the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District has issued a health advisory for Nevada, Sierra and Plumas counties. Capital Public Radios “KXJZ News.”
Anthem, Seven California Health Systems Team Up To Form HMO
Anthem Blue Cross has announced the formation of a new HMO with seven California health systems. The new venture includes UCLA Health and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and CalPERS already has signed on as the new HMO’s first big customer. New York Times et al.
Rural Health Clinics Could Have Received $132M in Improper Payments in 2012, Report Finds
CMS’ failure to enforce a 16-year-old rule has resulted in hundreds of rural health clinics being overpaid by millions of dollars, according to a report by the HHS Office of Inspector General. Specifically, the report found that of 3,521 rural health clinics, 434 — or 12% — did not meet one or both of the qualifications to be certified for enhanced reimbursements. In 2012, those clinics received about $132 million. Modern Healthcare.
UC To Launch $250M Venture Fund for Startups
On Monday, the University of California announced it will create an independent venture fund with up to $250 million from the school system’s Office of the Chief Investment Officer. The funding will go toward startup companies that began with research on UC campuses, such as San Francisco-based Genentech. The UC Board of Regents will vote Thursday on the launch of the fund. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
CMS Could Terminate Federal Exchange Coverage for 115K
CMS says that it could cancel health plans purchased under the federal health insurance exchange for 115,000 people if they fail to validate their citizenship or immigration statuses. The move does not affect state-run exchanges, but Covered California officials earlier this month said about 98,000 individuals who purchased coverage through the state exchange must verify their lawful presence in the U.S. New York Times et al.
Survey: Number of Uninsured U.S. Residents Dropped by 3.8M in Q1
A new CDC National Center for Health Statistics survey shows the uninsured rate declined from 14.4% in 2013 to 13.1% in the first quarter of 2014. The results do not take into account individuals who signed up for plans near the end of the Affordable Care Act’s initial enrollment period. Wall Street Journal et al.
Program Aims To Help Aging Latinos in California Access Health Care
As the number of elderly Latino residents in California grows, Hispanics in Philanthropy is partnering with not-for-profit groups on a program to help that population overcome barriers to health care and other services. HealthyCal.
New VA Initiatives Aim To Bolster Care at S.D. System
On Monday, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald announced several new initiatives aimed at improving veterans’ care at the VA system in San Diego. McDonald said the San Diego VA system would receive an additional $11.3 million in funding to bolster recruiting efforts and expand hours for clinics and certain procedures, among other things. Los Angeles Times.
A San Diego hospital is testing some children for enterovirus 68, which has been hospitalizing patients in the Midwest. A UC-Davis official said it is only a matter of time until the respiratory virus appears in California. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ.”