Latest California Healthline Stories
CIRM Tightens ‘Revolving Door’ Policy for Employees Seeking Jobs at Institute-Funded Companies
On Thursday, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine tightened its “revolving door” policy to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest. The new policy requires employees to contact CIRM’s general counsel if they begin discussions with a “prospective employer that has received or is currently applying for CIRM funding.” The move comes after the agency’s former president was named to the board of directors of StemCells Inc., which was awarded $19 million by CIRM. San Francisco Business Times‘ “BiotechSF.”
Calif. High Court Rules CalPERS Can Sue Credit Agencies for Losses
The California Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that CalPERS can continue a lawsuit against credit rating agencies Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s over a $1.3 billion loss in 2006. The lawsuit claims that the agencies failed to inform the pension fund that investment products largely were composed of high-risk subprime mortgages. San Francisco Chronicle.
Brown Signs Bill Guaranteeing Paid Sick Leave for California Workers
Gov. Brown has signed a measure that will ensure employees who work 30 or more days a year are provided with at least three paid sick days annually. Proponents say the bill’s passage should spur national discussions on paid sick leave, but opponents say it will put an unnecessary burden on businesses. Sacramento Business Journal et al.
Survey: Uninsured Rate Among Children Remains Steady
The uninsured rate for U.S. residents under age 18 has remained relatively steady at about 7% during the first six months of 2014, even as the Affordable Care Act has been linked to a four-percentage-point reduction in the uninsured rate among U.S. adults, according to the Urban Institute Health Reform Monitoring Survey. Nonetheless, researchers said that more uninsured minors might still find coverage under the ACA, noting that about 55% of U.S. children who are uninsured are eligible for either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”
CMS officials recently indicated they have not received information verifying consumers’ eligibility for about 239,000 of the 310,000 U.S. residents whose eligibility for exchange coverage has been in question, according to National Immigration Law Center health policy analyst Angel Padilla. CMS has not publicly released details on how many individuals have provided the requested documentation. Modern Healthcare.
Kaiser To Pay $4M Fine Over Violations of Calif. Mental Health Laws
Yesterday, Kaiser Permanente said it will pay a $4 million penalty imposed by the California Department of Managed Health Care for failing to correct violations of state mental health laws. Kaiser had been appealing the fine since it was issued in 2013. Sacramento Bee‘s “Healthy Choices” et al.
Public Support, Disapproval of ACA Both Down, Poll Finds
A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that support for the Affordable Care Act has dropped from 38% to 35%, while the percentage of voters who disapprove of the law has fallen from 53% to 47%. The poll also shows significantly more voters say they would rather improve the ACA than repeal it. The Hill et al.
VA OIG: Health Center Admins Lied, Many Facilities Manipulated Data
During a Senate Veterans Committee hearing, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ acting inspector general testified that administrators at 13 VA health facilities have lied to federal investigators who are looking into claims of manipulated waiting lists and other issues. Ninety-three VA facilities are being investigated for potential wrongdoing. New York Times et al.
On Tuesday, the United Way’s “Home For Good” announced that it will distribute about $214 million to 24 homeless agencies and not-for-profits in Los Angeles to bolster services and improve housing allotments for individuals with medical or mental illnesses. United Way officials said the housing system currently leaves out those with medical or mental health conditions but the funding will help to house 1,400 homeless residents and expand a tracking and placement system to reduce disparities in housing in Los Angeles County. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Price of Compound Creams To Relieve Pain Sharply Increased Following Enactment of a 2012 State Law
A 2012 state law that aimed to reduce the costs of compound creams to treat pain by creating a pricing schedule for the ingredients has caused prices for the drugs to rise dramatically in recent years. Alex Swedlow, a researcher with the California Workers’ Compensation Institute, said that the amount that state’s workers’ compensation system has been billed for compound creams has increased from $10 million in 2006 to $145 million in 2013. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”