Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Attorney General Seeks Documents Related To Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan, Xerox Dealings
The California attorney general’s office has subpoenaed Ventura County’s Medi-Cal health plan — Gold Coast Health Plan — for documents related to a $2.3 million payment made to the health plan by an outside contractor affiliated with Xerox. Observers say the inquiry could call into question how well the state Department of Health Care Services manages Medi-Cal and the program’s county-level plans. Los Angeles Times.
L.A. County Reports West Nile-Related Death
Last week, public health officials in Los Angeles County announced that a man from San Fernando died from complications related to West Nile virus. As of Wednesday, the California Department of Public Health confirmed that 129 human cases of West Nile have been reported in 36 counties throughout the state. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
California Health Care Personnel News Roundup for August 2014
State Controller John Chiang has appointed David Higgins to the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, which oversees the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Covered California has appointed Kirk Whelan as director the health insurance exchange’s individual and small business sales division.
Obama Administration Issues Draft Guidance for Employers To Comply With the ACA
The Obama administration on Thursday released draft guidance for the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate. The guidance had been expected prior to July 4 and the delay led some business groups to question whether the administration would again push back the mandate’s implementation. The Hill.
Vaccination Rates in Los Angeles County Fall to 88%
According to the California Department of Public Health, vaccination rates across Los Angeles County have steadily declined over the past 10 years. For the 2013-2014 school year, 88% of kindergarten students in the county obtained required vaccinations, a drop from 92% who did so in the 2003-2004 school year. Los Angeles Register.
Calif. Aims To Address Education Gap in Health Care, Other Fields
California health care systems and other industries across the state are increasingly looking to hire highly educated employees. Meanwhile, a bill recently sent to Gov. Brown would allow community colleges to offer baccalaureate programs in order to address the education gap. Sacramento Bee.
CMS Approves Pennsylvania’s Alternative Medicaid Expansion Plan
Yesterday, CMS approved an alternative plan by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett to expand the state’s Medicaid program. The approval makes Pennsylvania the 27th state — in addition to Washington, D.C. — to expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. Washington Post‘s “GovBeat.”
Nine California Experts Among Most Influential Health Care Leaders
A Modern Healthcare list of the 100 most influential people in the health care industry includes nine California health care leaders. The list is based on nominations by the publication’s readers and votes by readers and senior editors. Sacramento Business Journal, Modern Healthcare list.
More Data To Be Withheld from CMS’ Open Payments System
CMS reportedly will withhold records of research grants that drugmakers make to physicians through intermediaries from its Open Payments System when it launches Sept. 30. Meanwhile, the agency plans to extend the deadline for physicians to review and dispute data and push back the site’s corrections period to account for two upcoming “scheduled maintenance upgrades.” ProPublica et al.
Alameda County Pairs Health Coaches With Patients To Manage Diabetes, High Blood Pressure
Under a two-year pilot program, Alameda County is pairing health coaches with patients in an effort to manage their chronic conditions and reduce health care costs. The county’s initial group of eight health coaches underwent a five-month training session focused on diabetes and hypertension management and began working with patients at Highland Hospital in March. The pilot program is funded by a $200,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant. San Francisco Chronicle.