Latest California Healthline Stories
Brown Vetoes Bill To Increase Insurer Penalties Over Inadequate Mental Health Coverage
On Tuesday, Gov. Brown vetoed a bill that would have increased penalties for insurers that do not provide adequate coverage for mental health care. In his veto message, Brown said that the amount of penalty authority given to the commissioner of the California Department of Insurance is currently in litigation and that it would be premature to expand such power until the issue is resolved. Sacramento Business Journal.
Judge Calls for Plan To Prevent Isolation of Mentally Ill Inmates
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials have until Sunday to submit a plan for preventing inmates with mental illnesses from being placed in isolation. A federal judge has ruled that isolating such inmates could worsen their mental health conditions. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Covered California Must Step Up Latino Outreach, Advocates Say
Latino advocates say that California’s health insurance exchange must boost efforts to enroll Latino residents during its second open enrollment period. Covered California officials say that the exchange plans to increase the number of bilingual navigators and launch an outreach campaign targeting the Latino population. HealthyCal.
American Hospital Association Spent $3.3M To Promote Medicaid Expansion Last Year
The American Hospital Association last year gave $3.3 million to state hospital associations to help convince states to participate in the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. AHA spent $1.8 million on other lobbying efforts in 2013, down from $1.9 million in 2012. Modern Healthcare.
Calif. Legislature OKs Bill Banning Inmate Sterilizations
On Tuesday, California lawmakers approved a measure that bans the use of sterilization procedures as a method of birth control for inmates unless it is medically necessary. The bill came after a state audit found that many female California inmates were sterilized between 2006 and 2010 without approval required under state law. The bill now heads to Gov. Brown. Reuters.
Most Calif. Voters Support Rate Regulation Initiative, Value Medi-Cal
A new Field poll finds that nearly 70% of registered voters in California support a ballot measure that would give the state insurance commissioner the authority to regulate health insurance rate increases. In addition, the poll finds that the state Medicaid program is important to 62% of respondents or their families. Sacramento Bee, Field Poll.
$93.7M in Medi-Cal Payments to Rehab Clinics May Be Fraudulent
A state audit finds that $93.7 million in potentially fraudulent Medicaid payments were made to California drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics between July 2008 and December 2013. State Sen. Ted Lieu, who called for the audit, said the report is “deeply troubling” and “confirms that there has been widespread fraud … and it’s ongoing.” Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now” et al.
Report: 4M Calif. Residents Will Still Rely on Safety-Net Care in 2019
A new Greenlining Institute issue brief finds that four million Californians are likely to remain uninsured by 2019 as funding for safety-net care in the state declines. The report urges lawmakers to pass legislation to further expand the state’s Medicaid program and establish a health insurance exchange for undocumented immigrants. Sacramento Business Journal, Greenlining Institute brief.
ACA’s Medical Device Tax Falls Short of Expected Revenue in 2013
A new Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report finds that an Affordable Care Act tax on medical devices has brought in about 75% of the revenue that it was originally projected to generate in the first half of 2013. The report cited barriers to implementing the tax and recommended IRS improve its compliance rules. The Hill et al.
Report: ‘Copper’ Exchange Plans Could Save Money, Boost Enrollment
An Avalere Health report finds that introducing “copper” plans to the menu of options in the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges starting in 2016 would reduce the deficit by $300 million over the next decade. The proposed copper plans would cover 50% of an average enrollee’s medical costs, compared with 60% of such costs covered by bronze plans. Modern Healthcare‘ “Vital Signs” et al.