Latest California Healthline Stories
Berkeley City Council Approves No-Cost Medical Marijuana for Low-Income Residents
Berkeley City Council members have passed an ordinance requiring medical marijuana dispensaries to make 2% of their product stock available to low-income individuals at no-cost. The ordinance defines low-income as individuals with annual incomes below $32,000 a year, or families of four with annual incomes below $46,000. Washington Times, Sunshine State News.
Jury Awards $730K to UC-Davis Whistleblower
On Monday, a Sacramento Superior Court jury awarded $730,000 to a former UC-Davis administrative nurse who argued in a lawsuit that her career was harmed after she raised ethical questions about a research project on prison inmates with physical and mental disabilities. UC-Davis spokesperson Andy Fell said university attorneys were “reviewing the verdict and considering” their next steps. Sacramento Bee.
San Diego Lab Runs Out of Experimental Ebola Treatment
The San Diego-based laboratory that is developing an experimental serum to treat Ebola said this week that it has exhausted its entire supply of the treatment, called ZMapp. Mapp Biopharmaceutical said it had only a limited amount of ZMapp because it had not planned to begin human testing until next year. The drug has been used to treat two U.S. residents who contracted Ebola, but the treatment’s effectiveness remains unclear. U-T San Diego.
Two Catholic universities in California — Santa Clara University and Loyola Marymount University — have changed their employer health insurance policies to no longer cover abortions unless they are necessary to protect a woman’s health. The change partially took effect this year at Loyola and is slated to take full effect at Santa Clara next year. However, the moves could be blocked if the state Department of Managed Health Care determines that all doctor-approved abortions should be deemed medically necessary. San Francisco Chronicle.
Watchdog Panel Proposes Fine Against VP of CalPERS Board for Failing To File Campaign Statements
On Monday, California’s Fair Political Practices Commission proposed issuing a fine of $1,000 against Priya Mathur, vice president of the CalPERS board of administration, for failing to file mandatory campaign financial statements for 2012 and 2013 within an appropriate amount of time. Over the past decade, Mathur has been fined three other times by the panel, once resulting in board members revoking her role as chair of the pension fund’s health committee. Los Angeles Times.
ACA Exchange Plans’ Premiums To Rise by 7.5% in 2015, Report Finds
A new PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute report estimates that premiums for plans sold through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges will increase by an average of 7.5% next year. The report estimates that the average individual monthly premiums will cost about $384 before federal subsidies are applied. The Hill, CQ HealthBeat.
CalPERS Officials Discussing Significant Investment Changes
California’s public pension plan may significantly reduce its investments in commodities, individual company stocks and hedge funds, according to individuals familiar with the matter. CalPERS officials have not confirmed any changes or final decisions, but have acknowledged discussions are underway. Wall Street Journal, Sacramento Business Journal.
Some Stakeholders Skeptical of CMMI’s Ability To Promote Change
Some lawmakers and health care stakeholders are questioning the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s ability to effectively spur changes throughout the health care system. CMMI was created under the Affordable Care Act, receiving $10 billion to develop and test new health care delivery models. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.
Low Covered Calif. Rate Hikes Bode Well for Not-for-Profit Hospitals
A new Fitch Ratings report predicts that the “relatively small” increase in average 2015 premium rates for health plans sold through Covered California will have a positive effect on not-for-profit hospitals, as more individuals gain coverage. However, the report notes that the effect on insurers is unclear. Bond Buyer, Fitch release.
Analysis: Kaiser Is Only Insurer in Exchange To Lower Rates in 2015
A report by a Citigroup analyst finds that Kaiser Permanente is lowering its average premium rates for 2015 Covered California plans by 1.4%. Meanwhile, three other insurers participating in the exchange — Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and Health Net — are increasing their rates. Los Angeles Times.