Latest California Healthline Stories
Covered Calif. Releases Draft List of Essential Community Providers
A newly released draft list of “essential community providers” that are available to treat individuals enrolled in health plans through Covered California includes 227 hospitals and more than 2,000 community clinics and county-operated health care centers. The list is required under the Affordable Care Act to address disparities in health care. Payers & Providers et al.
Sacramento-Based Acute Care Surgery Model Improves Patient Care, Reduces Costs
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons finds that a Sacramento-based program that allows trauma and emergency care specialists to perform acute-care surgeries on an as-needed basis improves patient outcomes, reduces length of stay and lowers costs. Specifically, the study shows that over a five-year period the program reduced patient complications by 43%, hospital costs by 31% and length of stay for general surgery by 23%. Sacramento Business Journal.
Whooping Cough Cases in Riverside County Nearly 10 Times Higher Than in 2013
So far this year, about 148 Riverside County residents have been diagnosed with pertussis, or whooping cough — nearly 10 times as many as in 2013. One person in the county this year has died after contracting the illness. Desert Sun.
S.F. Supervisors Approve 2% Reduction in City Workers’ 2015 Health Insurance Premiums
On Wednesday, San Francisco supervisors approved a proposal by Kaiser Permanente to reduce city employees’ health insurance premiums by 2%. The proposal comes after Kaiser last year was criticized by city workers for a proposed 5.25% rate increase. San Francisco Chronicle.
La Mesa City Council Bans Use of E-Cigarettes Where Smoking Is Prohibited
On Tuesday, the La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 to ban the use of e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices in locations where smoking is prohibited, including businesses, parks, playgrounds, restaurants and some walkways. A city staff report had recommended the change, but Council member Kristine Alessio said implementing such a regulation would be “government overreach.” U-T San Diego.
HHS Announces $100M in Grants for New Health Centers
On Tuesday, HHS announced that it will provide $100 million in grants for new health care centers nationwide to expand and boost access to care in underserved and vulnerable communities. Public and not-for-profit health centers — in addition to Native American, community- and faith-based organizations — will be eligible to seek grants of up to $650,000. The Hill.
HHS OIG Finds Medicare Paid $1.7B in Suspect Clinical Lab Claims
An HHS Office of Inspector General report identifies at least $1.7 billion in questionable Medicare Part B payments for clinical laboratory claims in 2010. The report finds that more than 1,000 clinical labs had at least five measures of questionable billing, with nearly 43% of those labs located in either California or Florida. Wall Street Journal.
Lawsuits Say Calif. Doctors Used Unapproved Screws in Surgeries
Several lawsuits have been filed in California over the alleged use of non-medical grade screws and rods during spinal surgeries for injured individuals. The lawsuits involve now-closed Spinal Solutions, which was cited by FDA in 2012 for quality control problems and recalled much of its hardware in 2013. Center for Investigative Reporting.
Alternative Payment Model Cut Cancer Care Costs, Preserved Quality
A new study finds that health care costs for patients with breast, colon and lung cancer decreased by one-third when physicians received a single payment for all care as opposed to fee-for-service payments. The study also finds that participating oncology groups performed well on various measures of cost and quality. Modern Healthcare‘s “Vital Signs” et al.
More Than 1,800 Complaints Filed About Exchange Enrollment
As of last month, more than 1,800 complaints had been filed about Covered California’s health plan enrollment process. The complaints cite inaccurate provider lists, narrow physician networks and failure to receive health plan identification cards and other information. Sacramento Bee.