Latest California Healthline Stories
Brown Signs Bill Delaying ACA Deadline for Small Businesses
A new law gives small California businesses with fewer than 50 employees a one-year extension until the end of 2015 to ensure that their work-based health coverage is in compliance with the Affordable Care Act. State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, who supports the law, called it “a victory for all California small businesses.” Sacramento Business Journal et al.
U.S. Residents Face Long Wait Times for Health Care Visits
Recent surveys show that U.S. residents face longer wait times than those in other countries and that wait times vary by location and specialty, with patients waiting the longest to see a primary care physician. The U.S. could speed access to care by encouraging more medical students to enter primary care, according to experts. New York Times.
4.6M California Residents Affected by Health Data Breaches Since 2009, HHS Data Show
HHS data show that since 2009 about 4.6 million California residents have had their personal health information breached or stolen. Nationwide, nearly 32 million U.S. residents have been affected by health data breaches, according to the data. Experts say the data raise concerns about security measures being taken as the federal government pushes providers to adopt electronic health records. Orange County Register.
San Bernardino Reaches Deal To Start Making Back Payments to CalPERS for City Workers’ Pensions
The city of San Bernardino under a confidential deal will begin making back payments toward the $16.5 million it owes to CalPERS. The deal comes after San Bernardino stopped paying its CalPERS contributions for city workers’ pensions when it filed for bankruptcy in 2012. U-T San Diego.
Three S.F. Bay Area Providers Join Anthem ACOs
UC-San Francisco Medical Group, Brown & Toland Physicians and several Sutter Health medical foundations will join Anthem Blue Cross regional accountable care organizations under separate agreements. The ACOs will focus on patients in preferred provider organizations who have multiple chronic health problems. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Hospital EDs Increasingly Turning to Online Appointment Scheduling Services To Reduce Wait Times
A growing number of hospitals are allowing patients to schedule emergency department appointments online in an effort to reduce overcrowding at facilities with long wait times. While some observers say the technology could help boost patient satisfaction scores, others say online scheduling services for ED care are not cost-effective because they could encourage patients to seek care in expensive settings. Kaiser Health News/San Francisco Chronicle.
TB Outbreak Affects More Than 100 High School Students in Sacramento County
Sacramento County public health officials are investigating an outbreak of tuberculosis that began in March at Grant Union High School. More than 100 students at the school have latent TB infections while nine individuals have active infections, but officials say none of the cases are currently contagious. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Efforts To Enroll Former Inmates in Health Coverage Hit Roadblocks
Efforts to enroll former inmates in Medi-Cal and other health care plans are being hampered by technical problems and a backlog of applications. Advocates say that ensuring health coverage for such individuals could keep them from returning to jail. HealthyCal.
CMS Proposes Medicare Reimbursement Changes, Increases for 2015
CMS last week released three proposals that would increase the number of quality measures used in the Medicare Shared Savings program for accountable care organizations, alter the way Medicare payments are made to certain providers and suppliers, and provide details for Medicare payments for treating patients with at least two chronic conditions. Modern Healthcare et al.
About 20M U.S. Residents Gained Coverage Under ACA, Report Finds
A report from the Commonwealth Fund finds that as many as 20 million U.S. residents had gained health coverage under the Affordable Care Act through its insurance exchanges and other coverage provisions as of the end of April. Of those residents, the report found about five million purchased coverage directly from insurers. The Hill, CQ HealthBeat.