Latest California Healthline Stories
How Reform Could Affect Four Key Populations
A health policy expert explores how the national health reform would affect four groups of U.S. residents. While younger workers are poised to benefit, Medicare beneficiaries may feel cuts.
Medi-Cal Waiver Gets Senate Committee Approval After Unusual Third Tier of Testimony
You know you’re in murky legislative territory when the format of a health committee meeting has to be changed to accommodate the complicated nature of the proposed bill.
In this case, it was AB 342 by John Perez (D-Los Angeles), which the Senate Health Committee eventually approved at its hearing last week. It is the companion Medi-Cal waiver bill to SB 208, which recently passed the Assembly Health Committee.
Usually, committees hear pro and con testimony, but for AB 342, Senate committee chair Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara) made a third category. “It’s a hybrid category just for this one bill,” Alquist said. “For those who are neither opposed nor support, but have concerns.”
Reviews Mixed for New Law on Nursing Home Ratings
Beginning in 2011, California nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid will be required to post their ratings from CMS’ five-star system. Supporters of the law say it will help consumers make health care decisions, but nursing home operators say CMS’ system is inaccurate.
Reform Could Shift Medicare Money Away From California
Realigning regional spending on Medicare could help pay for national health reform by saving $1.42 trillion over the next 15 years, but some parts of the country — including California — stand to pay a higher Medicare toll for reform than others.
Obama, Democratic Leaders Push for Swift Action on Reform
President Obama has called for both houses of Congress to pass health care reform legislation before lawmakers adjourn for the August recess. House Democrats stepped up to the plate and unveiled their proposal yesterday, and the Senate HELP Committees approved its bill this morning.
Bill Would Amend Medicare Payment Inequities Among California Counties Classified as Rural
Larry deGhetaldi of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Elizabeth McNeil of the California Medical Association and Tom Mentzer, spokesperson for Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), discussed the proposal with California Healthline.
Medicare Reimbursements in Some California Counties Spark Federal Legislation, Lawsuit
Santa Cruz physician Larry De Ghetaldi, Rep. Sam Farr and Elizabeth McNeil of the California Medical Association discussed the push for higher Medicare reimbursements with California Healthline.
Medicare Payment Delays Push California Physicians To Stop Accepting New Patients
Mike Barlow of Palmetto, Dev GnanaDev of the California Medical Association, and Sandra Newman and Julian Delgado of the California Academy of Family Physicians discussed the situation with California Healthline.
State To End Part B Premium Payments for Some Beneficiaries
Thousands of low-income seniors will soon be responsible for paying $96.40 monthly premiums for Medicare Part B that California previously had paid. Senior advocates worry that the change will push some beneficiaries to opt out of Part B, which covers outpatient care.
Aging Population Could Push Major Changes to Health Care
An Institute of Medicine report released last week called for major changes in the health care system to meet the needs of an aging population. One of the report’s authors said changes could be of the same scale as those that came out of the emergence of HIV/AIDS.