02/03/2012
On Wednesday, HHS announced that premiums for Medicare Advantage plans decreased by 7% and enrollment increased by 10% in the last year. HHS said the data show that the federal health reform law has not weakened the program, but insurers argued that significant program cuts are still to come. The Hill's "Healthwatch."
02/03/2012
Yesterday, the Obama administration announced that the health reform law reduced prescription drug costs by $2.1 billion for the 3.6 million Medicare beneficiaries who were in the "doughnut hole" in 2011, amounting to about $604 in savings per beneficiary. Los Angeles Times et al.
02/03/2012
On Thursday, the California Dental Association announced that it would not pay for the installation of a Watsonville water fluoridation system because the project's lowest bid came in at about $1.2 million more than the original cost estimate. CDA officials told the city that they will continue to support the project and try to identify funding for it. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
02/02/2012
In a report issued Tuesday, the Institute of Medicine highlighted nine chronic conditions that have significant effects on the U.S. health care system and account for billions of dollars in annual spending. The report makes 17 recommendations for addressing the high cost of chronic disease care in the U.S. Modern Healthcare, Los Angeles Times' "Booster Shots."
02/02/2012
On Tuesday, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to block California from moving forward with a 10% reduction to Medi-Cal payments. According to finance department officials, the state will appeal the ruling. Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal" et al.
02/02/2012
In an email to more than two million registered California voters this week, Sen. Dianne Feinstein endorsed a proposed state ballot measure that would give California regulators the authority to approve health plan premium increases. Feinstein urged voters to sign petitions in support of the measure, which needs 505,000 signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Los Angeles Times' "Money & Co."
01/31/2012
Today, the Congressional Budget Office released an economic outlook predicting that the cost of government health care programs will more than double over the next 10 years to $1.8 trillion, representing about 7% of the U.S. economy. The Hill's "Healthwatch," Wall Street Journal.
01/30/2012
Many California hospitals are working to curb elective deliveries between 37 and 39 weeks to reduce complications in women and infants and trim costs. Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health are among the hospital systems that have launched such initiatives. Contra Costa Times.
01/30/2012
Some Sacramento-area health care providers are devising ways to reduce emergency department visits through less costly treatment options in primary care settings. Some strategies include establishing referral networks and opening urgent care clinics. Sacramento Bee.
01/30/2012
A new Government Accountability Office report shows that Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by between $1.2 billion and $3.1 billion in 2010. The report found that MA plans tend to classify their beneficiaries as being sicker than those in fee-for-service Medicare plans, thereby triggering higher payments. House Democrats said the federal government could save billions of dollars annually by adjusting the coding formula used to determine MA payments. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.
01/27/2012
The Assembly has passed bills that would expand coverage of mental health care services and require insurers to cover oral chemotherapy treatments. Meanwhile, a bill to establish a universal health care system in California stalled in the Senate. Sacramento Bee et al.
01/27/2012
Beginning this Sunday and on the third Sunday of every month, students at UC Davis' School of Medicine will operate a new primary health care clinic in rural Yolo County's Knights Landing for low-income and uninsured residents. The clinic -- which will also be staffed by volunteer physicians, nurses and graduate students in public health -- is one of seven no-cost clinics operated by the medical school's students. Sacramento Business Journal.
01/27/2012
On Monday, the University of California announced that it finalized a deal with the University Professional and Technical Employees union in which both parties will increase contributions to the workers' pension plan. The agreement, which runs through June 2013, requires union members to pay the same health care rates as general UC employees. San Francisco Business Times, Sacramento Business Journal.
01/26/2012
State and federal policymakers are looking to the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly as a potential model to save money and improve health care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. California has five PACE organizations that operate 18 centers. San Francisco Chronicle.
01/26/2012
Some of the neediest Fresno County residents were unable to access welfare workers, family counselors or health care providers during a three-day strike this week involving about 2,000 county workers. Members of the Service Employees International Union and California Nurses Association went on strike over pay cuts of at least 9%. Fresno Bee.