05/22/2012
A poll finds that 84% of U.S. voters say the cost of health care is an extremely or very important concern. When asked about which presidential candidate would be better able to control health care costs, 51% chose President Obama and 44% chose Mitt Romney. Politico et al.
05/21/2012
A Health Care Cost Institute study finds that health care spending by privately insured U.S. residents rose between 2009 and 2010, primarily because the prices of services increased. Prices for some medical services rose about five times faster than overall inflation. Politico et al.
05/18/2012
Sixty-six percent of small business owners in the San Francisco Bay Area who responded to a Bank of America survey said that employee health care costs are a key concern relating to the economy's effects on their business. At least 52% said they were confident about economic improvement in the next 12 months. San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk."
05/17/2012
The Senate voted down five different Republican-backed fiscal year 2013 budget resolutions yesterday. Lawmakers noted that Congress is unlikely to approve any budget proposals that include changes to Medicare and Medicaid until 2013. The Hill's "Floor Action Blog" et al.
05/16/2012
A Milliman study finds that the average annual health care costs for a family of four with an employer-sponsored preferred provider plan is $20,728, a 6.9% increase from 2011. The study found that workers on average pay about 41% of those costs. Los Angeles Times, CQ HealthBeat.
05/14/2012
The California Assembly is considering a bill that would require taxpayer-funded health care districts to spend at least 95% of their annual tax revenue on community programs and services and provide annual reports on their spending to local officials. Supporters of the bill include consumer advocacy group Health Access and Services Employees International Union California. However, the Association of California Healthcare Districts argues that the measure would hinder the ability of smaller districts to operate. California Watch.
05/11/2012
Relatively low out-of-pocket costs for emergency department services compared with primary care services could be causing overutilization of EDs, according to a study by employee benefits management firm Highroads and the Corporate Executive Board. The study also found minimal difference in out-of-pocket costs between urgent care and primary care services, which, coupled with the longer hours of urgent care clinics, could be driving more visits to urgent care facilities than primary care physician offices. Payers & Providers.
05/11/2012
On May 15, the Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation will deliver to the city council a budget plan that includes a proposal to end the city's Access Leisure program for adults and teens with developmental disabilities. The program's budget faces a shortage of more than $360,000 after raising only about $44,300 through fundraising and attendance fees. Sacramento Bee.
05/10/2012
California's health care spending increased by nearly 300% from 1991 to 2009, according to a California HealthCare Foundation report. However, the report finds that the pace of growth has decelerated since 2003. Los Angeles Times' "Money & Co."
05/09/2012
Congress is considering legislation that would aid consumers who have low credit scores as a result of issues related to medical bills and medical debt. Collection agencies are allowed to keep records of medical debt on file for seven years, but the Senate bill would require those debts to be scrubbed within 45 days of being settled or paid. The House bill only would affect medical debts up to $2,500. New York Times.
05/09/2012
Consumer-directed health insurance plans -- which offer high-deductible coverage and often feature a health savings account -- could reduce health spending by as much as $57 billion annually if 50% of the U.S. workforce signed up for them, according to a RAND study published Monday in the journal Health Affairs. However, researchers expressed uncertainty about whether the cutbacks in care that CDPs trigger could lead to poorer health or health emergencies in the future. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, The Hill's "Healthwatch."
05/08/2012
Health care leaders in Sacramento County are concerned about the lack of primary care services available to low-income and uninsured residents. The county once operated six public clinics but now runs only one, while not-for-profit community clinics are scarce. Sacramento Bee.
05/08/2012
The House Budget Committee has approved a budget plan that would cut funding from Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and other health initiatives. The full House likely will pass the bill, but the Senate is expected to reject it. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
05/08/2012
A new study finds that reported hospital charges for certain treatments vary among California hospitals. However, hospital officials say that the findings are of little value because the charges do not represent what patients actually pay. Ventura County Star.
05/07/2012
On Wednesday, the Assembly Committee on Local Government approved a bill, by Assembly member Luis Alejo, that would prohibit taxpayer-funded health care districts from offering financial perks to retiring executives that are not offered to other employees. The measure comes after the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System gave its outgoing CEO a $4.9 million retirement and severance package last year. The bill now goes to the full Assembly. Bay Citizen.