02/03/2012
Gov. Brown has sent a pension reform plan to the Legislature's Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions. The proposal, which includes changes to retirees' health benefits, is being criticized by labor unions. Sacramento Bee's "The State Worker" et al.
02/03/2012
On Wednesday, California's new autism advisory task force launched a series of public meetings to develop recommendations on autism services that health insurers should cover. The panel -- chaired by Brent Barnhart of the Department of Managed Health Care -- will look at various treatments, including applied behavior analysis. The panel will deliver its recommendations to Gov. Brown by the end of the year. KQED's "The California Report."
02/01/2012
California officials are directing residents to a website that explains the benefits of long-term care plans and provides details on available policies. Many adults do not purchase long-term care insurance because of the cost or because they do not think they need it. HealthyCal.
01/27/2012
On Thursday, a federal judge indicated that she likely will strike down a federal law that prevents same-sex partners from receiving long-term health care benefits. The case stems from a lawsuit that UC-San Francisco employees filed against CalPERS. San Francisco Chronicle.
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
In a release issued on Tuesday, Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee pointed to new Gallup poll data indicating that the number of uninsured U.S. residents increased from 14% in 2008 to 17% in 2011 as evidence of the weakness of the federal health reform law. Democrats said the data underscore the need for the overhaul's provision to extend coverage to millions of uninsured individuals by 2014. The Hill's "Healthwatch."
01/26/2012
On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted 6-2 to grant final approval to a city retiree benefits plan that is projected to save $714 million in health care costs over 25 years. The city's six labor unions have endorsed the plan, which guarantees future health care allowances for 7,440 current employees. However, the plan also requires some workers to contribute as much as $1,200 annually to the benefit. U-T San Diego.
01/26/2012
A new study says that 1.04 million fewer California residents would gain insurance by 2019 and that premiums could rise without the federal health reform law's individual mandate. Payers & Providers, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research release.
01/24/2012
An Associated Press analysis and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report find that three out of four uninsured U.S. residents live in states that have not made any major progress in creating health insurance exchanges under the health reform law. AP/Yahoo News, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
01/20/2012
On Thursday, the California Senate Appropriations Committee voted 6-2 to approve a bill, by Sen. Mark Leno, that would create a single-payer health care system, clearing the way for a vote in the full Senate. An analysis of the bill found that creating a single-payer system to serve all 37 million state residents could cost up to $250 billion annually. The measure does not include any taxes or fees to offset the cost of the system, which would be run by a new state agency. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert."
01/19/2012
Federal data show that enrollment in California's Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan is the highest in the nation. As of Nov. 30, 2011, more than 4,900 Californians had enrolled in PCIP, according to the federal statistics. Sacramento Business Journal.
01/18/2012
Last week, CMS issued a proposed rule that redefines the word "uninsured" for the purpose of calculating uncompensated care payments. Under the proposed rule, the definition of uninsured for purposes of reimbursement -- known as disproportionate share hospital payments -- would be based on whether patients had insurance coverage for the specific services they received at the hospital. In addition, any services provided that are not covered because they exceed a plan's annual or lifetime limits would be deemed eligible for the DSH payments. CMS is accepting public comment on the proposal for 30 days. Modern Healthcare.
01/18/2012
On Tuesday, the California Senate Appropriations Committee suspended until Thursday action on a bill that would create a single-payer health care system. The panel said it put the bill, by Sen. Mark Leno, on hold to give it further consideration after a legislative analysis found that it would cost $200 billion to $250 billion annually. The measure does not include any taxes or fees to offset the cost of the single-payer system, which would be run by a new state agency. However, Leno said the bill would reduce costs by eliminating private insurers as the middlemen. Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal" et al.