State Highlights: Ky. Health Initiative Shows Progress; Iowa Medicaid Eligibility System Under Review
A selection of health policy stories from Iowa, Indiana, California, Pennsylvania, Kansas, New Jersey and North Carolina.
Kentucky Press News Service:
Health Initiative In Kentucky Yields Progress
More Kentuckians have health insurance, are covered by smoke-free policy, can access physical activity resources, seek care for heart disease and cancer prevention, and get dental services since the launch of kyhealthnow last year, according to the program’s preliminary inaugural annual report previewed Thursday by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The draft report, which was discussed during the kyhealthnow quarterly oversight team meeting, shows Kentucky is moving in the right direction in meeting the ambitious and wide-ranging goals laid out in the initiative, which was launched in February 2014 by Gov. Steve Beshear. (3/16)
The Associated Press:
Plan For Iowa Medicaid Eligibility System Under Review
A plan for Iowa to hire an outside contractor to vet some Medicaid recipients was held for further review Monday in the Iowa Senate. A Senate subcommittee opted to hold the bill, which already received full approval in the Iowa House. The proposal would require the state to contract with an outside vendor to set up a computerized system that would assess whether people who are elderly, blind or disabled meet Medicaid eligibility rules. (3/16)
The Associated Press:
Indiana Medicaid Recovers $126,000 In Lawsuit Settlement
Indiana's Medicaid program will receive more than $126,000 from a drug manufacturer that filed false claims to Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs. Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Monday that the settlement with Indiana, 48 other states and the federal government will resolve five lawsuits against the pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo Inc. (3/17)
The Des Moines Register:
Four More Hospital Systems Form ACOs
Iowa’s largest health insurer continues to add hospital systems to its collection of health-care providers that have signed accountable care organization contracts. (Leys, 3/16)
California Healthline:
Possible Explanation Offered For Delayed Medi-Cal Termination Data
State officials have said they're handling about one million renewals a month for Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. It's a process that started in June 2014. In addition to renewing Medi-Cal benefits for some Californians, the process includes terminating coverage for others for a variety of reasons. State officials last week said they don't have data for how many Californians have been dropped from the Medi-Cal program. (Gorn, 3/16)
The Associated Press:
UPMC, Pitt, Carnegie Mellon To Work On Medical Data Sharing
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center plans to partner with Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University to collect and analyze patient health care data and, hopefully, use that information to create ways to better treat some illnesses. The Pittsburgh Health Data Alliance was announced Monday in hopes it could help doctors and hospitals rapidly detect outbreaks of various illnesses, or even develop smartphone applications that could be used to improve or manage the health of a person based on their own physical, health or genetic characteristics. (3/16)
Kaiser Health News:
Rural Hospitals, One Of The Cornerstones Of Small Town Life, Face Increasing Pressure
Despite residents’ concerns and a continuing need for services, the 25-bed hospital that served this small East Texas town for more than 25 years closed its doors at the end of 2014, joining the ranks of dozens of other small rural hospitals that have been unable to weather the punishment of a changing national health care environment. For the high percentages of elderly and uninsured patients who live in rural areas, closures mean longer trips for treatment and uncertainty during times of crisis. 'I came to the emergency room when I had panic attacks,' said George Taylor, 60, a retired federal government employee. 'It was very soothing and the staff was great. I can’t imagine Mount Vernon without a hospital." (Gugliotta, 3/17)
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Health Care Files Rich Trove For Identity Thieves
The 80 million-person Anthem Inc. data breach jeopardized the identities of more than 750,000 Pennsylvanians, including 51,867 Highmark customers notified by letter last week. It also reminded the information security world that health records — subject to strict privacy requirements — are a rich target for hackers. (Lord, 3/16)
The Associated Press:
18 Charged In Florida In $125M Private Insurance Fraud Scam
Federal authorities have charged 18 people in South Florida in a $125 million fraud scheme aimed at prominent private health insurance companies. Four of those indicted last week controlled 30 companies in the Miami area that misappropriated the names and licensing information of dozens of physicians. Prosecutors say that information was used to submit false claims to the insurers. (3/16)
The Associated Press:
Medical Abortion Bill Headed To Idaho Senate
Legislation that would ban Idaho women from receiving abortion-inducing medication through telemedicine —an option not currently available in the state— faces just one more hurdle before heading to the governor's desk for his signature. The Senate State Affairs Committee endorsed the bill Monday, with the few Democratic members opposing, after listening to more than two hours of testimony primarily from anti-abortion organizations. (Krusei, 3/16)
State House News Service:
Electronic Cigarettes Subject Of Proposed Regulations In Massachusetts
Massachusetts lawmakers were unsuccessful last session in pushing through legislation to regulate electronic cigarettes. On Tuesday, Attorney General Maura Healey plans to announce "proposed regulations" affecting e-cigarettes, according to her office. (3/16)
The Associated Press:
Analyst Warns Gov. Brown's Retiree Health Plan Could Cost More
An independent budget analyst is questioning Gov. Jerry Brown's call for state workers to contribute half the cost of their retirement health benefits. In a report Monday, legislative analyst Mac Taylor says the state could end up paying more over time if current and future state workers are asked to help pay for their health benefits. He says when the state began requiring higher pension contributions from employees in 2013 it ended up offsetting the cost to employees with pay increases. (3/16)
The Kansas Health Institute News Service:
Possibility For Compromise On KanCare Committee Overhaul
A compromise is emerging on a bill that would change the legislative committee that oversees KanCare, the state's privatized Medicaid program. Senate Bill 121 as written lessens the minority party’s influence on the KanCare committee by removing members appointed from the House and Senate budget committees. (Marso, 3/16)
NJ Spotlight:
Delegating Tasks Can Benefit Home Care Nurses And Patients
The state and federal governments are making it easier for New Jerseyans to stay in their homes as they age and their healthcare needs increase. But this shift to home-based care demands more from the nurses who assess and develop plans to meet residents’ needs. It also places increasing reliance on the home health aides who help people in their daily lives. (Kitchenman, 3/16)
North Carolina Health News:
Study Makes Economic Case For Advanced Practice Nurses
A new study finds loosening practice restrictions on North Carolina nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists could save hundreds of millions annually. (Hoban, 3/17)
ProPublica:
California Announces Audit Of Insurance Company That Took Away Home Health Aide
California’s labor department says it will conduct an audit of how Travelers Insurance handled the case of paralyzed worker Joel Ramirez, who was left to fend for himself for months after the company withdrew his 24-hour home health care. (Grabell and Berkes, 3/16)
NPR:
Vaccination Gaps Helped Fuel Disneyland Measles Spread
California has been dealing with a big measles outbreak since December, when cases emerged among visitors to Disneyland in Orange County. Measles spread quickly afterward. As of Friday, the state had confirmed 133 measles cases among residents since December. Of the people who got sick and for whom the state could determine vaccination status, 57 people hadn't been vaccinated against measles and 20 people had had at least one shot of the vaccine. (Hensley, 3/16)