State Highlights: Va. GOP Lawmakers Create Health Facilities Group; Blue Shield Of California Sued
Outlets report on health news from Virginia, California, New York, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa and Oklahoma.
The Associated Press:
Republicans Launch New Panel On Healthcare Reform
Republican lawmakers have announced a new workgroup focused on loosening government oversight of new or expanded health care facilities in Virginia. House Speaker William J. Howell and Senate President Pro-Tem Stephen D. Newman said Thursday they had created a new workgroup and were rededicating themselves to changing the state’s certificate of need law. (7/15)
Modern Healthcare:
Blue Shield Of California Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Incorrect Rebates
Members who have health coverage through Blue Shield of California are suing the insurer, alleging the company owes $35 million in additional rebates because it included faulty payments within its medical-loss ratio a few years ago. Two Blue Shield members, Becky Ebenkamp and Rebecca Morris, filed the class-action lawsuit on behalf of more than 446,000 other people who bought an individual Blue Shield plan in 2014. (Herman, 7/14)
Kaiser Health News:
Hispanics Least Prepared For A Major Disaster In Los Angeles
In Los Angeles County the question is not whether a major disaster will happen, but when. Experts expect an earthquake measuring 7.0 or greater in the next 30 years. The area is prone to wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. Infectious disease outbreaks and terrorist attacks are also possible. Though aware of the risks, less than half of the population is prepared for such emergencies. Surveys show Hispanic communities are least prepared of all. (Craft, 7/15)
Stat:
Columbia University Fined Nearly $10 Million For Sending Inflated Bills To NIH
Columbia University must pay $9.5 million to settle charges that it repeatedly overbilled the National Institutes of Health for hundreds of research grants, the Justice Department said Thursday. The university admitted to charging NIH on-campus overhead for psychiatric and neurological research that was actually conducted off-site, primarily in rent-free offices owned and operated by New York state and New York City. For 12 years, the university’s medical school sought and received a “facilities and administrative rate” that was about double what it should have been, according to the US attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, whose office handled the case with Scott J. Lampert of the Department of Health and Human Services. (Kaplan, 7/14)
California Healthline:
A Chat With The Head Of California’s Doctor Lobby
The California Medical Association, which represents about 41,000 doctors, has been at the heart of health care deliberations in Sacramento for decades. This year, it has staked out strong and sometimes surprising positions on the legalization of marijuana, Medi-Cal provider rates and the role it believes nurse practitioners should play in patient care. California Healthline discussed these positions with current CMA president, Steven Larson, a primary care and infectious disease physician who practices in Riverside. Larson is also CEO of Riverside Medical Clinic, a multispecialty medical group. (Bazar, 7/14)
Health News Florida:
Court Sides With Allstate In Medical Fee Fight
Adding to a legal debate before the Florida Supreme Court, an appeals court Wednesday sided with Allstate Insurance in a dispute with medical providers about fees paid to care for auto-accident victims. The ruling by the 3rd District Court of Appeal in five consolidated cases clashed with a decision last year by the 4th District Court of Appeal, which backed medical providers in similar cases. (7/14)
The Dallas Morning News:
Texas Hospitals Work To Reduce Security Code Confusion
Color-coded emergency warning systems are frequently used to alert hospital staffers to events happening on their premises. While they generally prompt an immediate switch from standard operating procedure, some warn there might be too many colors on the palette. Lack of clarity caused by conflicting colors about major concerns -- such as bombs threats, fires, power outages and dangerous weather -- can result in poor coordination, delays in response and confusion for patients, experts say. (Rice, 7/14)
USA Today:
Shuttered Business Ordered To Pay $8.7M
An Appleton-based business that was accused of running a multi-state medical insurance scheme, tricking seniors and Spanish-speaking customers, has been ordered to pay $8.7 million in restitution. The judgement against Partners in Health Care and its principal, Gary L. Kieper, concludes a nearly five-year case. (Safran, 7/14)
The Des Moines Register:
Fort Dodge Health-Care Model Hailed By HHS Secretary
Other Americans should look to this town for lessons on how to save money by keeping people healthier, the nation’s top health-care official said Thursday. Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, visited Fort Dodge to hear about its success at preventing serious health problems before they require expensive care. (Leys, 7/14)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Milwaukee's Health Score 17 Points Lower Than In 2012, Report Shows
Most Wisconsin communities scored in the top one-fifth of areas ranked in the Commonwealth Fund's local health system performance score card released Thursday. Milwaukee isn't among them. The city ranked 75th out of 306 local communities studied this year, 17 spots lower than its revised rank of 58th in 2012, when the organization released its last local health systems review. (Bekker, 7/14)
KQED:
Oakland Soda Tax Backers To File Complaint Over Opposition Ads
Three Oakland City Council members are calling on local and federal agencies to investigate opponents of the city’s proposed soda tax on the fall ballot. They say the beverage industry’s advertising is deceptive. At issue are opposition TV ads and a flier that label the effort a ” ‘Grocery Tax’ [that] can be applied to any item in the store, not just sodas.” (Aliferis, 7/14)
Contra Costa Times:
Free End-Of-Life Legal Planning Aid For Contra Costa Seniors
Decisions about end-of-life care are difficult, but planning ahead ensures that family members and health care providers respect patients' wishes. Contra Costa Senior Legal Services, in partnership with American Insurance Group and the city of Concord, is sponsoring a free monthly legal clinic to help seniors prepare an advance health care directive, a document that designates someone to make health care decisions on their behalf if they are unable to speak for themselves. Contra Costa County residents 60 and older are eligible to receive assistance from the new Community Partners Clinic. (White, 7/14)
The Associated Press:
Ex-Dentist Gets House Arrest For Bilking Medicaid
A former Oklahoma oral surgeon whose filthy clinics led to thousands of patients being tested for HIV and hepatitis was sentenced Thursday to six months' house arrest for fraudulently billing Medicaid for anesthesia services that were performed by unlicensed dental assistants. W. Scott Harrington pleaded guilty in April to money laundering and agreed to pay nearly $30,000 in restitution under an agreement with federal prosecutors. He was also sentenced Thursday to two years' probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine within a month. (7/14)