In Brief: OAL Approves Emergency ACA Regulations; Long Beach SNF Fined
OAL Approves Emergency Regulations Regarding ACA Insurance Mandates
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said he has received approval of emergency regulations he filed with the Office of Administrative Law requiring all health insurers to cover health benefits mandated by the Affordable Care Act in policies that go into effect after Jan. 1.
“Issuance of the emergency regulation is a critical step in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, because it provides the legal authority for the department to implement the essential health benefits requirement as we review new health insurance policies sold, including those in the (Covered California) exchange,” Jones said.
The 10 benefits include emergency services, ambulatory patient services, prescription drugs, hospitalization and pediatric services, among others.
The 48 pages of regulations were filed by Jones's office on June 3 and approved 10 days later.
CDPH Fines Long Beach SNF
The California Department of Public Health has fined the Country Villa Belmont Heights Healthcare Center, a skilled nursing facility in Long Beach, $75,000 for regulatory violations that led to the death of a patient in 2010.
The patient died of sepsis and peritonitis as the result of the incorrect reinsertion of a gastric feeding tube she had removed. The reinsertion of the tube was done by a licensed vocational nurse without the supervision or orders of a physician. The licensed vocational nurse caring for the patient also lacked the appropriate training to care for patients with gastric feeding tubes. Since the original tube had been inserted less than four weeks prior to its removal, it should have been performed by a physician.
In addition to the fine, the facility received a AA citation, the most severe the CDPH can issue.
Anthem, Univision Team On ACA Outreach
Anthem Blue Cross of California will be working closely with the Spanish-language television network Univision to inform Latinos about their options regarding the Affordable Care Act.
Anthem will serve as the sole sponsor for Univision's public service initiative “Salud es Vida.” It will also work with Univision and HolaDoctor, a marketing firm that specializes in healthcare campaigns for Latino audiences, to create television and radio segments, e-newsletters, and other information on how to obtain healthcare coverage.
Latinos tend to be underinsured compared to other groups in California. Policy experts see outreach to that community as a vital part of health coverage expansion.
“We know that Univision has been a trusted source of information for generations of Latino families and we’re excited to team with an organization that shares our vision to ensure Latino consumers have a place to access accurate information about the Affordable Care Act,” said Pam Kehaly, president of Anthem Blue Cross of California.
