January 15, 2019 Legislation

Healthcare

Hospitals

Healthcare

The new year brings a glimpse into the next several years in Congress.  Nothing, or less than prior will be done.  The Dems put into a bill to end the feds partial shutdown language to overturn the provision that requires foreign governments to certify that they will not perform or actively promote abortion as family planning.  This means the spending bill will not be heard in the Senate and will never become law.  This will probably happens time and time again.  

California has a new law to stop balance billing.  It requires providers be paid either 125% of Medicare rate or the average local insurance payment for a similar service.

California has hit Molina Healthcare with a fine of $65,000 and a separate fine of $152,250 for lapses in its grievance processes.  Molina has now put in an extensive corrective plan and to conduct ongoing audits of it grievance processes.  They have also been hit hard in the past with fines for other member problems.

California's new governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order giving tje leftist state its first surgeon general and directed the state's medicaid program to negotiate prescription drug prices for its 13 million enrollees.  In his budget he asked the legislature for a bill to allow all the states illegal aliens under age 26 to be covered under the state medicaid program.          Top

Hospitals

The California Department of Public Health has issued a fine of $75,000 to Vibra Hospital of Sacramento located in Folsom.  They gave a patient Levophed at 3000 to 8000 times the recommended dose.  For some reason the patient died.  The nurse used undiluted Levophed instead of the diluted pack already made up.  A second nurse was supposed to double check the meds but did not.          Top

DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented.