California Healthline

Covered California -- the state insurance exchange -- has announced a premium rate structure for health plans participating in the online marketplace. Officials also said that 13 health insurers will offer plans through the exchange. New York Times et al.

A report by Nevada-appointed consultants says that the state should enact several changes to curb a psychiatric hospital's practice of busing patients to California and other states. However, the report says that the busing of patients sometimes is appropriate. Sacramento Bee.

Business executives and lawmakers are concerned about a proposed rule that allows employers to award workers as much as 30% of their health coverage costs for participating in wellness programs, an increase from the current 20%. The Hill's "RegWatch," CQ HealthBeat.

House lawmakers seek an agreement on legislation that would allow certain immigrants to purchase health coverage. House members disagree on whether immigrants should be deported if they do not obtain insurance or fail to pay health care bills. Los Angeles Times et al.

Kaweah Delta Medical Center has unveiled to the public its new $2.7 million helipad, which is scheduled to open June 3. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System has entered into negotiations to sell St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica to Providence Health & Services.

Aetna, Cigna and UnitedHealth will not participate in the state health insurance exchange next year. Meanwhile, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and Kaiser Permanente have chosen to take part in Covered California. Los Angeles Times.

Officials at University of California medical centers say that most unionized patient care employees worked as scheduled during a labor strike. According to officials, more than 75% of union members worked at the facilities on Tuesday, the first day of the two-day strike. Los Angeles Times.

A new report finds that the trend of employers reducing workers' hours and health coverage options began before the Affordable Care Act was passed. The report says the percentage of part-time workers increased by 5.3% from 2007 to 2011. The Hill's "Healthwatch," CQ HealthBeat.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has passed an immigration bill that would make it easier for foreign-born health professionals to work in the U.S. The bill also would allow some foreign-born people to purchase health plans through insurance exchanges. Modern Healthcare, Politico.

Data from HHS show that 55% of eligible office-based physicians have received incentives for the meaningful use of electronic health record systems, while 80% of eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals have received such incentives. Wall Street Journal, HHS release.

Observers are concerned that an Affordable Care Act loophole that allows families who fail to pay premiums for subsidized health plans to continue receiving coverage for three months could leave physicians responsible for the cost of care. Sacramento Bee.

A two-day strike this week by thousands of clinical and technical workers at five University of California medical centers could cost the facilities a total of $20 million, according to UC officials. Bringing in temporary workers to maintain adequate staffing levels is the source of much of the costs. Los Angeles Times' "L.A. Now" et al.

Democrats in the Assembly and Senate have different priorities for boosting safety-net spending. Assembly Democrats want to boost CalWORKS-related spending, while Senate Democrats are pushing to increase Denti-Cal and mental health services spending. Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News."

A Families USA poll finds that although few adults living in the Deep South have a favorable view of the Affordable Care Act, nearly two-thirds support the ACA's Medicaid expansion. All of the states surveyed are led by GOP governors who have opted not to expand their Medicaid programs. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.

At a House hearing yesterday, Republicans pressed federal health officials about the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchange navigators program, questioning workers' level of access to sensitive data and whether felons could serve in the program. The Hill's "Healthwatch," CQ Roll Call.

A Sacramento judge has refused to stop a strike by thousands of workers at five University of California medical centers, but he has barred 450 critical care workers from participating in the strike, citing a threat to public health or safety. Sacramento Bee et al.

Two California senators are pushing a bill that would strip state authority to conceal certain health insurance exchange records. The bill would allow a one-year delay in the release of large health plan contracts and subject other contracts to state open-record laws. AP/KPCC's "KPCC News."

The California HealthCare Foundation has released two reports that find variations in treatment for prostate and breast cancer according to where patients live in the state. Experts say the findings indicate that physicians most often are determining treatments. Contra Costa Times.

A RAND study finds that emergency departments drive about 50% of all U.S. hospital admissions and between 2003 and 2009 accounted for nearly all admissions growth. However, the report says EDs' contribution to rising health care spending is unclear. The Hill's "Healthwatch," New York Times.

On Friday, HHS' Office of the Inspector General published a final rule allowing state Medicaid fraud units to use federal funding for data mining efforts to find fraudulent billing. OIG predicted that the final rule will save about $72 million from 2014 to 2023. Modern Healthcare, CQ HealthBeat.