Health
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Residential care facilities for the elderly, or RCFEs, are currently allowed to write 30-day cancellation notice requirements into their care agreements.
Under current law, RCFEs can enforce this 30-day notice, even after a resident dies. Chesbro’s AB 1142 would clarify the law, requiring RCFEs to stop charging after a resident dies.
“Families who have suffered a loss of an elderly loved one shouldn’t be forced to pay for care for a month afterwards,” Chesbro said. “This clarification of the law will give seniors more peace of mind when they enter assisted living communities.”
At Tuesday’s committee hearing, Chesbro also praised the California Assisted Living Association (CALA) for sponsoring the bill.
“This is a good example of an industry coming forward and taking responsibility and I applaud them for it,” Chesbro said.
AB 1142 would:
Prohibit enforcement of any 30-day cancellation requirement after a resident has passed away.
Ensure that all fees for resident care end immediately once the community is notified of a resident’s death.
Require that residency fees are no longer charged after a deceased resident’s personal property has been removed.
“CALA believes that attempts to enforce a 30-day residency cancellation agreement after a resident has passed away are inappropriate and should be prohibited,” said Sally Michael, CALA’s president.
The Health and Human Services Committee voted 6-0 to move AB 1142, which next goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.
AB 1142 enjoys bipartisan support. The bill’s coauthors are Assemblymembers Linda Halderman (R-Fresno) and Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) and Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).
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CVS Pharmacy will reimburse California more than $1.76 million as part of a $17.5 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and nine other states, including Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada and Rhode Island.
“CVS chose to short-change taxpayers and undermine our healthcare safety net with these actions,” said Harris. “We are all better off now that this deception has been uncovered.”
Starting in late 2002 and continuing through 2010, CVS submitted prescription drug claims to Medi-Cal for individuals who were covered by both Medi-Cal and a third-party insurance plan.
The pharmacy should have first billed the primary insurer – and sought Medi-Cal reimbursement only for the remaining amount, typically the co-pay.
In 2008, a CVS pharmacist in Minnesota stepped forward to alert the authorities of the overbilling.
A multistate investigation, in which billing and payment information was analyzed and cross-referenced to private insurance payment, found that CVS billed more than the amount allowed for so-called dual-eligible claims.
Investigating the case and negotiating the settlement with CVS were the California Attorney General's Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the attorneys general of the other settling states.
As part of the agreement, CVS will train its employees in accurate billing procedures. CVS has started working with individual states to make sure it bills correctly for dual-eligible beneficiaries. Pharmacy payments will also be audited on a regular basis by an independent review organization.
The funds recovered for California will be paid to the Department of Health Care Services to reimburse the state's Medi-Cal program.
The California investigation and settlement negotiations were overseen by Supervising Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Paul and Deputy Attorneys General Erika Hiramatsu, Matt Kilman and Eliseo Sisneros.
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By July 1, when a new state law takes effect requiring proof of vaccination for all students entering grades seven through 12, nearly all of the approximately 600 California Rite Aid locations will be able to vaccinate walk-in patients or by appointment.
Rite Aid also is:
Participating in the California Immunization Registry by providing and signing any required documentation needed by the school district, including what is sometimes referred to as the yellow card, at all stores as well as updating the online registry that many schools can access.
Issuing a Rite Aid immunization card for the wallet.
Issuing proof of past whooping cough vaccinations at any Rite Aid location that fulfill the new law (any booster issued after age 7 is acceptable)
Parents wishing to get their children vaccinated are encouraged to call ahead, although walk-in immunizations are typically taken for this and other vaccines.
Parents and other caregivers – including seniors, the newest recommended age group – are also urged to get a whooping cough booster to help safeguard children not yet fully vaccinated.
In 2010, 10 infants died in California from whooping cough. Despite historically high vaccination rates among the young, The California Department of Public Health warns that vaccination rates remain low for adolescents and adults.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause serious illness and death. The CDC says about half of infants less than a year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized.
For more information on vaccines at Rite Aid, visit www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/immunization/.
For more information on whooping cough or the California law requiring school children to get protection against it, visit www.shotsforschool.org.
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“Freedom from Smoking,” the leading smoking cessation program in the United States for over 25 years, shows participants how to quit smoking for good in a supportive setting.
The classes are free to Lake County residents and are offered in Lakeport.
The Lakeport classes will take place at Lake Family Resource Center, 896 Lakeport Blvd.; the building is located at the left end of the bowling alley shopping center .
Classes will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Participants meet weekly with a small group of people so everyone attending gets personal attention.
No two smokers are alike, so the program helps everyone create their own quit plan.
Because support of others is important while quitting, being with a group who understands the challenges of quitting helps at a time when support is most needed.
You can be smoke-free before the summer starts. Millions of people have already quit. You can, too. Lake Family Resource Center looks forward to helping you achieve your goals.
For more information, and to register for the classes call Glenn Koeppel at Lake Family Resource Center, 707-262-1379, Extension 113, email
Preregistration is not required – drop-ins are always welcome.
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