Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
The Talk Seniors Need To Have With Doctors Before Surgery
Surgeons are rethinking the old notions of "informed consent." With older patients especially, a push is on to talk candidly about what a surgery will do, its risks and how it will affect their quality of life. (Judith Graham, )
Good morning! There are hundreds of thousands of Californians who qualify for Medicaid but haven’t signed up. More about that below, but first here are your top California health stories of the day.
University Of California Reaches Tentative Agreement With Union Representing Health Care, Research And Technical Employees: The agreement includes giving the University of California workers wage increases of 20 percent or more over a five-year period. “We are very pleased to have reached these agreements with UPTE, giving our employees the competitive pay and excellent benefits they so deserve,” said Peter Chester, the university’s executive director of labor relations, in a prepared news release. “These employees make significant contributions to UC’s mission and we deeply appreciate their hard work and dedication.” The UC is still in negotiations with its largest labor union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, which represents 25,000 service and patient care workers who occupy low-wage jobs such as admitting clerk, anesthesia technician, MRI technologist, cook, gardener and security guard. Read more from Cathie Anderson of the Sacramento Bee.
Despite Oakland’s Multi-Pronged Approach To Tackling Homelessness, City’s Rate Surpasses That Of San Francisco: An analysis of city numbers on homelessness collected earlier this year found that there were an estimated 742 unsheltered homeless people in Oakland for every 100,000 residents — the highest among the state’s largest cities. The rate is four times higher than San Diego’s and 27% higher than San Francisco’s. Oakland officials point to what they say is an aggressive, multifaceted strategy to address the crisis that includes community cabin sites, RV safe parking and affordable housing. The city is also setting aside funds for future Navigation Centers and launching a pilot program of self-governed encampments to be run by grassroots organizations. But the shocking growth in homelessness since 2017 has many advocates questioning the city’s response by calling it a temporary solution that won’t have a lasting impact. Read more from Sarah Ravani and Joaquin Palomino of the San Francisco Chronicle.
California Has Become A Model For Improving Health Care For Expectant Mothers. But Post-Partum Mental Health Issues Falling Through Cracks: A recent report by researchers at UC Merced and Michigan State University linked nearly one in five postpartum deaths among California women to drug abuse or suicide — psychological crises. The death toll was highest, the study found, among socioeconomically disadvantaged women and white women, but it added that data is generally scant on mental health-related deaths of new mothers. Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes agrees that postpartum mental health has been neglected as an issue. “We celebrate the birth of children, but the well-being of the mother who gives birth often gets forgotten,” she said. The Riverside Democrat is working to establish a pilot program to provide greater mental health services to new mothers, one among several new efforts to address that aspect of postpartum care. Her Assembly Bill 798 would create a privately funded pilot program that would provide mental health screenings, psychiatry, teleconsultations and mentoring services aimed at detecting and treating postpartum mothers for up to one year after delivery. Read more from Barbara Harvey of CalMatters.
Below, check out the full round-up of California Healthline original stories, state coverage and the best of the rest of the national news for the day.
More News From Across The State
Palm Springs Desert Sun:
Hundreds Of Thousands Of Californians Qualify For Medi-Cal But Aren’t Signing Up. Why?
The doctor and nurses at the Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine clinic in Indio know many of their patients qualify for free medical insurance – and they tell them that. But many of the patients simply don’t sign up. The free clinic – which is funded through gifts, grants and donations and receives no government reimbursements – serves about 1,000 individuals a year. It could lessen its caseload or serve new clients if many of its patients who are eligible for Medi-Cal, the state’s health program for low-income people, would actually sign up. Once enrolled, those patients could be seen at a variety of health facilities, not just CVVIM. (Hayden, 7/31)
Modesto Bee:
New Law Will Expand CA Regulators’ PFAS Testing Authority
Starting next year, California water systems must notify residents if their water sources contain potentially toxic levels of cancer-linked chemicals called PFAS under a law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Wednesday. The new law, AB 756, will also expand state regulators’ ability to test for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. (Bollag and Copp, 8/1)
Stat:
The Latest CRISPR Patent Fight Is On. So Is The Mudslinging
The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard lied about who invented the use of CRISPR genome editing in animal cells, and its lead CRISPR scientist Feng Zhang made statements to the patent office that he knew were “untrue,” attorneys for the University of California and its partners claim in legal documents filed Tuesday night with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In strikingly tough language, the lawyers accused the Broad of trying to “deceive the Office” in order to win patents on the revolutionary technology, claimed another Broad scientist made a “materially false declaration” about when Zhang’s lab got CRISPR to work, and argued that Zhang didn’t know what molecules the genome editor needed until he read a rival’s key paper — all of which makes Zhang’s work “unpatentable.” (Begley, 7/31)
CalMatters:
How An Unassuming Window In San Jose Fills A Crucial Need For The Homeless
Adelle Amador does a lot of bouncing around with her husband and six children. Without stable housing, the family of eight has been living in and out of motels for the past three years. Before that, they lived in their cars for more than a year even though both she and her husband worked. It’s exhausting and expensive, costing the family about $1,500 a week after Amador searches for bargain rates. But their lack of a permanent address presents an additional conundrum that’s all too familiar to a growing number of people in the Bay Area: To become stable, they need to find housing, yet without an address, they can’t get mail updating them about their spot on waiting lists for affordable housing. (Hellerstein, 7/31)
Modesto Bee:
Study: Breastpumping Parents Report Difficulties At Work
The breastpump may help parents feel empowered to return to work, but many who do so run into workplace difficulties, according to a new study. The study, conducted by Wakefield Research and commissioned by breastpump supplier Byram Healthcare Centers, surveyed 1,000 working parents who breastfeed children 2 and younger. (Sheeler, 7/31)
Reuters:
Democratic Debate Highlights: Biden The Favored Target
Democratic front-runner Joe Biden was again the main target of his rivals at the second presidential debate on Wednesday, as many of the nine other candidates on stage took aim at his track record on race, criminal justice, immigration and healthcare. "Go easy on me, kid," the former vice president told Senator Kamala Harris of California with a smile as they greeted each other on stage before the debate began in Detroit. But neither one had any plans to go easy, and they went after each other in a series of tough exchanges. (8/1)
The New York Times:
Biden Under Fire From All Sides As Rivals Attack His Record
In the opening moments of the debate, Mr. Biden took particular aim at Ms. Harris, accusing her of peddling “double talk” on health care and insisting that a range of liberal plans to displace the private health insurance system were too disruptive and too costly. He chided Ms. Harris for her proposal of a decade-long transition to a version of single-payer health care, urging voters to be skeptical “anytime somebody tells you you’re going to get something good in 10 years.” “My response is: Obamacare is working,” said Mr. Biden, who has proposed the creation of an optional, government-backed health insurance plan. (Burns and Martin, 7/31)
The Washington Post:
Second Democratic Debate: 8 Key Moments From Nights 1 And 2
“To be very blunt, and to be very straightforward, you can’t beat President Trump with double-talk on this plan,” Biden said. Harris responded in general terms, saying health care is a right and that “the cost of doing nothing is far too expensive.” She also challenged Biden for touting the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare, noting that Kathleen Sebelius, Obama’s secretary for health and human services, was supporting her plan. (8/1)
Los Angeles Times:
Joe Biden Takes Fire From All Sides In Democratic Debate
“You will lose your employer-based insurance,” Biden said of the Harris plan. He was playing to the political sensitivities of the issue because more than 150 million Americans currently have job-based health coverage, and many are wary of change, polls show. But Harris counterpunched by saying Biden’s plan, which would build on the existing Affordable Care Act, would still leave millions of Americans without affordable healthcare coverage. “We will ensure that everyone has access to healthcare,” Harris said. (Halper, Mehta and Beason, 7/31)
The Associated Press:
Debate Takeaways: Democratic Divisions Intensify
Harris' rising profile made her a target for the first time. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet derided her recently released "Medicare for All" plan, which he said was not "honest" and would raise taxes to the middle class "to the tune of $30 trillion." (8/1)
Los Angeles Times:
5 Key Takeaways From Night 2 Of The Democratic Debates
Like in the first night of the second set of debates, the moderators spent a hefty chunk of time focusing on healthcare policy. But Wednesday’s candidates seemed clumsy in discussing the intricacies of healthcare, contrasting with the mostly policy-fluent discussion the previous night. ... The sharpest critique came from Bennet, who said Harris’ plan would essentially ban employer-based healthcare, which is how most working Americans get their insurance today. Harris countered by saying her plan would decouple employers from healthcare — which she touted as making benefits more flexible for workers — but her answer lacked the crispness that characterized her June debate performance. (Mason, 7/31)
Politico:
5 Revelations From The Biden Pile-On In Detroit
The issue is not only top-of-mind for voters, but also nuanced enough that it will likely feature prominently in every future debate. Candidates who have dodged the tax implications of their health care plans will be pressed on the cost. And candidates who have taken more moderate positions will be pressed on gaps in coverage. (Siders and Shepard, 8/1)
The Wall Street Journal:
Health Insurers Walk Delicate Line Against Democrats’ Health Proposals
As Democratic presidential candidates take aim at the health-insurance industry, companies are striking a delicate balance, trying to fight the plans without attracting the political spotlight or sparking investor alarm. The health insurers are deploying a two-pronged approach. Collectively, a number of insurers are putting their might into a coalition mounting an aggressive campaign against Democratic health-care proposals billed as “Medicare for All.” Television ads began running during Tuesday night’s presidential debate. But individual companies are mostly staying out of the public fray. (Wilde Mathews and Armour, 7/31)
Sacramento Bee:
Does Kamala Harris’ Healthcare Plan Ban Private Insurance?
Professer Paul B. Ginsburg, director of the University of Southern California-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy, noted that the Medicare Advantage program, which allows private insurers to offer Medicare plans, is one of the fastest growing segments of Medicare. “It is very popular,” said Ginsburg. Harris’ proposal would, however, eliminate the employer-sponsored health insurance that many Americans currently rely on. (Cadei, 7/31)
NPR:
Biden, Harris Spar Over Hyde Amendment
Former Vice President Joe Biden’s past support for the Hyde Amendment resurfaced as an opportunity for his Democratic rivals to paint him as lacking in progressive credentials. California Sen. Kamala Harris asked Biden if he regrets his past support for the prohibition on federal funding for abortion in most cases. Harris said the rule “directly impacted so many women in our country,” particularly low-income women seeking abortions. Harris asked Biden why he waited to change his position until he was running for the 2020 Democratic nomination. (McCammon, 7/31)
The New York Times:
Medicare For All? For More? Here’s How Medicare Works
Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, has become something of a panacea in the Democratic presidential race. Some candidates, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, want to give it to everyone and even expand its benefits. Others, like former Representative Beto O’Rourke, want to give it automatically to people who don’t have other health insurance. Many, including former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, want to give people the right to buy into a Medicare-like public health insurance program. Whatever their positions, Medicare is what most of the candidates are holding up as a model for universal coverage, a goal they all embrace. (Goodnough, 7/31)
KPCC:
After Last Night’s Debate, A Deep Dive On Medicare For All
Last night’s Democratic presidential debates included a discussion on healthcare reform.Perhaps one of the most notable moments was when former Maryland congressman John Delaney questioned the feasibility of Medicare for all and Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren came back with sharp responses. But neither Sanders or Warren addressed Delaney’s criticism of their plan. (Mantle, 7/31)
The Washington Post:
Once Considered A Far-Left Idea, ‘Public Option’ Insurance Swerves Into The Mainstream
In one of the most heated exchanges over health care during the first of this week’s Democratic presidential debates, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock derided the idea of Medicare-for-all as “wish-list economics” that “rips away quality health care for individuals.” “We can get there with a public option,” Bullock declared, using shorthand for letting people buy into a government health plan. That endorsement from a candidate positioned toward the right in the crowded Democratic field reflects a remarkable migration: The notion of a government health plan that many Americans could buy into has gone from being a polarizing liberal wish to a centrist policy favorite within the party. (Goldstein, 7/31)
The Washington Post:
White House Races To Come Up With Health-Care Wins For Trump’s Campaign
White House advisers, scrambling to create a health-care agenda for President Trump to promote on the campaign trail, are meeting at least daily with the aim of rolling out a measure every two to three weeks until the 2020 election. One of the initiatives would allow states to import lower-priced drugs from Canada and other countries and another would bar Medicare from paying more than any other country for prescription drugs, according to two senior administration officials and lobbyists — controversial ideas in line with Democratic proposals. Yet it remains unclear whether the administration has the legal authority to execute some of these policies without Congress’s approval. (Abutaleb and Dawsey, 7/31)
The New York Times:
Trump Administration Weighs Allowing Drug Imports For Cheaper Prescriptions
The Trump administration said on Wednesday that it was taking steps to make it easier to import less expensive prescription drugs from other countries, particularly Canada. The move has long been supported by progressives but has encountered fierce opposition from the pharmaceutical industry. The proposal would permit pilot programs developed by states, pharmacies or drug distributors that sought to safely import prescription medications from Canada. (Thomas, 7/31)
The Washington Post:
Trump Administration Outlines Plans For Eventual Importation Of Cheaper Drugs
The plan would allow state governments, pharmacies and drug manufacturers to come up with proposals for safe importation and submit them for federal approval. Top officials at Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration outlined two measures the administration could take to allow Americans to purchase lower-cost, Canadian versions of some medicines. That could potentially include insulin — whose price rose about 300 percent from 2002 to 2013 — as well as drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and cardiovascular disorders, HHS said. (Abutaleb and McGinley, 7/31)
The Associated Press:
US To Set Up Plan Allowing Prescription Meds From Canada
The move is a step toward fulfilling a 2016 campaign promise by President Donald Trump. It weakens an import ban that has stood as a symbol of the political clout of the pharmaceutical industry. But it’s unclear how soon consumers will see benefits, as the plan has to go through time-consuming regulatory approval and later could face court challenges from drugmakers. And there’s no telling how Canada will react to becoming the drugstore for its much bigger neighbor, with potential consequences for policymakers and consumers there. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 7/31)