Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Launches Overhauled Website To Help Veterans Access Benefits
A newly updated website launched by the California Department of Veterans Affairs streamlines processes and provides information on benefits programs for more than 1.8 million veterans in the state. In addition, the website includes a new interactive tool to help veterans access information on such programs. Government Technology.
Millions More Calif. Residents To Gain ACA Coverage, Experts Say
Health experts in California say the Affordable Care Act’s tax penalties coupled with the loss of current health coverage will prompt many more state residents to obtain coverage under the law over the next few years. One expert predicts that just 1.2 million state residents will be uninsured by 2017. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Aetna, Santa Clara Provider Group Launch ACO
Aetna has partnered with the Santa Clara County Individual Practice Association to launch an accountable care organization that will begin in May and coordinate care management for patients with chronic health problems, such as asthma and diabetes. Aetna and SCCIPA did not disclose the financial terms of the collaboration. Payers & Providers.
Trust in Physicians Boosts Rx Drug Adherence Among Patients, Kaiser Permanente Study Finds
A Kaiser Permanente study of more than 1,500 Northern California individuals with adult onset diabetes and depression found that patients are more likely to adhere to medication regimens if they trust their doctors and can communicate with them. Among the patients in the study who filled prescriptions for medication, individuals who reported little trust in their physician were a third less likely to obtain a refill. Payers & Providers.
UCLA Doctors Pilot Mobile Eye Exam App for Diabetes
A new pilot study conducted by doctors at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute finds that although patients with diabetes are willing to use a mobile application to self-monitor their vision, the apps had no measureable effect on patients’ health. However, the doctors noted that patients in the research pool already had their blood sugar well controlled. They recommend patients use the app in conjunction with other mobile diabetes monitoring tools, such as connected glucometers. MobiHealthNews.
Assembly Panel Advances Bill To Grant Alcohol Board Authority Over Medical Marijuana Industry
On Tuesday, the Assembly Public Safety Committee advanced a bill that would grant the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board authority over the medical marijuana industry in the California. The bill also would bar doctors from recommending medical marijuana for individuals they have not examined. The measure now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. U-T San Diego, Reuters.
The federal government should promote the development of more cost-effective medical devices and medications as a strategy to reduce overall health care costs, according to a study funded by the RAND Corporation. The study recommends that the federal government could promote such development through financial incentives from NIH to incentivize drugmakers and medical-device makers to develop effective products aimed at reducing health care costs, as well as other strategies. Modern Healthcare.
ECRI: Health IT System Failures To Be Top Hospital Concern in 2014
Research firm ECRI Institute has released a list of the top 10 patient safety concerns facing hospitals this year. The report names data integrity failures with health IT systems as the top concern, noting several ways such failures can be caused such as by data entry errors and missing information. Modern Healthcare et al.
Experts: Exchange Increased Competition in Calif. Insurance Market
Covered California gave smaller insurers a greater opportunity to compete in the state insurance market, even though four large insurers dominated statewide enrollment, health insurance experts say. Meanwhile, an expert with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research says exchange premiums are unlikely to increase. Modern Healthcare, Ventura County Star.
Medicare Chief Jonathan Blum To Leave CMS
CMS Principal Deputy Administrator Jonathan Blum will resign on May 16, according to an internal email from CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. Tavenner cited unspecified “new opportunities” as the reason for Blum’s resignation and noted that under his leadership, “the Medicare program has served as one of our primary drivers to shift our health care system to reward quality, care improvement and value.” Government Health IT, Modern Healthcare.