Latest California Healthline Stories
Judge Finds Calif.’s Treatment of Mentally Ill Inmates Unconstitutional
A federal judge has ordered California to revise its policies for using pepper spray and isolation units when dealing with prisoners with mental health issues. In the ruling, the judge said California’s treatment of such prisoners violates their constitutional rights. AP/U-T San Diego, Sacramento Bee.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of April 11, 2014
Oakland Fire Department Battalion Chief Geoff Hunter said a fire that burned the administrative offices of Children’s Hospital Oakland is being investigated as arson. The Sacramento City Council unanimously voted to demolish Sutter Memorial Hospital and replace it with more than 100 residential homes.
Covered California Enrollment Surging Ahead of April 15 Deadline
During the first nine days of April, 70,000 California residents enrolled in health coverage through Covered California. As the deadline approaches for individuals to complete their exchange applications, officials say they plan to send more than 340,000 emails reminding consumers to finish signing up. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Assembly Passes Measure Allowing Pharmacists To Dispense Syringes in Effort To Fight HIV, Hepatitis
On Thursday, the Assembly advanced a measure that would grant pharmacists the authority to sell an unlimited number of sterile syringes without requiring patients to obtain a prescription from their physician. The measure is aimed at reducing the spread of blood-borne illnesses, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Current California rules, which expire at the end of this year, allow pharmacists to sell 30 needles at a time without requiring a prescription. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal,” AP/Sacramento Bee.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Supervisor Ernest Poolean has been moved to a different position following the release of a Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller report that was critical of the department’s oversight of nursing homes, according to a staff memo sent on Thursday. The audit was released last week and identified more than 3,000 ongoing investigations into nursing homes, including nearly 1,000 that have been pending for more than two years. Kaiser Health News.
Press-Enterprise Editorial Criticizes Study of ‘Unhealthy’ Advertisements in Riverside County
A Riverside Press-Enterprise editorial argues that a study recently conducted by Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community is an example of “alarmism” over outdoor advertisements for tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods. The study concluded that nearly 80% of stores in the U.S. use such “unhealthy outside advertising.”
San Mateo County Simulates Major Health Emergency To Train Response Teams To Distribute Medicine
On April 17, emergency response teams in San Mateo County will practice mass distribution of medicine as part of training that will simulate a major health emergency. During the drill, the county’s health system will partner with law enforcement, the fire department, the Red Cross and other emergency personnel to mock distribute medicine from CDC’s Strategic National Stockpile. San Jose Mercury News.
House Lawmakers Reject Bill To Exempt Expatriates From ACA’s Individual, Employer Mandates
On Wednesday, House lawmakers voted 257-159 to reject a bill (HR 4414) that would have created an exemption in the Affordable Care Act for health plans for U.S. citizens working abroad. The bipartisan-sponsored bill would have modified regulations under the law so that U.S. citizens working in foreign countries who rely on expatriate insurance plans would be exempt from the ACA’s individual and employer mandates. AP/Sacramento Bee, The Hill‘s “Floor Action.”
Doctors: Newly Released Payment Data Could Be Misleading
Some physicians criticize CMS for releasing Medicare physician payment data without any context, saying that the majority of the Medicare reimbursements they received are passed on to drug companies. Despite the lack of context, some physicians describe the release as a good step toward transparency. Washington Post et al.
House Panel Denounces VA’s Failure To Address Preventable Deaths
Lawmakers on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs criticize Department of Veterans Affairs officials for their failure to address delays in treatment that have resulted in patient deaths. The lawmakers voice support for a bill that would overhaul VA’s firing process, which they say has failed to hold anyone accountable. Sacramento Bee et al.