Latest California Healthline Stories
U.S. Adult Uninsured Rate Falls to 15.9%, Gallup Poll Finds
A new Gallup poll shows that the uninsured rate among U.S. adults has fallen by 1.2 percentage points since December 2013, which translates to about three million fewer uninsured residents. Gallup analysts say the Affordable Care Act likely contributed to the drop. AP/Washington Times, Los Angeles Times‘ “Politics Now.”
Campos Plans Proposal To Close Healthy San Francisco Loophole
New legislation planned by San Francisco Supervisor David Campos would change how employers can recoup unused funds from employee health care savings accounts under the city’s Healthy San Francisco program. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee in 2011 vetoed a similar measure by Campos. San Francisco Chronicle.
Kaiser Ranks Highest in California for Health Plan Satisfaction
A new J.D. Power & Associates survey finds that Kaiser Permanente for the seventh-consecutive year received the highest member satisfaction score among all California health plans, with a score of 756 out of 1,000. California health plans had an average member satisfaction score of 680, compared with the national average of 669. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Co.”
UC Doles Out $2.5M in Grants for Health Care Improvement Projects
The University of California has awarded $2.5 million to four projects at its Davis, San Diego and San Francisco campuses. The projects aim to improve health outcomes and decrease costs by reducing lengths of emergency department stays, expanding a smoking cessation program, boosting physician-specialist communications and developing “bundled payment” methods. San Francisco Business Times et al.
UC-Irvine Researchers Help Develop First Blood Test To Detect Alzheimer’s Disease Risk
Researchers from UC-Irvine and other academic institutions have developed a blood test that can identify predictors of Alzheimer’s Disease, which could help determine whether an individual is at risk for the disease before symptoms occur. While there is no cure for the disease, researchers said earlier detection could enable the development of new treatment options. Los Angeles Times‘ “Science Now.”
More Than 100 Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Close in L.A. in Wake of New Law
Yesterday, Los Angeles Attorney Mike Feuer announced that more than 100 medical marijuana dispensaries have closed since a new law took effect last summer that taxes such businesses and requires them to register with the city under several city ordinances dating back to 2007. Despite the closures, the city finance office says more than 300 medical marijuana dispensaries have registered to pay taxes, including nearly 200 with no previous record in the system. AP/Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Some Long-Term Care Plans Lead to Reduced Coverage
Twenty-six states — including California — are implementing programs to support privately managed long-term care plans, which aim to keep individuals in their homes longer and expand alternatives to nursing homes. However, closer examination into Tennessee’s widely touted plan shows the system’s hidden pitfalls, including denials of care after patients’ needs grew to be more costly. New York Times.
Orange County Officials Warn of Measles Exposure After Fifth Resident Is Diagnosed With the Illness
On Friday, Orange County public health officials announced that patients at St. Joseph Hospital might have been exposed to measles earlier in the week. The warning came after a fifth county resident contracted the illness. Orange County Register.
UC-Davis Tests Mobile App Aimed at Detecting Early Signs of Severe Mental Illness Among Youth
A UC-Davis clinic is studying how a smartphone application called Ginger.io could help detect early signs of severe mental illness in young individuals. The app gathers information on incoming phone calls and text messages while allowing users to input symptoms on a daily and weekly basis. The project is funded by a one-year, $588,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Sacramento Business Journal.
1M Uninsured Calif. Residents Ineligible for ACA Subsidies, Medi-Cal
A Sacramento Bee review of census data and guidelines under the Affordable Care Act finds that about one million uninsured California residents will be ineligible to receive federal subsidies or enroll in Medi-Cal because their incomes are too high. Sacramento Bee.