Latest California Healthline Stories
Poll: Calif. Residents Support Tax, Warning Labels on Sugary Drinks
A recent Field Poll finds that about two-thirds of California residents support imposing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and that nearly 75% support requiring warning labels that note the potential health risks — such as diabetes and obesity — associated with consuming such beverages. Sacramento Bee.
States Spent 31% of Medicaid Funds on 4% of Beneficiaries, GAO Says
Yesterday, the Government Accountability Office released a report that finds states in fiscal year 2009 spent about 31.6% of their total Medicaid funding on 4.3% of “high-expenditure” beneficiaries. However, states varied substantially in their per-capita spending for the high-expenditure group. McKnight’s, National Journal.
Judge Rejects Second Suit Challenging Federal Exchange Subsidies
Yesterday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by four Virginia residents over the legality of providing subsidies to help U.S. residents purchase coverage through the federal exchange. The ruling comes after another federal judge in a similar case also ruled that such subsidies are permitted. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
CalPERS Members Save $21.3M by Switching to Cheaper Health Plans
Nearly 5% of CalPERS members switched to less-expensive health plans in 2014, saving an estimated $21.3 million in annual premiums. The savings come after CalPERS added four additional health plans to its lineup for this year, including Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, Sharp Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare. Sacramento Business Journal.
LAO Report Questions Brown’s Proposal To Spend $500M on Jail Space To Reduce Prison Overcrowding
In a report released Wednesday, the California Legislative Analyst’s Office questioned the inclusion of $500 million in Gov. Brown’s fiscal year 2014-2015 budget proposal to construct more jail space in order to reduce prison overcrowding. LAO noted that 56 facilities across 25 counties have been over capacity, but said the funding should not be dispersed until the state can determine whether counties have “maximized alternatives to creating jail space.” KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Pilot Project Aims To Use Health IT To Expand Access to Care for Older L.A. Residents
The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing in Burbank has launched a pilot project aimed at using health IT to increase access to care for older individuals living in Los Angeles-area affordable housing communities, community health clinics and other institutions. The program will expand access to care using electronic health records, brain fitness software, video conferencing and health kiosks. Clinical Innovation & Technology.
San Diego Biomedical Stocks Increasing in 2014
Biomedical stocks in the San Diego area — including those for some of the largest life science companies — have experienced double-digit increases this year. For example, Illumina — which has a market value over $20 billion — is up nearly 50% in 2014 as of Friday, when shares closed at $164.33. U-T San Diego.
On Tuesday, California public health officials said the state is targeting 10 communities that are at a high risk of running out of drinking water in 60 days and are facing other health and safety problems related to the drought. During a legislative hearing on the drought, the officials said they would send water to the communities by truck on an as-needed basis and help lay pipes connecting residents with nearby public water systems. Reuters.
Study: Online Physician Ratings Valuable to Patients
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that 59% of respondents say physician-rating websites are at least “somewhat important” when selecting a physician. Although that figure has increased from a few years ago, U.S. residents still prioritize other factors, such as location and insurance coverage, when selecting a doctor. Reuters et al.
Democrats, Insurers Back White House in ACA Subsidies Lawsuit
This week, several prominent Democrats and America’s Health Insurance Plans filed separate amicus briefs expressing their support for the Obama administration in a case challenging the legality of subsidies in the federal insurance exchange. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the lawsuit next month. Washington Times et al.