Latest California Healthline Stories
Planned Ballot Measure Would Raise State’s Medical Malpractice Cap
Lawyers and consumer groups are collecting signatures to qualify a ballot initiative that would increase the limits on medical malpractice compensation in California from $250,000 to about $1.1 million. Supporters have raised about $1.7 million for the effort, while opponents have raised about $33 million. Los Angeles Times.
Ark. House Fails To Renew Funding for Alternative Medicaid Expansion
Yesterday, the Arkansas House fell five votes short of passing an appropriations bill that would have continued funding the state’s Medicaid expansion plan for a second year. House Speaker Davy Carter said the chamber will take up the legislation again today and each day of the current session until the measure is passed. Wall Street Journal et al.
CalPERS Board Votes To Phase In Rate Hike Beginning This Year
Yesterday, the CalPERS board voted to immediately take into account longer life spans when calculating taxpayer contribution rates to the pension fund. As a result, higher rates will take effect July 1 and be phased in over three years. Gov. Brown applauded the board’s decision. Sacramento Bee, Reuters.
Bill To Expand Health Coverage in California Gets Mixed Review
A new bill that seeks to provide health coverage to undocumented immigrants has prompted mixed reaction from observers. Health Access says the bill would save the state money by providing preventive services for such individuals, while the Federation for Immigration Reform opposes the measure. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
Rady, UC-San Diego Partner With Scripps To Treat Cancer Patients at New Proton Therapy Center
During the grand opening ceremony for a new $220 million proton therapy center, Scripps Health is expected to announce a new affiliation with Rady Children’s Hospital and UC-San Diego Health System that will allow providers to treat their own cancer patients in the new facility. The first cancer patient was treated at the center on Feb. 12. U-T San Diego.
L.A. City Attorney Files Suit Against Assisted-Living Centers
A lawsuit filed by Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer alleges that two assisted-living facilities — Agape Mission House and Agape Home Church — are not licensed and offer inadequate living conditions. At the request of Feuer’s office, a Los Angeles County Superior Court has appointed a receiver to relocate residents at the two facilities. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Kaiser Permanente Reports $2.7B in Profits for 2013
On Friday, Kaiser Permanente released financial documents showing it earned $2.7 billion profits during 2013 on $53.1 billion in operating revenue. In addition, net income was 3.8% higher in 2013 than in 2012. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Report: Data Sharing Pilot Helped Hospitals Save $11B
A new report finds that Premier’s quality improvement initiative — called QUEST — helped hospitals save more than$11.7 billion and avoid 136,375 deaths over five-and-a-half-year period. Participating hospitals use Premier’s integrated technology platform and social networking community to share patient data and connect with other providers. Charlotte Business Journal, Healthcare IT News.
Calif. Officials Issue Warning About Measles Exposure
On Thursday, public health officials in Contra Costa County said an unvaccinated UC-Berkeley student infected with measles could have exposed thousands of individuals to the disease by attending classes and commuting on the area’s public transit system between Feb. 4 and Feb. 7. Officials said the student likely contracted the illness while traveling in Asia and urged anyone experiencing symptoms to immediately contact their health care provider. AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution et al.
Covered Calif. Latino Enrollment Efforts Flawed, Observers Say
Efforts by Covered California to attract Latino residents have fallen short, in part because of flawed advertising campaigns and other outreach problems, observers say. For example, the wording in some television ads has not been as effective once translated to Spanish. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money & Co.,” KQED’s “The California Report.”