Latest California Healthline Stories
80% of Exchange Enrollees Have Paid Premiums, NYT Analysis Finds
A New York Times analysis finds that health insurers have received first month premium payments from about four-fifths of U.S. residents who signed up for coverage through the state and federal health insurance exchanges. A CMS official was unable to verify the finding. New York Times, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
New Computer System Delays Licensing of Calif. Nursing Graduates
Many applications for nursing licenses in California have been delayed for up to 90 days because a computer system managed by the state Department of Consumer Affairs cannot yet accept online applications. The agency said it would add more staff to address the backlog of applications, but an Assembly member has called for an audit of the system. Los Angeles Times.
Global Initiative Launched To Prevent, Respond to Infectious Diseases
Yesterday, the U.S. and 26 other countries launched a new effort, called the Global Health Security Agenda, to better address infectious diseases. Under the initiative, the U.S. this year will spend $40 million to improve diagnostic testing and other related efforts in 10 countries. Reuters et al.
Between 2010 and 2012, children ages five to 14 made up a third of pertussis — or whooping cough — cases in Los Angeles County, according to the county Department of Public Health. Officials say the spike in whooping cough among older children raises new questions about how often children should receive the pertussis vaccine. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
State Senate Committee Hearing Focuses on Childhood Obesity, Obesity-Related Costs
During a state Senate Health Committee hearing on Wednesday, California Department of Public Health officials and other health experts testified that obesity-related health care costs the country more than $15.2 billion annually. In addition, they told lawmakers that 33% of California children are obese. Ventura County Star.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of February 14, 2014
Dignity Health recently awarded more than $846,000 in grants to boost community health and reduce population health disparities in Sacramento. Kaiser Permanente has broken ground on a $900 million, 450-bed hospital in San Diego — the health system’s second hospital in San Diego and the first it has built in 40 years.
UC-Davis Receives $800K for Brain Development Research
On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $800,000 to UC-Davis for research on the effects of toxic chemicals on brain development. The funding was part of a $3 million grant that was split between UC-Davis, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla and two other institutions. Sacramento Business Journal.
Hazardous Cosmetics Database Falling Short, Experts Say
Several cosmetics experts say that the new California State Cosmetics Program Product Database missed information from possibly hundreds of cosmetics companies that are circumventing the law or failing to update their ingredients on the site. The database aims to help consumers determine which cosmetic products contain harmful chemicals. Contra Costa Times.
Plan To Restructure Illinois Medicaid Program Would Save CMS $2B Over Five Years
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has announced a five-year, $5.2 billion plan to restructure the state Medicaid program’s health care delivery and payment systems by coordinating the care of about 500,000 more residents who will enroll by 2017 under the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. If CMS approves the plan, Quinn said it could save CMS about $2 billion over five years and reduce Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program beneficiaries’ emergency department visits in the state by 20% by the third year. Modern Healthcare.
CalPERS Staff Recommend Increasing Rates in FY 2016-2017
Yesterday, CalPERS staff members dismissed a push by Gov. Brown to immediately increase retirees’ contribution rates and instead recommended that the rates be increased over a five-year period beginning in fiscal year 2016-2017. The CalPERS board is expected to vote Tuesday on the recommendation. Sacramento Bee.