Latest California Healthline Stories
Uninsured Rate Falls to Lowest Point in a Year, Poll Finds
The new Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey finds that the rate of uninsured U.S. adults dropped by 1.2 percentage points between December 2013 and this month, to 16.1%. The survey notes that it marks the lowest uninsured rate since December 2012. The Hill‘s “Briefing Room” et al.
CMS Reports Jump in Eligibility Determinations for Medicaid, CHIP
Yesterday, CMS announced that between Oct. 1, 2013, and the end of December 2013 state-run agencies and exchanges determined that more than 6.3 million U.S. residents were eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. HHS touted the data as proof that more states should participate in the Medicaid expansion. CNBC et al.
Brown Highlights ACA, Medical Research in State of State Speech
During his State of the State address yesterday, Gov. Brown highlighted California’s medical research industry, efforts to implement the Affordable Care Act and the state’s future health care costs. Brown also touted the state’s efforts to reduce the prison population, as called for under a federal court order. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News” et al.
Anthem Blue Cross Leading Insurers in Covered California Enrollees
Data released Tuesday by Covered California show that nearly a third of new enrollees through Covered California selected a health plan from Anthem Blue Cross. Blue Shield of California had the next highest share of enrollees through the exchange, followed by Kaiser Permanente and Health Net. Los Angeles Times‘ “Money& Co.”
The San Diego shipbuilding industry has collected 52,000 signatures in an effort to overturn the newly approved Barrio Logan Community Plan, which aimed to create a buffer zone between the residential neighborhood and the working waterfront to protect residents’ health. The city council now has the option of rescinding its approval of the plan or putting the measure up for vote on the June citywide ballot. Meanwhile, the Environmental Health Coalition last month filed a lawsuit challenging the ballot initiative, alleging that supporters paid for signatures and actively lied about the plan and its effects. HealthyCal.
Survey: U.S. Latinos Report That Costs, Diabetes Are Their Top Health Care Concerns
Thirty-one percent of Latino immigrants said they had a serious problem paying for health insurance in the last year, and more than 25% said they had a serious problem paying for health care bills and prescription drugs, according to a new survey from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. Meanwhile, the Latino survey respondents said that diabetes is the most concerning health issue for them and their families. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
CMS Offers Tactics To Curb Medicaid ED Visits Under ACA
On Tuesday, CMS outlined strategies states and care providers can adopt to mitigate a potential increase in emergency department visits by individuals who are newly eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Some of the strategies include directing patients who would otherwise go to an ED to more appropriate care settings and broadening access to primary care services by creating more medical and health home programs. Modern Healthcare.
Internet-Based Surveillance Models Show Promise in Detecting Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Internet-based surveillance, such as mining Google searches, can detect outbreaks of infectious diseases as much as two weeks earlier than traditional surveillance methods, according to a research review published in The Lancet Infections Diseases. Researchers said the search-based models are more effective than traditional tracking because of their ability to capture people engaging in self-treatment. Psych Central News, Pacific Standard.
CalPERS Expected To Begin Considering Longer Life Spans When Calculating Taxpayer Contribution Rates
The California Public Employees Retirement System is expected to vote during its February board meeting to begin using longer life spans when calculating taxpayer contribution rates to the pension fund. The increase in contributions is expected to range from 2.5% to 6.4% of payroll at the end of a five-year phase-in period. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Studies Show FDA’s Approval Process Varies for Devices, Rx Drugs
Research published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that FDA-approved prescription drugs and medical devices undergo varying degrees and forms of testing, with some drugs receiving approval after only one large-scale clinical trial. Washington Post et al.