Latest California Healthline Stories
House Approves Bipartisan Budget Deal That Includes ‘Doc Fix’
Yesterday, the House approved a bipartisan budget deal that would delay for three months a 24% cut to Medicare physician reimbursement rates and would eliminate cuts to federal health research. The measure now goes to the Senate, which is expected to pass the bill next week. Los Angeles Times et al.
Calif. Seeks To Use Alternate Vaccine To Combat Meningitis Outbreak
California public health officials say they have asked CDC for permission to use a vaccine that is approved in Europe, but not in the U.S., to combat an outbreak of meningitis at UC-Santa Barbara. The announcement comes after UC officials said four students had been diagnosed with a strain of the disease that does not respond to the U.S.-approved vaccine. Reuters.
About 159,000 Residents Have Signed Up for Covered Calif. Plans
New Covered California data show that about 159,000 people have signed up for health coverage through the exchange since it launched on Oct. 1. However, only 5% of enrollees primarily speak Spanish, even though that group represents 29% of the state’s total population. Los Angeles Times et al.
Editorial Commends Gold Coast for Improvements
A Ventura County Star editorial argues that Gold Coast Health Plan — a Ventura County Medi-Cal plan — “should be commended” for making “remarkable progress” in addressing regulators’ concerns about its financial status, as well as payment delays. However, the editorial notes that more improvement is needed in claims processing and internal auditing. It concludes, “Given what it has achieved so far, Gold Coast looks like it’s come a long way on the road to recovery.” Ventura County Star.
UCLA Researchers Report Positive Response to Telehealth Pilot for Pediatric Obesity
At the Southern California Public Health Association Conference this week, UCLA researchers said that 80% of pediatric patients participating in a telehealth pilot program to treat obesity were satisfied with the service and about 80% said they would participate in a telehealth appointment again. Meanwhile, health care providers said they saw positive benefits from the use of telehealth services, according to the researchers. EHR Intelligence, Medical News Today.
CIRM Earmarks $200M To Take Experimental Stem Cell Treatments to Human Trials
On Wednesday, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine earmarked $200 million to help experimental stem cell treatments reach the human trial stage. Six to eight projects out of 14 currently underway could be selected for the awards, according to CIRM officials. Grant winners must demonstrate by 2017 that their projects could be effective. San Francisco Business Times‘ “BiotechSF.”
Many States Have Boosted Mental Health Funding
Since the mass-casualty shooting at an elementary school last year, three dozen states and the District of Columbia have increased funding for mental health, according to a recent report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The report also found that about 12 states have passed or strengthened laws that allow more people to receive court-ordered treatment for severe mental illnesses. However, researchers predict that an influx of newly insured individuals under the Affordable Care Act could lead to “an acute shortage of mental health workers.” USA Today.
Report: Pediatric Care Varies by Geographic Location
What care children receive varies widely by geographic locations, in part of because of a lack of universal pediatric quality measures, according to a report by the Dartmouth Atlas Project. Researchers found wide regional variations in rates of common surgeries, hospitalizations, imaging, prescriptions and office visits among patients under age 18 who received care in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont between 2007 and 2010. Modern Healthcare, Reuters.
House Rules Committee Adds Three-Month ‘Doc Fix’ to Budget Deal
Yesterday, the House Rules Committee added a three-month Medicare ‘doc fix’ to the 2014 budget deal to give Congress time to negotiate a permanent replacement for the sustainable growth rate formula. Some Democratic lawmakers have threatened to withdraw their support for the budget deal after the SGR fix was added but not a continuation of unemployment benefits. The Hill et al.
Covered Calif. Says 80% of State Physicians Included in Plans
Covered California officials say that more than 80% of California’s practicing physicians are available in health plans offered through the exchange. In addition, officials say that about 360 hospitals are available through such plans. According to the exchange, the numbers are comparable to offerings from commercial networks. KPCC’s “Covering California.”