Latest California Healthline Stories
Hospital-Acquired Infections Decreased in Calif. Hospitals, Data Show
Data released by the California Department of Public Health find that the number of hospital-acquired infections — such as MRSA and central line infections — at state health care facilities decreased slightly from 2011 to 2012. The report attributes the drop in central line infections in part to hand washing and other efforts to reduce such infections. Payers & Providers.
Statewide Poll Finds Californians Split on the Affordable Care Act
A poll by the Public Policy Institute of California finds that 44% of state residents support the Affordable Care Act, while 44% oppose it. Meanwhile, 72% of uninsured Californians ages 18 to 44 said they likely will purchase insurance under the law, compared with 51% of uninsured respondents age 45 and older. San Jose Mercury News et al.
California Democrats Say GOP Website Misleads Public on ACA
Certain Democratic lawmakers in California want an Affordable Care Act website developed by the Assembly GOP Caucus taken down, saying it contains misleading information. A spokesperson for the caucus says that the group still supports it and that the Assembly Rules Committee has approved mailers directing people to the site. Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
Blue Shield Foundation Offers $10.7M in Q4 Grants
Blue Shield of California Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the insurer — is doling out $10.7 million in fourth-quarter grants, bringing the total grant amount this year to $31.4 million. According to officials, many of the grants seek to expand access to care under the Affordable Care Act. The largest Q4 grants were $3.25 million to the Tides Center and $600,000 to the California Department of Public Health. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Three California Cities Vote To Ban or Regulate Sales of Electronic Cigarettes
On Tuesday, Richmond and Carlsbad city councils voted to ban electronic cigarettes from public places, such as parks and restaurants. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors and require vendors to obtain a license before selling such products. AP/Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Editorial Urges VA To Reduce Use of Opiates, Says Overprescribing a Big Concern for Calif.
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that the Department of Veterans Affairs should ensure that all of its medical centers and clinics are taking the steps necessary to reduce the use of opiates. According to the editorial, “[I]t appears that many doctors and administrators are seeking an easy way out by overprescribing painkillers, endangering the health of people wounded in war.” It argues that overprescribing pain medication “is a big issue for California, which has the most veterans of any state — 2.2 million — with their ranks growing by an estimated 30,000 a year.” Sacramento Bee.
Source Says 29K Enrolled in Two Days via HealthCare.gov
About 29,000 U.S. residents enrolled in health coverage through HealthCare.gov on Sunday and Monday, the first two days after the revamped website was launched, according to an unnamed source. The two-day enrollment figure — which represents people who have selected a plan but not necessarily paid their first month’s premium — surpasses the 26,000 people who enrolled in coverage through HealthCare.gov in all of October. In November, just over 100,000 signed up for health coverage on the federal exchange site. Politico.
House Bill Would Boost Digital Health in Federal Programs
Rep. Scott Peters has introduced legislation that aims to increase the use of digital health technologies in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs as part of an effort to reduce health care costs. The bill would create a commission to collect and examine data on using digital health technologies. The panel then would issue a report recommending ways to integrate such tools into federal health programs. MobiHealthNews, U-T San Diego.
About 1.5M Americans Deemed Eligible for Medicaid, CHIP in October
A CMS report released yesterday says that nearly 1.5 million U.S. residents were found to be eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program in October through the state or federal health insurance exchanges. Among states that are expanding their Medicaid programs, California had the most eligibility determinations, with 149,098 state residents deemed eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Fourth UC-Santa Barbara Student Diagnosed With Meningitis
Santa Barbara officials and CDC are discussing whether to allow the use of a meningitis vaccine not yet approved in the U.S. following four UC-Santa Barbara students being diagnosed with the disease. The strain of the disease affecting the students typically is found in other parts of the world and cannot be treated with the U.S.-approved vaccine. Reuters, AP/U-T San Diego.