Latest California Healthline Stories
Brown Signs Bill Granting Businesses Grace Period Under Prop. 65
Gov. Brown has signed legislation that gives businesses a two-week grace period to comply with Prop. 65, which requires organizations to post signs if goods or premises are contaminated with chemicals known to cause birth defects or cancer. The law also allows business owners to pay a fine to avoid legal action for minor violations of Prop. 65. Sacramento Business Journal.
Calif. Community Health Clinics Face New Challenges Under ACA
Safety-net clinics located in California stand to gain more Medi-Cal beneficiaries under the Affordable Care Act’s program expansion. However, the facilities also could lose patients who obtain private health coverage through the health reform law and might face lower reimbursements from commercial insurers. HealthyCal.
USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Raw Chicken From Certain California Facilities
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a public health alert for raw chicken packaged at three Foster Farms facilities in California. Public health officials have linked the chicken to illnesses in 278 individuals over the past six months. Although a salmonella outbreak connected with the chicken has spread to 18 states, most of the reported illnesses have been in California. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Hospitals, Insurers Focus on ED Super-Users To Help Curb Costs
New requirements under the Affordable Care Act are prompting hospitals and insurers to address the problem of emergency department “super-utilizers,” who were among the 1% of patients responsible for 21% of the nearly $1.3 trillion spent on health care in 2010. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.
Repairs Made to Covered Calif. Website Over the Weekend
Covered California officials shut down the online marketplace over the weekend for general maintenance after problems were reported during the first week of open enrollment. Yesterday, officials added to the site a directory of doctors and hospitals affiliated with each exchange plan. Los Angeles Times, KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Sen. Hill Argues Brown Should Sign Biosimilar Bill
In a Sacramento Bee viewpoint, Sen. Jerry Hill argues that a bill awaiting action by Gov. Brown desk would expand access to biosimilar medications, which are a lower-cost version of medications called biologics. The measure — authored by Hill — would allow pharmacists to dispense less-expensive biosimilars when physicians prescribe biologic medication. Hill said, “Since the FDA could authorize the use of biosimilars anytime in the coming years, it’s imperative that California have the regulatory framework in place to allow these lower-cost medications to be dispensed to patients as soon as possible.” Sacramento Bee.
On Monday, Bay Area Rapid Transit union leaders said they would not issue a 72-hour notice for a second strike, hoping to resolve contract negotiations on issues such as pensions and health care benefits. BART employees could strike if a deal is not reached by Oct. 11, when a cooling-off period ordered by Gov. Brown expires. The BART Board of Directors has scheduled possible special meetings every business day this week in case a deal is reached and a vote is needed. Contra Costa Times, AP/KPCC.
Study Finds Significant Increase in Electronic Prescribing Since 2008, but Barriers Remain
Electronic prescribing grew increased from 7% in 2008 to 54% in 2012, according to a study conducted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and published in the American Journal of Managed Care. However, the study noted that providers face certain barriers to e-prescribing, such as connectivity and cost issues. Clinical Innovation & Technology et al.
Two Calif. Researchers Part of Trio That Nabs Nobel Prize
On Monday, two California researchers were named among three joint winners of the 2013 Nobel Prize in medicine. Randy Schekman of UC-Berkeley, Thomas Südhof of Stanford University and James Rothman of Yale University were recognized for their discoveries related to the transportation of hormones, enzymes and other chemicals in human cells. Reuters.
Obama Urges Patience With Exchange Glitches; Fixes Made
Over the weekend, President Obama acknowledged that the online portal for the federal health insurance exchange has experienced some glitches but said that consumers should not “give up” on trying to purchase coverage. Meanwhile, the federal exchange site was taken offline during “off-peak hours” over the weekend for repairs. New York Times et al.