Latest California Healthline Stories
Payment Incentives Can Boost Care, but Long-Term Strategies Needed
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that financial incentives can encourage physicians to improve care quality, but such payments might not be enough to improve care over the long term. Los Angeles Times‘ “Science Now,” Modern Healthcare.
Study Touts Timely Reporting of Income Changes Under ACA
A study by UC-Berkeley, UCLA and the Economic Policy Institute finds that timely reporting of income changes is essential for consumers to avoid owing the federal government expensive refunds for health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Payers & Providers.
Calif. Lawmakers OK Compromise Plan To Reduce Inmate Population
Yesterday, state lawmakers sent to Gov. Brown a compromise plan that would ask for more time to meet a federal court-ordered prison population cap and provide $400 million for inmate rehabilitation services. Brown developed the proposal with state Democrats. Reuters et al.
Valley Fever Hospitalizations Doubled Over Past 12 Years, Study Says
A study published by CDC finds that the number of hospitalizations for valley fever has doubled over the past 12 years in California. Researchers say the increase could be the result of warmer climate conditions, improved reporting methods, better diagnosis or other factors. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Legislature Sends Fracking Bill to Gov. Brown
On Wednesday, the state Senate voted 28-8 to approve a bill that would tighten rules for the drilling process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The bill — by Sen. Fran Pavley — would require state authorities to monitor and report on the public health and environmental effects of the drilling process. The measure now goes to Gov. Brown for consideration. Capitol Weekly et al.
Assembly OKs Bill To Expand Pharmacists’ Role in Calif.
On Wednesday, the Assembly unanimously voted to approve a bill that would expand California pharmacists’ scope of practice to include ordering certain laboratory tests and prescribing smoking-cessation drugs. Supporters of the bill– such as pharmacy schools and Blue Shield of California — say the measure would allow pharmacists to better use their training and help curb health care costs. The bill now returns to the state Senate for a final vote. AP/Sacramento Bee.
EHRs Associated With Fewer Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, Kaiser Study Finds
The use of electronic health records is associated with a decrease in emergency department visits and hospitalizations among patients with diabetes, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Northern California found that EHR implementation was associated with a 10.50% decline in hospitalizations for preventable, ambulatory-care sensitive conditions, or about 7.08 fewer hospitalizations per 1,000 patients annually, and a 5.54% decline in ED visits, from an expected 519.12 per 1,000 patients to 490.32 annually. Medical News Today et al.
House GOP Caucus Split on Alternative Anti-ACA Strategy
On Tuesday, House Republican leaders released a short-term spending resolution for 2014, which would force the Senate to vote on a GOP plan to defund the Affordable Care Act while limiting the risk of a government shutdown. However, the proposal — devised by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor — was met with skepticism by conservative lawmakers seeking a more certain path toward defunding the ACA. The Hill‘s “Floor Action Blog” et al.
Study: Patients Withhold Health Data Because of Concerns About Privacy, Security
About 12% of patients have withheld personal health information from a health care provider because of privacy and security concerns, according to a study published in the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association. Researchers say the findings underscore the need for improved health data security measures. Modern Healthcare‘s “Vital Signs.”
PwC: Health Care Spending To Increase by 4.5% in 2014
A PricewaterhouseCooper’s Health Research Institute report predicts that health care spending will increase by 4.5% in 2014, down from an originally predicted increase of 6.5%. The slowdown was partially attributed to lingering effects of the 2007 economic recession that are continuing to influence consumer behavior. Modern Healthcare‘s “Vital Signs.”