Latest California Healthline Stories
White House: ACA Helping Economy, Slowing Health Care Spending
On Monday, the White House released new data showing that the Affordable Care Act has helped strengthen the U.S. economy and slow the growth of health care costs. The data counter recent criticism by the GOP that the ACA has negatively affected the economy and jobs. Reuters et al.
Survey: L.A. Seniors Confident About Health, Despite Chronic Ailments
A nationwide survey by the National Council on Aging finds that 90% of seniors living in Los Angeles are confident that they will maintain a high quality of life as they age. However, 70% of such seniors reported having two or more chronic conditions and nearly 50% said that they did not set any health goals in the past year. Los Angeles Times, NCOA survey.
Health Care Services Lacking at Corcoran State Prison, Report Finds
A report by independent investigators finds that medical care at Corcoran State Prison is lacking, putting the health and safety of inmates at risk. Issues found by investigators include the failure of medical staffers to wash their hands before treating patients and the storing of medical supplies and devices in unsanitary conditions. KPCC’s “Represent!”
Investigation Finds Fraud Activity at Southern California Drug Clinics
A yearlong investigation by the Center for Investigative Reporting and CNN finds that the Drug Medi-Cal Treatment Program over the past two years has awarded nearly $100 million to 56 clinics in Southern California that have participated in fraudulent billing practices. The amount represents half of all public funding for the Medi-Cal program. Center for Investigative Reporting.
Calif. Attorney General Honors Burbank Police Department’s Mental Health Program
At a ceremony last week, California Attorney General Kamala Harris commended the Burbank Police Department’s mental health evaluation team for its response to an uptick in mental health calls citywide, which increased from 293 calls in 2008 to 567 in 2012. The goal of the team is to provide long-term care — including case management — to individuals with chronic mental health illness, substance misuse, homelessness and criminal history. Los Angeles Times.
State Continues To Block Ventura County Medi-Cal Partnership With AmericasHealth Plan
A California Department of Health Care Services deputy director has confirmed that the agency will continue to block a contractual partnership under which Gold Coast Health Plan, the Medi-Cal managed care system for Ventura County, would pay AmericasHealth, an HMO, an unspecified flat rate to handle Medi-Cal services and tasks for some county patients. DHCS originally blocked the arrangement in November, citing Gold Coast’s financial difficulties. Gold Coast leaders say they have overcome most financial hurdles — netting $1.4 million in May — but the department said, “Gold Coast doesn’t have the resources to devote to [the partnership] right now.” Ventura County Star.
GAO Report Finds Ineffective Health IT Projects Cost Federal Government Billions
Missed deadlines and overspending on several federal health IT projects have cost the government billions of dollars in recent years, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last week. According to the report, the federal government has “achieved little of the productivity improvements that private industry has realized from IT,” despite spending more than $600 billion on IT investments. The report also found that 154 IT investments totaling $10.4 billion currently are considered “at risk,” meaning the projects either “need attention” or have “significant concerns.” FierceHealthIT, Wall Street Journal.
Rep. McCarthy To Head Valley Fever Task Force
On Wednesday, Rep. Kevin McCarthy announced that he will co-chair the 14-member Congressional Valley Fever Task Force, which will seek to raise awareness about the fungus-based disease. The task force will consist of lawmakers from California, Arizona and Texas, three states that have seen outbreaks of the disease. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Nevada Mental Health Facility Waives Right To Appeal Loss of Accreditation
Last week, officials at Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas said the facility would waive its right to appeal a preliminary denial of accreditation by a Joint Commission panel. The decision means that the facility and its affiliated programs are no longer accredited. The Joint Commission issued the denial after investigating the facility for busing patients with mental illnesses to California and other states. Sacramento Bee.
Obama Dismisses GOP’s ACA Attacks, Says Law Will Be Popular
In a New York Times interview last week, President Obama dismissed GOP attacks and criticism against the Affordable Care Act, saying the law would become more popular among voters once fully implemented. In related news, White House aides and ACA supporters met to discuss a more aggressive ACA outreach strategy. New York Times et al.