Latest California Healthline Stories
Editorial Praises High Court’s Human DNA Patent Ruling
A Contra Costa Times editorial argues that the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling last week that biotechnology companies “cannot patent parts of naturally occurring human genes” … “recognized the difference between discovery and innovation.” It concludes, “The court’s reasonable decision should be a boon for medical science and the common good.” Contra Costa Times.
Advocacy Groups To Launch ACA Advertising Campaigns This Week
Advocacy groups Organizing for Action and Enroll America will launch advertising campaigns this week to promote the Affordable Care Act. In addition, OFA plans to hire 800 summer fellows to educate U.S. residents about the law’s benefits. Washington Post‘s “Post Politics” et al.
MedPAC Recommends Fixes for Several Medicare Issues
In its annual report released Friday, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission outlined several problems with the program — including overall spending growth and a wide variance in outpatient therapy spending nationwide — and offered fixes for some of them. The report also recommended bundling payments as a way to reduce Medicare rate variances for four post-acute care settings. New York Times et al.
California Prison Crowding Back Up, Brown’s Lawyers Say
In a monthly progress report to U.S. District courts on Monday, Gov. Brown’s lawyers acknowledged that prison crowding has increased. According to the report, the state’s 33 prisons are now at more than 150% crowding, while three California prisons are at or near 175% crowding. The lawyers said the governor is “drafting legislative language” aimed at reducing prison crowding. However, the state argues that prison medical care has improved despite the overcrowding. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
UC-Davis Medical School Nabs AMA Medical Education Grant
The American Medical Association has selected the UC-Davis School of Medicine as one of 11 medical school recipients of a five-year, $1 million grant to develop and implement a medical education acceleration program. UC-Davis will collaborate with Kaiser Permanente on a joint six-year primary care training and residency program. Sacramento Business Journal.
California Acupuncture Providers Expect Surge in Patients Under ACA
California acupuncture providers say they expect more patients following the state’s decision to list the treatment as an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act. Some acupuncturists are worried that insurer payments will be lower than current payments. HealthyCal.
PwC Report Finds That Health Care Costs Will Increase by 6.5% in 2014
A PricewaterhouseCoopers report published Tuesday finds that health costs will increase by 6.5% in 2014. Authors say the increase is lower than previous estimates and indicates that the slowdown in health spending growth might be a trend rather than a reprieve. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Union Deal To Increase State Worker Costs by $734.8M
A tentative agreement between Gov. Brown and SEIU Local 1000 will add about $734.8 million to the state’s compensation costs from July 2013 through June 2016 for 95,000 employees, according to California Department of Human Resources estimates released last week. Higher health benefits costs will add $271 million alone. Union members must ratify the pact before it can take effect. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Lawyer Warns of Risk of Valley Fever Outbreak to Prison Population
A lawyer for California prison inmates has told a federal judge that thousands of prisoners should be moved immediately because of the threat of valley fever. A state lawyer argues that prisoners should not be moved until CDC completes a study of the issue. AP/Sacramento Bee.
California Faces Several Unique Challenges in ACA Implementation
California faces unique obstacles as it implements the Affordable Care Act. For example, officials are trying to spread the word about the ACA’s benefits, but more than 100 languages are spoken in the state and many residents are located in geographically isolated areas. KPCC’s “Take Two.”