Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Counties, Hospitals Among Best in U.S. for Kids’ Health, Reports Say
A U.S. News & World Report analysis lists 11 California counties among the 50 healthiest counties for children in the U.S. Another report ranks several state children’s hospitals among top performers in areas such as cancer care and endocrinology. U.S. News & World Report.
Sacramento County Reports First West Nile Death in 2013
The California Department of Public Health has announced that a Sacramento County male has become the first human in the state to die from the West Nile virus this year. Details about the man were not released because of health privacy laws. Although the virus had been detected in dead birds in at least six other counties, no human cases — infected or deceased — have been reported anywhere else in the state. Sacramento Bee.
UCLA Program Adds Latinos to Calif. Physician Workforce
Since 2006, at least 66 Latin American physicians have graduated from the UCLA International Medical Graduates Program, which aims to increase the number of Spanish-speaking physicians who have the cultural background to care for the state’s increasing Latino population. Data released this year from the California Department of Finance show that Hispanics — representing 39% of the state’s population — will become the dominant ethnic group in the state by the end of the year. HealthyCal.
Experts Predict Initial ‘Glitches’ in Health Plan Exchange Websites
Experts say there likely will be some initial glitches when health insurance exchanges open for enrollment on Oct. 1. Officials say that building the websites has been a complex task, as the exchanges need to communicate with numerous insurers and other systems. Wall Street Journal.
Brown, Legislative Democrats Reach Agreement on Budget
California Democrats and Gov. Brown have reached an agreement on a fiscal year 2013-2014 budget plan. The agreement would use Brown’s economic forecast from his revised budget plan and boost spending for certain health programs. Sacramento Bee et al.
Optical Workers at Kaiser Reject SEIU Representation
Last week, Northern California optical workers at Kaiser Permanente voted 214 to 103 to reject an offer of representation by the Service Employees International Union. The workers in 2010 voted to leave SEIU and join the National Union of Healthcare Workers-California Nurses Association. Sacramento Business Journal.
Columnist: Higher Premiums OK To Trade for Care Security
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Debra Saunders argues that the Affordable Care Act will lead to higher premiums in the individual market “because in 2014 insurance companies cannot turn down or charge higher rates to people with pre-existing conditions.” She adds, “Plus Obamacare threw in some goodies, such as no co-payments for contraception and preventive care.” Saunders argues, “A lot of uninsured Californians are hungry for the security that health coverage provides. For those people, higher premiums should seem like a reasonable trade-off.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Study: MA Enrollment Has Increased by 30% Since ACA Enactment
A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Mathematica Policy Research finds that Medicare Advantage plan enrollment has increased by 30% since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, despite predictions that ACA cuts would hinder enrollment. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Advocates, Providers Seek Plan To Improve Care for Homeless
Hospital officials and patient advocates in Southern California are seeking to create a plan to improve care for individuals who are homeless and reduce their readmissions. Such patients are among the most frequent users of hospital services in the region. Los Angeles Times.
Report: 1 in 5 Will Buy Coverage via Private Exchanges by 2017
An Accenture Research report finds that about 20% of U.S. residents in the next four years will obtain health coverage through privately operated exchanges. The report cites estimates that 25% of businesses are considering using a private exchange in the next five years. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”