Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Care Workers Arrested at UC Regents Meeting
At a UC Regents meeting on Wednesday, 13 health care workers were arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly during a sit-down protest where they threatened to strike at the system’s medical centers. AFSCME 3299 — the union that represents about 13,000 patient-care technical workers — last week voted to authorize the two-day strike for May 21 and 22. However, UC is seeking a court injunction to block the planned strike, arguing that it would harm patients. Los Angeles Times.
Study: Many Mobile Pain Apps Lack Input From Physicians
Many mobile health applications offering advice and treatment for pain were developed without obvious input from a medical professional, according to a study by Ohio State University researchers. According to the study, one-third of 222 pain management-related apps had no obvious input from a health care professional, while one-third of such apps had an indeterminate amount of input from a medical professional. Researchers say that the findings underscore the need for better oversight of mobile health apps. American Medical News.
Inmates’ Lawyers Ask Judges To Find Brown, Beard in Contempt
Lawyers for inmates have asked federal judges to find Gov. Brown and prison official Jeffrey Beard in contempt of court for not meeting a prison population cap. Earlier this week, Brown filed a notice of appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court over a decision to uphold the cap. Contra Costa Times.
UC-San Diego Launches Center for Brain Mapping
On Thursday, UC-San Diego launched the Center for Brain Activity Mapping. The center is designed to be a focal point for the Obama administration’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative, which could become a long-term, multibillion-dollar effort to develop tools for scientists to simultaneously see and study upward of one million brain cells. U-T San Diego.
Counties Struggle To Prepare for Influx of Mental Health Patients
Mental health providers in the Central Valley region still are in the planning stages of preparing for an influx of patients under the Affordable Care Act. Some providers say they are waiting on the federal government for more guidance on expanding services. HealthyCal.
Opinion: Study Suggests ACA Might Not Boost Public Health
In an Orange County Register opinion piece, columnist Robert Samuelson writes that a recent Oregon Medicaid study that found no physical health benefits among Medicaid beneficiaries compared with uninsured individuals shows that “health status and insurance are only loosely connected.” He adds that the findings suggest that the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act “may result in more spending and health services but few gains in the public’s health.” Orange County Register.
Repealing the Affordable Care Act Would Drive Up Federal Deficit, CBO Says
According to Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf, a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act could increase the federal deficit by at least $109 billion over 10 years. The House is scheduled to vote today on a bill that would eliminate the ACA. The Hill‘s “Floor Action Blog” et al.
iPads Fell Short of Residents’ Expectations, Study Finds
Internal medicine residents generally are satisfied with the use of iPads in clinical settings but say that the tablet computers fell short of their expectations for performing certain tasks, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. The researchers wrote, “[I]ntroducing any new technology can result in inflated expectations,” adding, “Careful management of these expectations while promoting champions of use will be necessary to create an environment of successful” mobile health technology adoption. FierceMobileHealthcare.
U.S. Senate Confirms Tavenner as Permanent CMS Administrator
On Wednesday, the Senate voted 91-7 to confirm Marilyn Tavenner as CMS administrator. Tavenner — former Virginia health secretary — has been serving as CMS’ acting administrator since 2011. The confirmation marks the agency’s first permanent chief since 2006. Reuters et al.
Advocates Think U.S. Senate Is Closer To Repealing SGR
Physician advocates expressed optimism that a U.S. Senate hearing on replacing the sustainable growth rate formula held Tuesday will pave the way toward permanently resolving the issue. The SGR sets Medicare physician reimbursement rates. Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus and Sen. Orrin Hatch — the committee’s ranking member — recently have escalated the debate on a replacement formula. Modern Healthcare.