Latest California Healthline Stories
Study Finds Challenges To Obtaining Specialized Pediatric Care in Calif.
A UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study finds that California children experience more difficulties obtaining sub-specialized pediatric care than children in any other state. The study also finds disparities in access to such care related to factors such as geography, race and ethnicity. HealthyCal.
Survey: Fewer Calif. Firms Offer Health Insurance to Workers
A survey finds that the proportion of state employers offering health insurance declined signficantly from 2002 to 2012. It also finds that health insurance costs have increased by nearly 170% since 2002. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” California HealthCare Foundation release.
Calif. EPA Identifies 10 Areas With Highest Pollution Levels
In a report released Tuesday, the California Environmental Protection Agency identified the 10 ZIP codes with the highest pollution levels. Seven of the ZIP codes on the list are in San Joaquin Valley and three are in the Los Angeles region. Cal EPA also unveiled CalEnviroScreen, a comprehensive online tool designed to help planners identify regions with high levels of pollution and direct cleanup funding to them. Sacramento Bee, AP/Stockton Record.
PCORI Announces $68M To Fund Two National Research Networks
Yesterday, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute announced that it plans to spend $68 million to fund two research networks that will help scientists conduct clinical trials and comparative-effectiveness studies using data gathered through physician visits. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog” et al.
Draft Bill Would Create U.S. Rx Drug Tracking System
A bipartisan group of senators has released a draft bill that would create a nationwide electronic system to track the distribution of prescription drugs. The proposed measure would require every entity in the prescription drug supply chain to provide electronic transaction information during ownership changes, strengthen licensing requirements for wholesale drug distributors and require FDA to maintain a database of such distributors. Philadelphia Inquirer’s “PhillyPharma”, Politico‘s “Pulse.”
Senate Panel Rejects Two Retiree Health Benefits Bills
On Monday, a Senate committee voted 3-2, along party lines, in two separate votes to reject bills related to retiree health care benefits. The first bill would have required state workers hired on or after Jan. 1, 2015, to work 15 years to qualify for 50% of their retiree health benefits costs and 25 years for full coverage. The second bill would have required the Controller’s Office to assess the cost of buying out state workers’ vested retiree health care benefits. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Baby Boomer Suicides in Calif. Climbed in Previous Decade
The suicide rate for California residents born between 1946 and 1964 increased by 30% during the decade ending in 2010, according to the state Department of Public Health. The agency found that rates increased significantly in the Sacramento region, where about 140 baby boomers committed suicide in 2010, or 25 of every 100,000 residents in the age group. Sacramento Bee.
AMA Initiative To Combat Heart Disease, Diabetes
On Monday, the American Medical Association launched an initiative to reduce deaths and health care spending related to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. AMA President Jeremy Lazarus said the group has appropriated $6 million for the first year of the initiative, which could continue for 10 or more years. Modern Healthcare.
White House Issues Veto Warning on GOP Bill To Extend High-Risk Pools
According to a White House statement, President Obama would veto Republican-sponsored legislation that aims to extend the Affordable Care Act’s temporary high-risk insurance pool program by diverting about $4 billion from the ACA’s Public Health and Prevention Fund. AP/U-T San Diego et al.
UCLA Becomes First UC School To Implement Tobacco Ban
On Monday, UCLA implemented a new tobacco-free policy, making it the first UC campus to prohibit tobacco products. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block in a letter to the campus said, “Implementing a tobacco-free policy beginning on Earth Day will underscore the benefits that this new policy will bring to the well-being of our entire community.” Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”