Latest California Healthline Stories
Poll Finds Disconnect Between Obesity Data, Parents’ Beliefs
Only 15% of parents believe their children are “a little” or “very” overweight, despite data that show that about one-third of children and teens are overweight and obese, according to a new poll from the Harvard School of Public Health, NPR and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. KPCC’s “On Central.”
ACA Support Among Democrats Drops by 15 Points, KFF Poll Finds
A poll finds that Affordable Care Act support among Democrats has fallen 15 points since November 2012. It also finds that 42% of respondents incorrectly believe the law provides coverage to undocumented immigrants. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” KFF Health Tracking Poll.
Lawmakers Might Have Time To Avert Medicare Payment Cuts
The Medicare payment reductions under sequestration are not slated to take effect until April 1. Many health care providers hope the one-month delay means lawmakers will have enough time to pass legislation to avoid the cuts. Modern Healthcare, MedPage Today.
Long-Term Care Insurer Will Charge Women Higher Rates
Genworth Financial — the nation’s largest long-term care coverage provider — has said it will begin charging women higher premiums this spring. Genworth will implement a gender-pricing policy in all but two states that prohibit such pricing practices: Colorado and Montana. The company said the new policy will apply only to women who purchase new individual policies, or about 10% of all purchasers. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.
5.3M Californians Drew Government Assistance in 2011, Report Finds
A Census Bureau report finds that about 5.3 million state residents in 2011 received income-based government assistance, such as Medi-Cal benefits. The number is the highest of all states, but it represents only about 19% of California residents. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
Official Downplays Threat of L.A. County TB Outbreak
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director and Health Officer Jonathan Fielding assured area residents that a tuberculosis outbreak in the county is limited to the Skid Row neighborhood and that it is “not a threat to the public at large.” There have been nearly 80 TB cases and 11 deaths since 2007. KPCC’s “Blog Downtown.”
No-Cost Clinics Offer Dental Care for Low-Income, Uninsured Kids
No-cost dental health providers like Christina’s Smile Children’s Dental Clinic are seeking to boost access to treatment for low-income and uninsured children in California and other states. The traveling clinic follows the PGA tour each year to visit low-income communities. HealthyCal.
Oregon Governor Develops Plan for Medicaid Overhaul
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber is working on a Medicaid proposal estimated to save the federal government $10 billion over a decade. The plan — which Kitzhaber discussed at the National Governor’s Association meeting last week — would replace Medicaid’s traditional fee-for-service operations and divide Oregon into 15 regions that each receive a fixed budget. Kitzhaber said that a number of governors have expressed interest in his proposal. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”
Study: Facebook ‘Likes’ Could Indicate Hospital Quality
The number of “likes” on a hospital’s Facebook page could be an indicator of hospital quality and patient satisfaction, according to a study published in the American Journal of Medical Quality. The study — which examined 40 hospitals located in the New York City metropolitan area — found that hospitals’ Facebook “likes” had a negative association with mortality rates and a positive association with patient recommendation. FierceHealthIT, HIT Lab release.
Senate To Vote on Rival Proposals To Avoid Cuts Under Sequestration
This week, the Senate is expected to vote on a Democratic and a GOP proposal to avoid mandated cuts under sequestration. Neither proposal is expected to pass. The sequester would reduce Medicare reimbursement rates as well as funding for CDC, NIH and other areas. The Hill et al.