Latest California Healthline Stories
Group Expands Overused, Unnecessary Treatments List
The American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation has added 90 new items to a list of health care tests and procedures that it considers unnecessary or overused. New recommendations include waiting six weeks to do imaging for lower-back pain, unless certain warning signs are present, and not ordering annual electrocardiograms for low-risk patients without symptoms. The list was released through the group’s “Choosing Wisely” campaign. Wall Street Journal.
San Diego County Flu Rates Dropped Sharply Last Week
Influenza rates in San Diego County dropped by 54% last week, according to new data. The data show that the number of confirmed flu cases in the county decreased from 834 two weeks ago to 382 last week. Wilma Wooten — public health officer for the county — said the findings might indicate that the flu season is winding down. U-T San Diego.
CalPERS Issues Notices of Planned 85% Rate Hike for Long-Term Care Plans
More than 110,000 individuals with CalPERS long-term care insurance are being notified of an 85% increase in premiums beginning in 2015. CalPERS officials say that the rate hikes are necessary to avoid financial shortfalls in the program in decades to come. Los Angeles Times.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of February 22, 2013
Dominican Hospital plans to close its Frederick Street rehabilitation campus as part of ongoing efforts to meet state seismic safety requirements. Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital plans to use a $43,775 donation from Spirit of Children to purchase new telehealth tools.
Private Firms Win Contracts To Build Exchange Infrastructure
A number of large private firms — including Deloitte Consulting and Xerox — have won multimillion-dollar contracts to build IT infrastructure for federal and state health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. For example, California has awarded Accenture a $359 million contract to develop infrastructure for its exchange. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules.”
CDC Aims To Help L.A. County Probe, Combat TB Outbreak
CDC scientists have been dispatched to Los Angeles County to help officials investigate and stop a tuberculosis outbreak that has claimed 11 lives since 2007. Of the 78 cases identified, 60 were among homeless individuals living in or near the Skid Row neighborhood. Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal.
Flu Vaccine Effective for Only 9% of Seniors This Season, CDC Finds
A new CDC analysis finds that this season’s influenza vaccine was effective for about 56% of all recipients but only 9% of recipients age 65 and older. According to a CDC epidemiologist, the flu-related hospitalization rate among seniors reached a record high this season. Reuters et al.
Brown Expected To Meet With Governors on ACA, Medicaid
During the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., this weekend, Gov. Brown is expected to talk with other governors about strategies for ensuring that the federal government covers the full cost of the initial Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. California is one of 11 states with the largest percentage of uninsured residents; the other 10 are GOP-governed states. Los Angeles Times, KPCC’s “Represent!”
California Among States Receiving Payment, Care Delivery Awards
HHS has announced that 25 states, including California, will receive a total of nearly $300 million in awards to design and test new payment and health care delivery models for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Modern Healthcare et al.
White House Issues Final Rule on ACA’s Essential Health Benefits
Yesterday, the Obama administration released a final rule detailing 10 categories of essential health benefits that most health plans must offer under the Affordable Care Act. The rule expands coverage for mental health care and several other services. Reuters et al.