Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Problems With Health IT Can Threaten Patient Safety
Certain health information technology-related problems can threaten patient safety, according to a report by the ECRI Institute Patient Safety Organization. The report identified five major problem areas, such as inadequate data being transferred between two health IT systems and data being entered in the wrong patient’s electronic health record. FierceHealthIT, Healthcare IT News.
Pollution Causing Problems for Bay Area Kids With Asthma
Bay Area children with asthma are being exposed to rising pollution and other environmental factors that could irritate their airways and trigger an attack. Many of the Bay Area counties are home to pollution-generating industries or are located near jammed freeways and power plants. Oakland Tribune/San Jose Mercury News.
Columnist Touts Fiscal Benefits of Health Reform for California
Columnist Thomas Elias writes that Affordable Care Act implementation in California will lead to “[c]overage for many hundreds of thousands of the previously uninsured,” as well as “savings both to low-income individuals and the state that together will mount well into the billions.” Ventura County Star.
Sacramento Schools’ Budgets Take a Hit From Flu, Norovirus
Sacramento County school districts’ budgets have been affected by a drop in student attendance rates amid flu and norovirus outbreaks, according to an analysis by the Sacramento Bee. The Bee found that the districts — which receive portions of their funding from the state based on average daily attendance — lose between $28 and $39.60 per day for each absent student. Sacramento Bee.
Steinberg Visits New York To Push for Mental Health Care Funding
Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg has traveled to New York City to advocate for increased mental health services funding nationwide. Steinberg hopes that California can act as a model for national mental health efforts. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Department of Defense Extends Some Benefits to Same-Sex Partners
Yesterday, the Department of Defense extended certain benefits to same-sex partners of military personnel. The change does not provide same-sex partners with full access to medical and dental benefits because of restrictions under the Defense of Marriage Act. New York Times et al.
Federal Health Care Fraud Probes Brought in Record $4.2B Last Year
A report finds that the federal government recovered a record $4.2 billion through health care fraud investigations last year. The report credits the uptick to a new task force and notes that the Affordable Care Act will boost antifraud efforts. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Kaiser Hospital, Health Plan Units See Profit Increase
On Friday, Kaiser Permanente’s Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and their subsidiaries reported that their total 2012 profits increased by 30% from the previous year to $2.6 billion. The Kaiser units reported $50.6 billion in 2012 operating revenue, $1.7 billion in operating income and $925 million in non-operating income. According to Kaiser, total membership increased by about 131,000 individuals in 2012 to more than nine million members. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Transgender Patients in Rural Areas Struggle To Access Health Services
In rural California counties, transgender patients often face difficulties accessing health care services. Studies show that transgender individuals face bias from some health care providers, despite that most health care services they seek are typical of any patient. HealthyCal.
Some Lawmakers Willing To Let Cuts to Medicare, Other Programs Proceed
Some lawmakers say they might allow mandated spending cuts under sequestration — including cuts to Medicare payment rates — to take effect in March. The White House says that such cuts could have adverse effects on mental health care and other areas. Modern Healthcare et al.