Latest California Healthline Stories
County-Run Exchange Call Center Decision Coming Soon
On Jan. 18, California officials are expected to name the county that will operate one of three call centers statewide for California’s health insurance exchange. Contra Costa and Stanislaus counties are vying for the contract to run the call center, which could employ 250 to 300 employees. The other two call centers will be operated by the state. Modesto Bee.
Report: U.S. Could Save $2T by Setting National Health Spending Target
According to a Commonwealth Fund report, the U.S. could reduce health care costs by as much as $2 trillion by improving health system performance and limiting health spending growth to a pace no greater than the long-term growth rate of the economy. Reuters, Modern Healthcare.
California, Other States Honing Strategies To Market Exchanges
West Coast states, including California, are developing strategies for promoting their health insurance exchanges to residents. In addition to advertising, California is planning to increase grass-roots outreach efforts at churches, cultural events and schools. Politico.
Breast Cancer Screenings Cost Nearly Same as Treatments
Medicare spends about $1.08 billion annually on breast cancer screenings, almost as much as the $1.36 billion it spends to treat the disease, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study’s lead author recommended further study on whether mammograms are effective. Reuters et al.
Gov. Brown Expected To Release Proposed State Budget Plan
Today, Gov. Brown is expected to release a fiscal year 2013-2014 budget plan that will seek to close a $1.9 billion deficit. The plan likely will outline ways to expand Medi-Cal under the Affordable Care Act and could cut health care funding to counties. Los Angeles Times et al.
Sacramento Region Bracing for Possible Flu Outbreak
In the first two weeks of January, the Sacramento area has seen an uptick in flu vaccinations, as well as an increase in the number of people seeking care for flu-like illnesses, according to health officials and physicians. Based on those trends, area physicians say the region soon could face a flu outbreak similar to levels reported nationwide. Sacramento Bee.
GAO Finds Poor Reporting for Preventive Health Activities
The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and HHS need to improve their reporting practices for the cost savings and effectiveness of federal preventive health activities, according to a Government Accountability Office analysis. The report found that the departments currently provide limited data, such as incomplete estimates, estimates for non-preventive health-related activities and information on funding, rather than spending. Modern Healthcare.
Observers: Calif. Health Facilities Often Lack Interpreter Services
Health care advocates and providers say that limited access to interpreter services at health care facilities is a persistent problem in California. Although state laws seek to provide interpreters for patients, many individuals do not know to ask for them, observers say. HealthyCal.
Editorial: ‘Glaring Need’ for Youth Mental Health Services
A Fresno Bee editorial argues that “there remains a glaring need” for mental health care services for children in Fresno County and the central San Joaquin Valley “that can only be addressed with the whole-hearted support of Valley hospitals and public officials.” The editorial notes that the region does not have a children’s psychiatric hospital or unit, in part because of a shortage of child psychiatrists and low Medi-Cal reimbursement rates. Fresno Bee.
U.S. Ranks Below Other Nations for Many Health Indicators, Report Finds
A report from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council finds that the U.S. spends more per person on health care than any other country, but U.S. residents are less healthy and have shorter life spans than those in other developed countries. New York Times et al.