Latest California Healthline Stories
San Francisco Aims To Reduce Black Infant Mortality Rate
San Francisco health officials are launching efforts to reduce the county’s black infant mortality rate of 16.2 deaths per 1,000 births, compared with a white infant mortality rate of 2.5 deaths per 1,000 births. The disparity is one of the largest in the U.S. and the largest among all California counties. San Francisco Chronicle.
Medicare Competitive Bidding Pilot Reduced Costs by 42%
A two-year Medicare competitive bidding pilot program conducted in nine metropolitan areas, including parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, reduced costs by 42%, or more than $200 million, without affecting care quality, according to federal health officials. Next year, CMS plans to expand the program to 91 additional regions, which will cover most of California. San Bernardino County Sun.
S.D. Pharmacy To Pay $11.4M To Settle Kickback Allegations
On Dec. 27, 2012, the Department of Justice announced that Victory Pharma will pay $11.4 million to settle accusations that the company offered doctors kickbacks in exchange for issuing prescriptions of their products. Victory Pharma will pay $1.4 million in criminal forfeiture to resolve anti-kickback statute allegations and more than $9.9 million to resolve false-claim accusations. AP/KPCC’s “KPCC News”
State Hospital Costs Increased From 2006 to 2010, Report Finds
A report finds that state hospital costs increased significantly from 2006 to 2010 in part because of an increase in uncompensated care. It found that investor-owned and large not-for-profit hospitals spent much less on uncompensated care than public facilities. Modesto Bee, HealthLeaders Media.
Ruling Could Worsen Shortage of Specialists Participating in Medi-Cal
A new ruling that allows California to cut Medi-Cal reimbursements by 10% could exacerbate a shortage of specialists willing to treat Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Experts say specialists already are unwilling to treat beneficiaries because of low reimbursements. Los Angeles Times.
Study: 2.4M California Adults Have Contemplated Suicide
About 2.4 million California adults have seriously considered committing suicide during the course of their lifetimes, according to a new UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study. The study also found that more than half a million California adults had considered suicide in the previous year alone. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” United Press International.
Regulators Seek Bill Allowing Inspections of Out-of-State Pharmacies
In response to a national meningitis outbreak last year, the state Board of Pharmacy is seeking authority to inspect out-of-state pharmacies that sell drugs in California. Regulators say pharmacy groups and FDA would support initiatives to grant such authority. Los Angeles Times.
S.D. Firm Nabs FDA Contract for Anti-Tobacco Campaign
In November 2012, FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products awarded Rescue Social Change Group — a San Diego-based anti-smoking campaign development firm — a $152 million contract to administer an outreach campaign for teenage smokers and potential teen smokers. The campaign will focus on four at-risk groups: Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. U-T San Diego.
Report Finds Flaws in CMS’ New Fraud Prevention Technology
A new report from HHS’ Office of Inspector General finds that although CMS’ new predictive analytics technology will help prevent fraudulent payments, the system does not allow for the tracking of inaccuracies because of methodology and data issues. FierceHealthIT, Clinical Innovation & Technology.
State Officials Uncertain About Cost of Expanding Medi-Cal Under ACA
California officials are unsure how the Affordable Care Act’s Medi-Cal expansion will affect state spending. Officials do not know how many people will enroll in the program and how much the federal government will contribute. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.“