Latest California Healthline Stories
Government Agencies Fall Short in Assessing IT Projects
A Government Accountability Office report finds that the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, HHS and other agencies are not regularly evaluating their information technology projects as required by the Office of Management and Budget. According to the report, HHS has evaluated many of its IT investments, but its analyses do not address all of the factors in the OMB guidelines. Federal Times et al.
Unions Must Work With Organizations To Solve Issues, CHA Leader Says
Duane Dauner, president and CEO of the California Hospital Association, says that unions must work with organizations to solve health care issues. He says some unions oppose any decisions that management makes, regardless of their goals. Sacramento Business Journal.
Santa Clarita School District Lets Parents Track Drug Tests
The William S. Hart Union High School District plans to expand a first-of-its-kind program that allows Santa Clarita parents to track the results of random drug tests given to their children. More than 2,000 — or 10% of — junior high and high school students currently participate in the no-cost program, and officials would like to increase participation by 3% annually. Los Angeles Times, AP/Sacramento Bee.
CBO: One-Year Medicare ‘Doc Fix’ To Cost $7B More Than Expected
The Congressional Budget Office projects that a one-year fix to freeze Medicare physician reimbursements and avert a 26.5% cut would cost nearly $7 billion more than previously estimated. The reduction is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Pension Costs Creating Budget Deficits in Ventura County
On Tuesday, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors examined projections showing that the county government will face deficits of $6 million to $14 million annually over the next three years because of growing pension and retirement costs. Supervisors are analyzing various strategies to address the estimated shortfalls. Ventura County Star.
Senate Questions Pharmacy Boards’ Drug Oversight
On Monday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions sent letters to all 50 state boards of pharmacy, questioning their oversight of compounding pharmacies in the wake of the fungal meningitis outbreak linked to the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts. The letter specifically asks each board whether compounding pharmacies are required to disclose whether they produce large quantities of drugs, if the pharmacies have to produce patient-specific prescriptions before making a compounded drug and whether compounders are required to meet federal guidelines for sterility. AP/Sacramento Bee.
UC Regents Request $15M for Riverside Medical School
Last week, University of California regents included in their budget proposal for next year a request for $15 million in state funding to support the UC-Riverside School of Medicine. The medical school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013. Supporters of the school hope that lawmakers will be more receptive to the request following the passage of the Proposition 30 tax hike and improvements in California’s economy. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Initiative Links Genetic Data With EHRs To Help Uncover Disease Clues
A large-scale research project led by Kaiser Permanente is linking patients’ genetic data with their electronic health records. The initiative aims to determine how genes, health habits and environmental factors could contribute to risk factors for disease. NPR’s “Shots.”
McKesson Donating EHRs to Doctors Offering Charity Care
Health IT company McKesson has announced that it is donating $1 million in electronic health record software to physicians across the U.S. who provide unreimbursed care to low-income patients. Approximately 100 physicians from 10 major metropolitan areas will receive a no-cost, 26-month license for the software. Becker’s Hospital Review, San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area Biz Talk.”
ONC Aims To Curb Negative Effects of Health IT Adoption
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is developing best practice guides, checklists and other resources to help health care providers anticipate and prepare for potential negative consequences associated with adopting health IT systems. Such unintended consequences could include lower productivity, interruptions in communication and patient safety mistakes. Bloomberg BNA.