Latest California Healthline Stories
California Moves Forward With Exchange Following Election
State health exchange officials are proceeding with implementation efforts following the re-election of President Obama. They plan to spend nearly $90 million next year on marketing and outreach efforts. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Business Journal.
Santa Clara County Voters Approve Hospital Salary Cap Initiative
Santa Clara County voters have approved a ballot measure that will limit the salaries and compensation packages of executives at El Camino Hospital. The initiative caps executives’ salaries at no more than twice the governor’s salary. Becker’s Hospital Review, San Jose Mercury News.
UC-Davis Offers Health Data Exchange Buyer’s Guide
UC-Davis Health System has released the first edition of its buyers’ guide to help health care providers make informed choices about health information exchange products. The guide identifies basic features and standards necessary for facilitating the exchange of health data. It also includes comparisons of interoperability and interface standards. Government Health IT, Sacramento Business Journal.
California Medical Board Investigating More Fake Health Care Providers
A new report examining Medical Board of California operations finds that it investigated lay people posing as physicians nearly twice as much in the fiscal year ending in June as it did the previous year. The report recommends adding staff to certain investigative teams. California Watch.
Voters in El Monte, Richmond Reject Tax on Sweetened Beverages
California voters have rejected local ballot initiatives seeking higher taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. Measure H in El Monte was rejected by 76% of voters, while Measure N in Richmond was rejected by 67% of voters. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now” et al.
Calif.’s Rep. Stark Loses Seat After 20 Terms in Congress
In Tuesday’s election, Rep. Pete Stark — who served 20 terms in the House and was the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health since 1985 — lost his bid for re-election to fellow Democrat Eric Swalwell, an Alameda County prosecutor. During his tenure, Stark played a key role in Medicare reforms, the establishment of COBRA health benefits and the Affordable Care Act. Politico.
Study: Soda Tax Would Carry Health Benefits for Minorities
A penny-per-ounce tax on soda in California would result in an 8% reduction in diabetes cases among black and Latino residents, according to a study by researchers from UC-San Francisco, Columbia University and Oregon State University. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo — lead author of the study — said researchers used a conservative estimate to predict that such a tax would reduce soda consumption by 10% to 20%. California Watch.
Kaiser Joins With Rock Health To Boost Digital Startups
Kaiser Permanente has said that it will sponsor Rock Health, a San Francisco-based company that seeks to assist digital health care startups. Wendy Lee — a Kaiser senior vice president and CIO — said, “We look forward to partnering with Rock Health to further explore how we can bring health care into the digital age in ways that enhance the patient-clinician relationship.” The two companies did not disclose the terms of the partnership. Payers & Providers.
State AG Office Sets Sights on Nursing Home Elder Abuse
Representatives for California Attorney General Kamala Harris recently confirmed that Harris’ office is establishing three specialized teams — one in Sacramento and two in Southern California — to pursue criminal charges against administrators and workers at nursing homes who are suspected of abusing their elderly residents. Sacramento Bee.
Congress To Hold Hearings on Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
Next week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold hearings to discuss the nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak that has been linked to a Massachusetts drug compounding pharmacy. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg and Barry Cadden — owner and director of the Massachusetts pharmacy — have been invited to testify at the hearings. Reuters, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”