Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. City Council OKs Plan To Cut Pensions for New Workers
On Friday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a plan that reduces pension benefits for new city employees. The plan raises the retirement age to 65 for employees hired on or after July 1, 2013. In addition, it eliminates health care benefits for dependents and bases pension payments on 75% of an employee’s final salary. The plan also caps cost-of-living adjustments. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Pacific, Kaiser Team Up To Hold Community Health Fair
On Thursday, University of the Pacific and Kaiser Permanente announced plans to hold a community health fair in March 2013 that aims to serve 750 San Joaquin County residents who do not have access to needed health care. Kaiser donated $73,415 to the effort. Stockton Record.
CIRM Grants $20M for Blood Disorder, Diabetes Research
On Thursday, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine announced two grant awards to private biotechnology companies ViaCyte in La Jolla and Bluebird Bio in Massachusetts. CIRM provided $10.1 million to help ViaCyte develop a stem cell treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes patients. It also provided $9.3 million to help Bluebird Bio with stem cell and gene therapy work on “B-thalassemia,” a rare genetic blood disorder. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Urban Institute Says ACA Implementation Would Not Hurt Jobs, Economy
An Urban Institute report finds no evidence that a full implementation of the Affordable Care Act would reduce employment rates or affect the economy in a significant way. The study is based on the implementation of Massachusetts’ health reform law. Healthcare Finance News.
State Alleges Not-for-Profit Hid Donors to Group Fighting Prop. 30
The California Fair Political Practices Commission is suing an Arizona-based not-for-profit. FPPC alleges that the not-for-profit illegally concealed the donors behind an $11 million contribution to a group opposing Proposition 30. Sacramento Bee’s “Capitol Alert” et al.
Voter Support for Prop. 37 Dropping, New Poll Finds
A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll released Thursday finds that 44% of surveyed voters support Proposition 37 — a November ballot initiative that would require new labels for genetically engineered foods — down from 61% in September. According to the poll, opposition to the measure has increased from 25% to 42% during that same time period. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Reuters/Chicago Tribune.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of October 26, 2012
Solano County has designated Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center as the county’s second receiving center for patients experiencing STEMI heart attacks. The Eden Township Healthcare District has pledged $750,000 over the next two fiscal years to help cover expenses at San Leandro Hospital.
Analysis: Studies With Large Findings Often Proved False
Medical studies that claim “very large” effects rarely hold up when tested by other research teams, according to a new statistical analysis published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The analysis also found that studies that claimed to have a very large effect tended to be small, with fewer than 100 participants. In addition, such studies typically measured intermediate effects, rather than more meaningful outcomes, such as incidence of disease or death, according to the analysis. Reuters, Los Angeles Times.
Calif. Receives Grant To Study Effects of Climate Change
CDC has given the California Department of Public Health a four-year, $1 million grant to study the effects of climate change on state residents’ health. DPH plans to use the funding to predict and examine health effects linked with climate change and partner with local health departments to implement responses. Payers & Providers.
Report: State Medicaid Spending Growth Nears Record Low in FY 2012
A report from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured finds that in fiscal year 2012, state Medicaid spending grew by an average of 2%, the lowest rate since 2006. The report attributes the lower rate in part to an improving economy. Kaiser Health News et al.