Latest California Healthline Stories
Editorial: Voters Face ‘Clear Choice’ on Health Care
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that “[i]n this election cycle, voters face a clear choice on the future of” Medicaid and Medicare.” It concludes that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney “would shift more costs to individuals and the states,” while President Obama “would build on the federal, state, individual partnership established in 1965.” Sacramento Bee.
Oakland Lawsuit Aims To Stop Medical Pot Property Seizures
On Wednesday, Oakland city officials filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to “restrain and declare unlawful” a July federal forfeiture action against the landlords of Harborside Health Center, the nation’s largest medical marijuana dispensary. The lawsuit names U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney for Northern District of California Melinda Haag as defendants. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Officials Urge New Regimens for Chronic Conditions
Federal health officials are urging health care providers to develop special treatment regimens for patients with high blood pressure, as well as other chronic conditions, to ensure that all conditions are being adequately monitored. CDC urged providers to simplify typically complex treatment regimens with once-daily medications and encouraged insurers to offer lower or no copayments for high blood pressure medications. Wall Street Journal.
California Seeks To Strengthen Regulation of Out-of-State Drugs
In response to a meningitis outbreak linked to drugs produced in Massachusetts, state officials are working to bolster regulation of out-of-state compounding pharmacies that ship products into California. U-T San Diego, Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Munger Blasts Rival Tax Hike Plan in New Ad Campaign
On Tuesday, attorney Molly Munger — who has spent more than $30 million to draw support for Proposition 38, a November ballot tax-hike measure — launched a multi-million dollar ad campaign targeting Proposition 30, a rival tax-hike measure by Gov. Brown and supporters of the “Millionaires Tax.” San Jose Mercury News, Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Study Links Use of EHR Systems With Higher Care Quality Scores
A new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine finds that doctors who use electronic health record systems achieve significantly higher care quality scores for certain conditions than doctors who use paper records. Healthcare IT News et al.
New CMS Policy Did Not Curb Hospital-Linked Infections, Study Finds
A New England Journal of Medicine study finds that although CMS eliminated reimbursements for certain preventable, hospital-acquired infections in 2008, the policy change did not lead to significant reductions in the rates of two types of infections. Wall Street Journal et al.
Stimulus, Reform Grants Help L.A. Clinic Expand Services
Affordable Care Act and federal stimulus package grants have allowed the South Central Family Health Center in Los Angeles to innovate and expand its services to more uninsured and underinsured residents in Los Angeles County. SCFHC has used the grants for construction, renovations, new equipment and health information technology implementation. The grants also have allowed the clinic to provide dental care. HealthyCal.
Prop. 30 a ‘Better Choice’ for California, Editorial Argues
A Stockton Record editorial argues that while both tax hike measures — Proposition 30, by Gov. Brown and supporters of the “Millionaires Tax,” and Proposition 38 by attorney Molly Munger — on the November ballot are “promising,” Prop. 30 “is clearly the better choice because of its shorter duration, greater flexibility and more limited effect on lower- and middle-class Californians.” Stockton Record.
MedPAC Report Finds Most Medicare ED Visits Avoidable
Nearly 60% of emergency department visits and 25% of hospital admissions involving Medicare beneficiaries were “potentially preventable” if beneficiaries had received better care at home or in an outpatient setting, according to a report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. Kaiser Health News/San Francisco Chronicle.