Latest California Healthline Stories
Demand for Health Aids in Calif. To Grow Significantly
By 2020, the number of home health aides and personal care aides in California likely will increase by 52% and 43%, respectively, according to new projections by the state Employment Development Department. Analysts say that the increase will correspond with the rising demands of an aging state population. Sacramento Bee.
California Lawmakers Put Stop-Loss Insurance Legislation on Hold
Lawmakers put a bill on hold that would have placed new limits on a type of self-insurance being sold to small businesses. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said the bill might be renewed in December during a special legislative session on health reform. Los Angeles Times.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of August 31, 2012
Three Fresno-area hospitals have been fined under the health reform law for readmitting too many Medicare beneficiaries less than a month after their discharge. Sutter Memorial Hospital is trying to rid its neonatal intensive care unit of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Study: Medi-Cal Pilot Program Cuts Hospital Stays, Costs for Kids
A new study finds that a Medi-Cal pilot program helped children with life-threatening illnesses spend less time in the hospital and lowered their health care costs. The program assigns a liaison to participating families and gives them 24-hour access to a nurse. Los Angeles Times.
HHS Unveils Programs To Train Public Health Workers
On Wednesday, HHS announced two new initiatives designed to help train public health workers and support public health fellowship programs. The programs are worth a total of about $50 million and were sponsored by CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration. HHS said that some public health workers will receive training in nutrition, demonstrating federal officials’ concerns about U.S. obesity rates. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Obama Administration Touts New School Lunch Standards
Obama administration officials are touting new nutritional guidelines for school lunches that take effect this year. The guidelines aim to help U.S. students eat healthier foods and fewer calories. Officials said the guidelines — which were developed under the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act — are “long overdue.” The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Editorial: Loophole Must Be Cut From Pension Reform Bill
A San Jose Mercury News editorial argues that the new public pension reform bill “falls far short” of meeting Gov. Brown’s goal “to control public employee pension costs” because “it contains a huge loophole that will invite more pension spiking.” However, it concludes that “if lawmakers close the one glaring loophole they created, it’s worth passing as a down payment on pension reform.” San Jose Mercury News.
DOJ Calls for Hospitals To Audit Implantable Defibrillator Surgeries
The Department of Justice has sent emails asking hospitals to self-audit questionable implantable defibrillator surgeries for Medicare beneficiaries. The department also asked hospitals to calculate their potential penalties under the False Claims Act. Modern Healthcare.
Riverside County Nabs Grants To Combat Insurance Fraud
On Thursday, the Riverside County district attorney’s office announced that it has received $2.4 million in state grants to fight insurance fraud and help the county staff its insurance fraud unit. About $1.4 million of the funds are aimed at combating workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
California Fines 14 Hospitals for Endangering Patients’ Health
The Department of Public Health has fined 14 California hospitals a total of $825,000 for violations that jeopardized patients’ health and safety. The violations led to five deaths and repeat surgeries for seven patients. San Francisco Chronicle et al.