Latest California Healthline Stories
Hospitals Bracing for Pay Cuts From Reform Law, Budget Sequestration
Hospitals are preparing to face payment cuts resulting from the Affordable Care Act and last year’s budget sequestration. Since the Congressional supercommittee failed to reach a debt deal in 2011, Medicare spending is scheduled to be cut by 2% next year. Crain’s Detroit Business.
Senate Select Committees Not Worthwhile, Columnist Says
In a Sacramento Bee opinion piece, columnist Dan Walters writes that the state Senate has several select committees that “rarely, if ever, meet, and just as rarely produce worthwhile research and appear to exist mainly to give senators extra, off-the-books staff.” He adds that a hearing held last week by the Senate Select Committee on Charity Care and Nonprofit Hospitals “appeared to be no more worthwhile than the non-activities of the non-meeting committees.” Sacramento Bee.
Public Health Agencies Could Better Leverage Social Media, Study Says
A BMC Public Health study finds that public health agencies are not using social media platforms to their full potential. According to the study, health agencies often use social media websites to distribute information rather than to engage with an audience. FierceHealthIT.
Researchers Launching Stem Cell Trial Focused on Autism
On Tuesday, the Sutter Neuroscience Institute in Sacramento will launch a clinical trial that could provide data on whether infusing umbilical cord stem cells into the bloodstreams of children with autism can help treat the condition. Michael Chez — director of pediatric neurology at SNI and principal investigator in the clinical trial — said the trial is the first of its kind to be approved by FDA. Sacramento Bee.
OptumRx To Add 600 New Calif. Jobs by End of 2013
OptumRx — the pharmacy benefits management division of UnitedHealth Group — plans to add 600 new full-time jobs in California by the end of 2013. Next year, UnitedHealth Group plans to transition 12 million of its Medco members to OptumRx for mail-order prescription drug services. The new OptumRx jobs will include pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. U-T San Diego.
CalPERS Defends Public Workers’ Pensions Amid City Bankruptcies
CalPERS argues that the interests of residents with pensions should be considered before those of other creditors in city bankruptcy cases. In addition, CalPERS seeks to counter notions that pension costs significantly affect municipal bankruptcies. Bloomberg.
Report Links Mental Health Care Centers to Questionable Billings
An HHS’ Office of Inspector General report finds that in 2010, Medicare outpatient mental health centers in states with little or no oversight accounted for at least 90% of more than $200 million in questionable billings. USA Today, NPR’s “Shots.”
Compromise Tax Hike Plan Criticized in New Ad by Taxpayer Group
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has launched a radio advertisement against Gov. Brown’s compromise tax hike plan, known as Proposition 30. Meanwhile, the California Nurses Association has planned a skit criticizing Prop. 30 opponents. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
S.F. Bay Area Intensifies Efforts To Curb West Nile
Some counties in the San Francisco Bay Area are intensifying efforts to prevent an outbreak of the West Nile virus. For example, the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District has used pesticides or plans to use them in various cities in Contra Costa County to reduce the number of mosquitoes carrying the virus. In California, 23 human cases of the virus have been reported this year, none of which were in the Bay Area. Contra Costa Times.
Ventura County Advocates Criticize Ryan’s Budget Plan
Advocates for low-income residents and seniors in Ventura County warn that a budget proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) — the running mate of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney — could diminish the health care safety net. Roberto Juarez — CEO of Clinicas del Camino Real — said that Ryan’s proposal to give states control of Medicaid could create a host of new regulations, adding that without federal spending requirements some states might be tempted to use Medicaid money for other programs. Ventura County Star.