Latest California Healthline Stories
Richmond Soda Tax Measures Draw Support, Opposition
In recent weeks, community organizations and leaders have held public gatherings in support of or opposition to a pair of soda tax measures that aim to curb Richmond’s child obesity rate. The first measure would impose a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on all sugar-sweetened drinks, and the second measure would advise the city to use the tax revenues for health education and recreational programs. The measures will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. Contra Costa Times.
Report Touts Public Health Benefit of L.A. Freeway Project
A project that would add more lanes to the 1-710 freeway near Los Angeles could improve public health, according to a recent draft environmental impact report from the California Department of Transportation. Judy Gish, a Caltrans spokesperson, in an email said that air pollution could be reduced under the freeway expansion “by improving traffic flow as well as the use of low/zero emission trucks, when the technology becomes available.” California Watch.
Sacramento Officials Extend Water Fluoridation Program
Last week, the Sacramento City Council agreed to extend until June 30, 2015, the city’s water fluoridation program in exchange for a $550,000 grant from the First 5 Sacramento Commission. A study by the city’s Department of Utilities found that annual operation and maintenance costs for the program were nearly $1 million in recent years. The rest of the funding for extending the fluoridation program will be obtained through city residents’ and businesses’ water bills. Sacramento Bee.
About 1.9M Californians To Receive Insurance Rebates
By the end of this week, about 1.9 million California residents are expected to receive rebates from health insurers because of the medical-loss ratio requirement in the Affordable Care Act. The law requires insurers to issue rebates if they spent less than 80% to 85% of premiums on medical care in 2011. The average rebate in the state is expected to be $65, compared with $151 nationwide. U-T San Diego.
Doctors Worried About Online Access to Medical Test Results
By the end of the year, patients could have the right to request electronic access to clinical laboratory results. However, some health care providers are worried that patients could become confused or overwhelmed if they misinterpret the test results. New York Times‘ “Well.”
Calif. Lawmakers Seek Changes to Spending on Mental Health Programs
State lawmakers are seeking an audit and oversight hearings on the use of mental health funds generated by Proposition 63. Findings show that tens of millions of Prop. 63 funds have gone to help residents who have not been diagnosed with a mental illness. AP/U-T San Diego.
Not-for-Profit Releases Guide on Calif., Federal Medical Privacy Laws
A new guide from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse aims to help consumers understand federal and California laws on medical data privacy. The guide covers topics such as prescription data privacy and the privacy of data in a health information exchange. U-T San Diego et al.
Medicaid Could Undergo Major Changes if GOP Wins in Fall Elections
If Republicans win control of the White House and Congress, they could convert Medicaid into a block-grant program. Meanwhile, a new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that 67% of U.S. residents support the health reform law’s Medicaid expansion. Los Angeles Times et al.
State Finds Compromise Tax Hike Plan Won’t Erase ‘Wall of Debt’
A new state report finds that a compromise tax hike plan would not remove a $34 billion “wall of debt” in four years as Gov. Brown hoped. According to the report, the tax hike plan would reduce the debt wall to $8.9 billion in that time period. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Court: HHS Can Ban Rx Drug Execs From Federal Programs
Last week, a federal appeals court affirmed HHS’ power to bar pharmaceutical company executives who are tied to corporate wrongdoing from conducting business with federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit asked the agency to reassess the 12-year period for the restriction. The ruling came in a case involving three former Purdue Pharma executives who pleaded guilty to misleading the public about the safety of the painkiller OxyContin. Although the company paid $313 million in fines to cover civil and criminal penalties, HHS wanted to exclude the three executives from government business for 12 years. Wall Street Journal.