Latest California Healthline Stories
Grassley Seeks Answers From FDA on Sensitive Data Posting
On Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley sent a letter asking FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to explain why the agency did not tell its contractor Quality Associates that the 80,000 pages of communications it posted online contained sensitive and personally identifiable data. FDA hired the contractor to print and disseminate documents related to the agency’s surveillance of employee emails. Washington Post.
CalTAF Seeks Better Access to Substance Misuse Programs
The California Treatment Advocacy Foundation has called for better access to substance misuse programs for state residents. CalTAF Executive Director Phillip Greer said that since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal health reform law, “[t]here has never been a better time to ensure that comprehensive care includes effective and affordable substance use disorder treatment.” According to CalTAF, about six million residents need substance misuse treatment. Payers & Providers.
Reform Law’s Medicaid Expansion Could Boost HIV Care, Advocates Say
The federal health reform law’s Medicaid expansion could help many HIV-positive residents obtain treatment, but such effects could be limited in states that opt out of the expansion, advocates said during this week’s International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. Politico.
States That Expanded Medicaid Saw Drop in Adult Mortality Rates
A new study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers finds that states that expanded their Medicaid programs saw a drop in their adult mortality rates, compared with neighboring states that did not expand Medicaid. Wall Street Journal et al.
Exchange Seeks To Give Customers Same Buying Power as Big Employers
At a health care policy briefing, California Health Benefit Exchange board member Kim Belshé said that the exchange aims to provide customers with the same purchasing leverage as large employers. She said officials must educate residents on using the exchange. Ventura County Star.
UCLA Launches Alzheimer’s, Dementia Care Pilot Program
Funded by a federal innovations grant and philanthropic contributions, UCLA recently launched the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program, a pilot initiative designed to provide individualized care and assistance to Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s, as well as their family caregivers. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
UCLA, MinuteClinic Team Up for Chronic Disease Program
On Wednesday, UCLA Health System and CVS Caremark’s retail pharmacy division MinuteClinic announced an agreement designed to improve chronic disease management in the Los Angeles city area. Under the deal, UCLA physicians will manage 11 MinuteClinic sites, and the clinics will make referrals to the health system’s facilities when necessary. Payers & Providers.
Kaiser Gives $660,000 to 11 Northern Community Clinics
On Tuesday, Kaiser Permanente announced that it is awarding a total of $660,000 to 11 Northern California community clinics. Each one-year, $60,000 grant is intended to help connect clinic patients with certain resources, such as food banks and job training programs. San Francisco Business Times.
White House, Insurers Announce Initiative To Fight Health Care Fraud
The Obama administration is partnering with health insurers to combat health care fraud by sharing and analyzing claims data. WellPoint, UnitedHealth and Humana are among the health insurers participating in the effort. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times.
S.D. OKs Center for Veterans With PTSD, Brain Injuries
On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted 7-0 to grant a permit for the Aspire Center, a 40-bed treatment center that will provide Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans with treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. AP/Sacramento Bee.