Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. County Confirms First Human Case of West Nile
On Wednesday, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials confirmed the county’s first human case of West Nile virus this year. The officials noted that the patient — a middle-aged resident of the San Gabriel Valley — is expected to recover. This is the sixth reported human case of West Nile virus in the state this year, following two cases in Kern County and one case each in Fresno, Merced and Stanislaus counties. Los Angeles Daily News.
Rep. Bono Mack Introduces Bill To Curb Rx Drug Misuse
U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack has introduced a bill that would call on FDA to require pharmaceutical companies to use tamper-resistant formulas for new opiate-based drugs in an effort to curb prescription drug misuse. Some pharmaceutical firms likely will oppose the legislation because it would increase manufacturing costs. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
State Lifts Rules That Curbed Mosquito Ground Treatment
Last week, the State Water Resources Control Board lifted new federal requirements that aimed to curb pesticide use on the ground, which California’s local mosquito districts said hindered treatment of mosquitoes in the larval stage. According to CDC, killing mosquitoes before they hatch into adults is the safest and most effective way to halt the spread of the West Nile virus. Although the districts conducted aerial sprayings, they warned that airborne strategies would cause the pesticides to drift and could pose a hazard to human health. Sacramento Bee.
S.F. Board Delays Vote on Environmental Study of CPMC Hospital Deal
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has postponed for two weeks its decision on an environmental impact study of a $2.5 billion construction plan being negotiated between the city and California Pacific Medical Center. San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Business Times.
Opinion Piece Stumps for Use of Analytics To Curb Fraud
In a Payers & Providers opinion piece, Russ Schreiber — vice president and head of the health care practice at FICO, an analytical and credit scoring firm — writes that health care payers are turning to “sophisticated predictive analytics and link analysis to predict more kinds of fraud, waste and abuse.” He concludes, “By making it easier to stop fraudulent claims before they are paid, analytics helps to cut costs for insurance payers and patients alike.” Payers & Providers.
Reports: Increases in Health Care Spending, Prices Slowing
Between May 2011 and May 2012, U.S. health care spending grew at a rate of 3.8%, according to a recent report by the Altarum Institute. A separate report found that health care prices between May 2011 and May 2012 increased by just 2%, marking the lowest price growth since January 1999. Payers & Providers.
Joint Commission Releases Guide for Scribe Data Entry
The Joint Commission has released an online guide for critical access hospitals that use scribes to help health care providers enter data into electronic health records. According to the guide, scribes should sign and date all entries that they make in an EHR. The guide adds that a licensed practitioner then should “authenticate the entry” by signing and dating it, as well as by adding a time stamp if applicable. Modern Healthcare.
House Subcommittee Passes Bill That Would Block Reform Funds
Yesterday, a House Appropriations subcommittee approved a fiscal year 2013 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill that would cut $6.3 billion from FY 2012 funding levels and block funding for provisions under the Affordable Care Act. The Hill et al.
Medicare Beneficiaries More Satisfied Than Privately Insured
A new study by the Commonwealth Fund finds that Medicare beneficiaries are more satisfied with their health insurance coverage than those with employer-based health insurance or those who are self-insured. Los Angeles Times, National Journal.
Health Benefit Cuts Included in Pleasant Hill, Police Deal
On Monday, the Pleasant Hill City Council approved a new four-year contract with the Police Officers Association that includes health care benefit cuts. According to the agreement, employees will pay 15% of their health insurance premiums beginning Sept. 1 and 20% of their premiums from 2013 through the end of the contract. Contra Costa Times.