Latest California Healthline Stories
Most Doctors Using EHRs Are Satisfied With the Technology, Report Says
A new report by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics finds that 55% of office-based physicians said that they were using an electronic health record system in 2011. The report found that 85% of those doctors said they were very or somewhat satisfied with the technology. Modern Healthcare et al.
Calif. FreshWorks Fund Awards Grants To Boost Access to Healthy Food
The California FreshWorks Fund has awarded more than $100,000 in grants to improve low-income families’ access to healthier foods. Recipients plan to use the funds to establish farmers markets and examine the feasibility of expanding a cooperative farmers market. Payers & Providers.
Lawmakers Seek Probe Into FDA Email Tracking Effort
On Monday, Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Chris Van Hollen asked federal health officials to launch an investigation into FDA’s monitoring of personal emails sent by current and former FDA scientists and staff. In a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, Grassley asked the agency to release a copy of the memo authorizing the monitoring initiative and to identify its author. In a separate letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Van Hollen urged HHS to determine whether the program violated federal employee protections and whistleblower laws. New York Times et al.
UCLA Study: Tablets Spur Residents To Study More
UCLA neurosurgery residents spent more time studying outside their clinical hours after they were given computer tablets and access to a digital library of document and video resources, according to a study published in the journal Neurosurgery. The study involved 12 participants in the UCLA neurosurgery residency program. FierceHealthIT.
House Appropriations Bill Would Block Funds for Health Reform Law
A new House appropriations bill would block the use of federal funds to implement the health reform law. It also would defund the Independent Payment Advisory Board and the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. The Hill‘s “On the Money” et al.
Several Calif. Hospitals Rank Among Best in U.S. for Specialty Care
Two California hospitals were included in U.S. News & World Report’s “Honor Roll,” which recognizes the top 17 hospitals in the U.S. for specialty care. U.S. News‘ “America’s Best Hospitals” report also ranked the top 10 state hospitals for specialty care. U-T San Diego et al.
Annual Veterans Health Event To Target Dental Care
This year, the 25th annual Stand Down program — which is held in several cities across California to provide homeless and financially-strapped military veterans with various health care and social services — is focusing on dental care. Los Angeles Times.
Millions Could Enter Coverage Gap Without Medicaid Expansion
More than 11 million uninsured, low-income U.S. residents could fall into a new coverage gap if every state opted out of the federal health law’s Medicaid expansion. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could opt out of the expansion without any effect on funding. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Authorities Charge 48 With Reselling Rx Drugs in Medicaid Fraud Case
Federal authorities have charged 48 U.S. residents with reselling $108 million worth of prescription drugs that they obtained from Medicaid beneficiaries. The charges are part of a federal effort to reduce fraud in government health programs. Reuters, Wall Street Journal.
Anthem Ordered To Stop Trying To Recoup Old Overpayments
The Department of Managed Health Care has ordered Anthem Blue Cross to stop trying to recoup alleged overpayments on claims over a year old. DMHC said Anthem provided no evidence that the claims were fraudulent. Sacramento Business Journal, Modern Healthcare.