Latest California Healthline Stories
Prop. 29 Opponents, Supporters Say Vote Still Too Close To Call
Both opponents and supporters of a ballot initiative to increase tobacco taxes say votes from Tuesday’s election still are too close to call. More than 3.8 million ballots have been counted, but there could be as many as one million uncounted ballots. Orange County Register et al.
House To Vote on Bill To Repeal Health Reform’s Tax on Medical Devices
Today, the House is expected to vote on a measure that would repeal an excise tax on medical devices created to help fund the federal health reform law. White House officials said President Obama would veto the legislation if it reaches his desk. Washington Times et al.
Group: Calif. Providers Nabbed More Than $7M in Meaningful Use Pay
California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization has reported that more than $7 million is being issued to state health care providers who are working to achieve meaningful use of electronic health records. Becker’s Hospital Review, CalHIPSO release.
S.F. Officials Urge Obama To Keep Pledge on Medical Pot
In a recent open letter to President Obama, San Francisco City Supervisors Christina Olague, David Campos and Scott Weiner urged him “to keep the commitment he made in 2008 to stop the federal government’s attacks” on medical marijuana. Citing recent efforts by federal authorities to seize and close dispensaries across the state, the supervisors urged Obama to “be true to his word” and “ask [the federal prosecutors] to back off.” San Francisco Chronicle‘s “Politics Blog.”
VA Set To Open New Medical Center in Mission Bay Area
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to open a new branch of the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Mission Bay. Approximately 130 staff members will be relocated to the 42,000 square-foot facility from the medical center’s campus in the Richmond District. VA intends to open the new facility once construction is complete in the late summer or early fall. San Francisco Chronicle.
CMS Creates New Office To Oversee Information Products, Data Analysis
Yesterday, CMS announced that it has established a new office to oversee the agency’s data. The agency’s Office of Information Products and Data Analytics will offer several health information services, such as a Medicare Enrollment Dashboard. Modern Healthcare, CQ HealthBeat.
New Study Finds FDA Drug Recalls Not Well Publicized
FDA recalls potentially dangerous drugs about once per month, but the agency could better inform physicians and patients about its decisions, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Between 2004 and 2011, FDA failed to utilize two of its electronic alert systems to publicize one-fifth of Class 1 drug recalls, which FDA has designated for medications that could potentially cause “serious adverse health consequences or death.” Reuters.
House Republicans Prep for High Court Ruling on Health Care Overhaul
Republicans are preparing their potential responses to the forthcoming Supreme Court ruling on the health reform law. If the high court upholds all or part of the law, House GOP leaders plan to introduce legislation to repeal the entire overhaul. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Study: Sunshine Laws Might Not Affect Doctors’ Rx Habits
An Archives of Internal Medicine study compares Maine and West Virginia — both of which have enacted sunshine legislation requiring drugmakers to disclose payments to physicians — with other states that were demographically similar but lacked such legislation. It finds that the sunshine laws had “negligible to small effects” on physicians’ prescribing of brand-name drugs. Reuters, CMIO.
GOP’s Student Loan Offset Could Affect Medicaid
In a letter to President Obama last week, four Republican congressional leaders asked for the president’s support in ending a stalemate on legislation that would maintain the current interest rate on federally subsidized student loans. The GOP and Democrats are at odds over how to offset the $6 billion cost of averting the rate hike. The letter outlined several proposals for offsets, including one that would restrict states’ ability to increase their share of federal matching payments for Medicaid through taxes on health care providers participating in the program. Washington Post.