Latest California Healthline Stories
Study: Tobacco Ads Target Low-Income, Black Youth
Marketing for menthol cigarettes in California is higher at retailers near high schools with more low-income, black students, according to a study by the Stanford Prevention Research Center. Lisa Henriksen of the Stanford Prevention Research Center — which recently presented the research at a legislative briefing in Sacramento — said, “There is a systematic targeting (of disadvantaged communities) in the tobacco industry, which is an extraordinary public health problem.” California Watch.
ED Kiosks Are Effective, but Some Nurses Question Value
A study published last year in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine found that interactive computer kiosks accurately, efficiently and safely expedited the management of woman with uncomplicated urinary tract infections at busy, urban emergency departments. However, a follow-up report by the California HealthCare Foundation found that some triage nurses did not refer eligible patients to the kiosks because they believed the technology disrupted their workflow. InformationWeek.
Medicare Trustees To Release Report; Program Still Facing Insolvency
The Medicare trustees’ annual financial reports are scheduled to be released today. Although growth in Medicare spending has slowed, the program still is headed toward insolvency. About 10,000 baby boomers become eligible for Medicare each day. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
FDA Bill Seeks Medical Device Identifier Rule by Year’s End
An FDA user fee bill introduced by Sens. Tom Harkin and Michael Enzi includes language that would require HHS to issue a final rule establishing a unique device identifier system for medical devices by the end of 2012. The language calls for HHS to implement the UDI system to electronically track and recall faulty medical devices “as soon as practical.” Health Data Management.
Calif. Grapples With Rising Public Retiree Health Care Costs
State and local governments are facing increasing retiree health care costs, which are projected to double over the next 10 years. The costs have increased over the last decade from $560 million annually to a projected $1.7 billion in the next fiscal year. AP/Sacramento Bee.
State Senate To Conduct Hearing on Bill Limiting Stop-Loss Insurance
The Senate this week will hold a hearing on a bill that would limit health plans known as stop-loss policies for small businesses. The bill would ban stop-loss coverage below $95,000 for each worker to equalize risk among small businesses that self-insure. Los Angeles Times.
California Lawmakers To Vote on Bill Addressing Patient ‘Capturing’
State lawmakers will vote this week on a bill that would reduce insurer payments to hospitals that admit too many out-of-network, privately insured patients. The bill follows reports of aggressive billing practices by Prime Healthcare. California Watch.
High Demand for Health Care Workers in Sacramento
Hospital employment is growing twice as fast as overall employment in the Sacramento area, with the industry generating more than 84,000 jobs annually, according to a Hospital Council of Northern and Central California report. Meanwhile, Sacramento health care employers posted the most online job advertisements in March, with registered nurses being the most sought after position, according to a new state Employment Development Department report. Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento Bee.
Report: Jurisdictions Consider Policies’ Affect on Health
Many jurisdictions across the U.S. — including states and cities, as well as tribal and federal laws — have requirements that certain policies must be assessed for their effect on area health, according to a recent report from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. These assessments examine policies’ effect on physical and psychological health and general well-being. The report found that 22 out of 36 jurisdictions — including some located in California — use health assessments for policies relating to energy or the environment. HealthyCal.
Planned Parenthood Stumps for Early-Term Abortion Bill
On Friday, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California launched a radio ad campaign in support of a bill — by Sen. Christine Kehoe — that would allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners and certified midwives to perform an early-term abortion procedure. The bill would require non-physicians to complete a specialized training program by Jan. 1, 2015, to perform the procedure. This week, two Senate committees are scheduled to consider the measure, which faces opposition from the California Nurses Association and California Catholic Conference. U-T San Diego, Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”