Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: Top Ranked Hospitals Have Higher Levels of EHR Adoption
A new report from HIMSS Analytics finds that the hospitals listed in Thomson Reuters’ 100 Top U.S. Hospitals in 2009 and 2010 had more advanced levels of electronic health record adoption than the overall pool of U.S. hospitals. Modern Healthcare, Healthcare IT News.
UnitedHealthcare, DOI Reach Settlement on Autism Therapy
UnitedHealthcare has agreed to a settlement with the state Department of Insurance to provide immediate coverage of applied behavioral analysis for people with autism. Many insurers have argued that the treatment is not a medical service. Sacramento Business Journal.
House Uses Procedural Move to Approve Rep. Ryan’s Budget Proposal
With no support from Democrats, the House yesterday used a procedural move to pass Rep. Paul Ryan’s fiscal year 2013 budget proposal. Meanwhile, Sen. Kent Conrad intends to introduce a version of the Simpson-Bowles bipartisan budget plan. Los Angeles Times et al.
Consumers Turning to Social Media To Search for Health Information
A PricewaterhouseCoopers survey finds that about one-third of consumers use social media to access health information. More than 80% of respondents ages 18 to 24 say they would use social media to share health data. Computerworld‘s “Government IT,” Health Data Management.
CDC Report: Rate of California Home Births Increased by 37%
A new CDC report finds that the number of home births in California increased by 37% between 2004 and 2009. Experts say the increase might be because home births are sometimes less expensive or because women at times associate hospitals with negative experiences. HealthyCal.
State’s Budget Deficit Likely To Exceed $10B, Brown Says
On Tuesday, Gov. Brown said California’s budget deficit likely will increase by $1 billion or more above the $9.2 billion his administration projected in January. Brown attributed the higher deficit to court challenges, lower-than-expected tax revenues and other factors. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
Expanded Website Tracks Quality of Dialysis Clinics
This week, a newly expanded website will allow U.S. residents to view how dialysis clinics across the U.S. compare with one another based on 16 quality measures. The no-cost website was launched two years ago by the not-for-profit news organization ProPublica and now includes statistics through 2010. San Jose Mercury News.
Brown Wants To End Wasteful Spending on 718 State Reports
On Tuesday, Gov. Brown announced a plan to eliminate the production of 718 bureaucratic reports that he believes are unnecessary. Legislative action is needed to eliminate 375 of the reports, while the Brown administration will end the other 343. The governor’s office did not specify how much money would be saved through the plan, but Brown spokesperson Elizabeth Ashford said eliminating the reports would result in “significant savings in terms of employee productivity, and printing and distribution costs.” Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal,” Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Yolo County Awards Three-Year Mental Health Contract
Turning Point Community Programs has received a three-year contract from Yolo County to operate the Full Service Partnership program, which aims to provide a range of health services to residents with certain mental illnesses. The contract begins July 1 and is fully funded through the Mental Health Services Act. Sacramento Business Journal.
California To Conduct Four-Year Study of HIV-Prevention Pill Truvada
California researchers are planning a four-year study to examine if use of the HIV-prevention pill Truvada among certain residents could help slow the spread of the disease. Some experts question the pill’s efficacy and say it could lead to more people not using condoms. Los Angeles Times, U-T San Diego.