Latest California Healthline Stories
Annual Screening for Lung Cancer Is Cost-Effective, Study Finds
A new study published in the journal Health Affairs finds that annual CT scans for lung cancer in longtime tobacco users cost less than common screening practices for other types of cancer. The study also finds that such scans could save thousands of lives annually. NPR’s “Shots” et al.
Brown’s Proposed Cuts to IHSS Would Affect 254K Residents
Gov. Brown’s proposal to cut state spending on In-Home Supportive Services by $207 million would affect about 254,000 beneficiaries statewide and would result in a loss of $424 million in county and federal funding, for a total reduction of $631 million, according to a new California Budget Project report. Sacramento Business Journal.
Lawsuit Filed Over Health System’s Exposure of Data
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against St. Joseph Health System for allegedly allowing data on 31,800 California patients to be searchable online. St. Joseph Health operates several hospitals in California. According to a St. Joseph Health spokesperson, the suit is one of five filed against the health system for accidental release of information. North Bay Business Journal.
CMS Announces First 27 Participants in Medicare Shared Savings Program
Yesterday, CMS announced the first participants in Medicare’s Shared Savings Program, which provides incentives for health care providers to form accountable care organizations. Two of the first 27 participants in the ACO program are based in California. Modern Healthcare et al.
Riverside County Mulls $15M Pledge to UC Medical School
On Tuesday, Riverside County supervisors were expected to consider a $15 million pledge to UC-Riverside’s medical school to help the facility attain accreditation and maintain its goal of opening in summer 2013. The funding would be provided in installments over eight years. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Dispute Could Affect Emergency Medical Flights for Children
A business dispute between two aviation companies could slow emergency helicopter flights to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The dispute also could affect transportation of physicians and donated organs to various health care facilities throughout Southern California. Los Angeles Times.
UC Researchers Find Text Messages Benefit Patients
Researchers from UC-Berkeley and UC-San Francisco have found that automated text messages that include medication reminders or questions about patients’ moods are beneficial to patients with depression and other mental health problems. San Francisco Business Times.
Opinion: Congress Must Stop Rollout of Health Reform Law
In response to a recent article in The Hill that said the Obama administration is “quietly diverting” $500 million to the IRS to implement some of the federal health reform law’s provisions, Mike Brownfield — assistant director of strategic communications for The Heritage Foundation and editor of its policy blog, The Foundry — in an Orange County Register opinion piece writes, “So as the Supreme Court decides Obamacare’s constitutionality, the Obama administration is moving full-speed ahead to implement the law” adding, “There’s only one that can be done to stop it: Congress can and should repeal Obamacare today.” Orange County Register.
California’s March Revenues Fall $233.5M Short of Projections
California Controller John Chiang reports that March revenues were $233.5 million below expectations. Legislators are holding off on taking any action until Gov. Brown issues a revised budget plan. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Some Nail Polishes in Calif. Salons Contain Toxins, Report Finds
A new Department of Toxic Substances Control report finds that some nail polishes in California salons have high levels of toxins linked to various health conditions. Certain toxic polishes are labeled as being free from harmful agents, the report finds. AP/U-T San Diego et al.