Latest California Healthline Stories
Democratic Lawmakers Reaffirm Support for Health Care Reform Law
During two re-election events in Vermont last week, President Obama touted the benefits of the health reform law. Vice President Biden and Congressional Democrats also defended the overhaul during Sunday morning talk show appearances. USA Today‘s “The Oval” et al.
House Approves Ryan’s FY 2013 Budget Proposal, Axes Separate GOP Plan
Yesterday, the House approved House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan’s fiscal year 2013 budget proposal, which would repeal the health reform law and alter Medicaid and Medicare. The House rejected a budget plan by the Republican Study Committee. Wall Street Journal et al.
UCLA Report Predicts Better Employment Outlook for 2013
California’s unemployment rate for 2012 is expected to average out at 10.8% and fall to an average of 9.8% in 2013, according to a UCLA Anderson Forecast released Wednesday. The report noted that health care is among the stronger job sectors. The latest prediction is an improvement over the 10.5% average unemployment rate that was forecast for 2013 in the December 2011 report. Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Business Times‘ “Morning Call.”
One in 88 U.S. Children Has Autism or Related Condition, CDC Finds
A new CDC study finds that about one in 88 U.S. children has been diagnosed with autism or a related disorder by age eight. Health officials say autism diagnoses have been on the rise in recent years, partly because of improved awareness about the condition. New York Times et al.
OSHPD Awards $3.2M to Health Care Workforce Training Programs
The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development has awarded $2.8 million to nursing education programs and nearly $400,000 to physician assistant programs to expand the health care workforce throughout the state. Payers & Providers.
Lawmaker To Reintroduce Breast Cancer Screening Bill
On Wednesday, Sen. Joe Simitian announced that he is introducing a new bill that would require mammogram providers to inform women if they have dense breast tissue, which can mask cancer. The move comes nearly six months after Gov. Brown vetoed a similar bill. Simitian said he is working with Brown’s office to modify the bill’s language. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal,” San Jose Mercury News.
Study: Higher Rx Copays Lead to Fewer Filled Prescriptions
A new study from the University of Southern California suggests that families facing higher prescription drug copayments are less likely to fill prescriptions for their children, compared with families with lower copays. The study examined nearly 9,000 privately insured children with asthma. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Mortality Rates No Better in Pay-for-Performance Project
Mortality rates for older patients with common serious conditions were no better at hospitals participating in a Medicare pay-for-performance demonstration project than at hospitals with traditional payment models, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. MedPage Today.
UC-Berkeley, D.C. Lab Nab $35M for ‘Big Data’ Initiative
On Thursday, the Obama administration announced that UC-Berkley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Washington, D.C., will receive a total of $35 million in federal funding to participate in a national initiative to harness large amounts of information — including health care data — for research purposes. The funding is part of $200 million that six federal agencies have committed to the “Big Data Research and Development Initiative.” San Francisco Business Times‘ “Biz Talk,” New York Times.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 30, 2012
The final beam has been placed on the frame of the $150 million Temecula Valley Hospital, which is expected to open next year. Meanwhile, California Pacific Medical Center has reached a deal with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee to build five new medical facilities in the city.