Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospitals Seek To Treat Fewer Patients Under Federal Overhaul
California hospitals are trying to keep patients out of their facilities in preparation for new federal health reform law rules. The law provides higher reimbursements for hospitals with better patient outcomes and penalizes facilities for preventable readmissions. Los Angeles Times.
Editorial: New Stockton Prison Medical Facility Is Not Enough
As “[m]assive” as a new prison medical facility in Stockton will be when it opens in December 2013, “it won’t be enough to address the needs of an aging, sick prison population,” according to a Stockton Record editorial. The editorial responds to a recent Legislative Analyst’s Office report recommending that California halt all improvements to the state’s prison medical system besides the Stockton facility. Stockton Record.
Judge Rules Against Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Boxes
On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that a federal law requiring tobacco companies to include graphic warning labels on cigarette packages is unconstitutional. The decision came three months after the judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking FDA from enforcing the requirement, citing concerns that it violates companies’ free speech rights. The government is expected to appeal the ruling. Reuters et al.
California Health Exchange Taps Ogilvy for PR Campaign
The California Health Benefit Exchange has selected Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide to develop a statewide marketing, outreach and education campaign. The contract is tentative, pending a five-day protest period set to end March 7. The $900,000 contract is valid through October 2013 and could lead to an additional contract worth tens of millions of dollars to launch the exchange. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
U.S. Senate Votes Down Blunt Amendment on Health Care Coverage
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 to table an amendment by Sen. Roy Blunt that would have allowed employers and health plans to deny coverage of any health service for moral or religious reasons. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones praised the Senate’s action. Politico et al.
Senator Introduces Bills To Curb Violence at Mental Hospitals
State Sen. Sam Blakeslee has introduced a bill that would keep certain individuals with drug use disorders out of state mental hospitals and another that would make assaulting hospital staff a felony for certain mental health patients. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Advocates: Women’s Needs Not Addressed in Prison Realignment Plan
A new law that shifts low-level offenders from state prisons to county jails does not address the needs of female inmates, according to women’s health advocates. They note that female prisoners often have unique needs, such as arranging child care. Contra Costa Times.
11 Class-Action Suits Combined as Single Case Over Sutter Data Breach
Sacramento County Superior Court will review a class-action lawsuit comprised of 11 individual lawsuits filed in response to a recent data breach at Sutter Health. The cases are being consolidated to maximize resources and avoid duplication. Sacramento Business Journal.
Calif. High Court To Review ‘Pay-for-Delay’ Rx Drug Deals
California is poised to become the first state to examine the legality of drugmakers paying competitors to delay production of low-cost generic versions of prescription drugs. Last month, the California Supreme Court agreed to review a 10-year-old class-action lawsuit involving Bayer, which paid Barr Pharmaceuticals to delay introduction of a generic version of the antibiotic Cipro. California Watch.
O.C. Board Delays CalOptima Leadership Reappointments
On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to delay the reappointments of Ed Kacic as chair of CalOptima’s board of directors and Adriana Moreno as a CalOptima director. CalOptima is Orange County’s Medi-Cal managed care plan. The supervisors will wait until the completion of investigations into allegations that Kacic and Moreno used their positions to obtain funds and other cutbacks on behalf of organizations they work for. Payers & Providers.