Latest California Healthline Stories
Counties Lack Tools To Track Inmates Under Prison Shift
The implementation of Gov. Brown’s prison system realignment plan “has generally gone well,” according to a new Legislative Analyst’s Office report. However, the report notes that many counties lack systems to track the progress of inmates after they are transitioned from state to county supervision. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
FDA Announces Effort To Address Shortages of Two Cancer Treatments
FDA plans to temporarily allow the importation of alternatives for two cancer drugs that have been in short supply since November. The agency also released guidance on notifications that drugmakers must provide when they foresee drug supply issues. New York Times et al.
Study Finds Physicians Slow To Transition to Electronic Records
A Deloitte Center for Health Solutions study finds that only 25% of physicians are on track to meet the health information technology requirements of the meaningful use program. Many survey respondents said upfront costs pose a major barrier. National Journal, Deloitte release.
Health Plans Boost Diabetes Care, Struggle With Other Treatments
California’s Office of the Patient Advocate reports that major health plans improved care for patients with diabetes in 2010. However, the plans fell below national standards for treating other conditions. Contra Costa Times, Los Angeles Times.
State Forgoes Giving Medi-Cal Patients Drug Dispensers
The California Department of Health Care Services has abandoned a pilot project that would have installed automatic medication dispensers in the homes of Medi-Cal beneficiaries following recent DHCS findings that the initiative would not generate its projected $140 million in annual savings. CHCF Center for Health Reporting.
State Payments to CalPERS To Drop Under Brown’s Budget
Under Gov. Brown’s fiscal year 2012-2013 budget plan, annual state payments to CalPERS would drop from $3.5 billion this year to $3.1 billion in the new fiscal year, according to a report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office. The report recommended that the Legislature reject the governor’s pension proposal because it could freeze state support for California State University and University of California pensions. Capitol Weekly.
Calif. Fines Three Nursing Homes After Patient Deaths
On Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health announced that it has fined three Los Angeles County nursing homes after finding that inadequate care led to patient deaths. Fountain View Subacute and Nursing Center in Los Angeles received a $75,000 fine, while Downey Care Center and the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills each received an $80,000 fine. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now” et al.
LAO: Brown’s Expansion of Managed Care Pilot Would Be ‘Premature’
The Legislative Analyst’s Office has reviewed Gov. Brown’s plan to quickly expand a pilot program shifting residents eligible for both Medi-Cal and Medicare into managed care plans. LAO said the state should evaluate the results of the pilot program before expanding the initiative statewide. California Watch.
No-Cost Mail-Order Condom Program Targets Calif. Teens
Last week, the California Family Health Council launched the Condom Access Project — a no-cost mail-order condom program — in an effort to lower pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates among teenagers. The state-supported program is available in Alameda, Kern, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties, as well as parts of San Francisco. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Lead Poisoning Still a Threat to California Children
California has made significant progress in protecting children from lead poisoning over the past two decades, but health care workers still are detecting unsafe levels of the metal in youths, particularly those from low-income communities. Experts say the number of lead poisoning cases could increase as new research emerges about the harmful effects of low-level exposure and as government health programs sustain budget cuts. Los Angeles Times.