Latest California Healthline Stories
Study: U.S. Medical Schools Fall Short on LGBT Issues
Most medical schools do not adequately address topics that affect care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers at Stanford University surveyed medical school deans in the U.S. and Canada to assess their curricula on topics such as gender identity and disparities in health care access for LGBT populations. Nearly all students were taught to ask patients about the gender of their sexual partners, but a majority of medical schools devoted only five hours to instruction on other LGBT-related issues. New York Times‘ “Well.”
California Strives To Improve Coordination of Care for Dual Eligibles
California is among several states that are using a grant through the federal health reform law to implement efforts to boost care coordination, lower costs and eliminate duplicate services for residents eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal. Los Angeles Times.
Kaiser’s Mental Health Patients Forced To Wait for Care, Study Finds
A study by the National Union of Healthcare Workers finds that mental health care patients seeking care at Kaiser Permanente facilities often are forced to wait longer than the 10-day state requirement. Kaiser officials say the study’s data do not match their own. USA Today.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of November 11, 2011
CMS has notified Southwest Healthcare System that its two hospitals once again are in compliance with Medicare’s conditions of participation. Meanwhile, two financial ratings agencies have downgraded Eisenhower Medical Center’s credit rating.
Sacramento County Approves Retiree Health Care Subsidy
On Tuesday, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to continue providing a medical insurance subsidy in 2012 for retirees who are insured under a county health insurance program. An external actuarial report issued in September found that the county could pay up to $1.86 million for the subsidy next year. The county currently pays a monthly subsidy to 4,000 retirees in the program, but less than half as many retirees will be eligible for the benefit next year, according to the report. Sacramento Bee.
Advocates Protest Debt Panel’s Proposed Cuts to Public Health Fund
Yesterday, Trust for America’s Health announced that it has collected signatures from more than 700 public health groups that oppose a debt panel proposal to cut $8 billion from the federal health reform law’s Prevention and Public Health Fund. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Insurance Commissioner Files Brief Supporting Mental Health Ruling
State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has filed an amicus brief in support of a ruling that California’s Mental Health Parity Act requires health insurance companies to fully cover serious mental health conditions, including anorexia and autism. Lake County News.
October State Revenue Short by $810M, Raising Prospect for Cuts
Controller John Chiang reports that California’s revenue for October was $810.5 million below projections and is short $1.5 billion for the fiscal year. The shortfall could trigger deeper budget cuts to health and human services programs. Reuters et al.
Calif. Court Rules in Favor of City, County Medical Pot Bans
On Wednesday, a three-judge panel in the 4th District Court of Appeals in California upheld a Riverside city ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, ruling that state law allows cities and counties to enact such bans. The Inland Empire Patient’s Health and Wellness Center filed a lawsuit against Riverside after city officials banned the sale of medical marijuana in 2009. A Superior Court ruled in favor of the city, but the center’s medical pot dispensary remained open while the case was being appealed. An attorney for the center said it plans to appeal the latest ruling to the state Supreme Court. San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times.
HHS Restores Public Access to Physician Discipline Database
On Wednesday, HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration restored access to the public section of the National Practitioner Data Bank, which tracks physician disciplinary actions and malpractice claims. HHS blocked access to the public section earlier this year after a physician expressed confidentiality concerns. Upon reopening the database, HRSA officials said users must agree that they will not combine the data with publicly available records to identify physicians. Journalists and consumer advocates criticized the restriction, saying that it places restraints on press freedom. New York Times et al.