Latest California Healthline Stories
High Court Must Choose Issues To Consider in Health Reform Lawsuits
If the U.S. Supreme Court decides to rule on the constitutionality of the health reform law’s individual mandate, it also must decide which other issues to review. The court has received petitions from four lawsuits that have asked for reviews of different pieces of the law. Politico et al.
Employers Must Fix Health System, Trade Group Says
In a new report, the Bay Area Council — a trade group that represents more than 275 large employers in California — called on business leaders to take steps to improve the health care system. The report recommends that health insurers and self-insured businesses offer incentives to health care providers to keep patients healthy. It also calls on employers to implement incentive-based programs that encourage workers to stay healthy to combat chronic diseases. A Los Angeles Times editorial states that the report helps “promote a more affordable, higher-quality [health care] system” by urging California’s employers “to use their health care dollars to start fixing the system.” That is “a message from the Bay Area that should be heeded throughout the state,” the editorial concludes. Becker’s Hospital Review, Los Angeles Times.
Medicare Premium Hike May Offset Social Security COLA
Higher Medicare Part B premiums in 2012 could offset as much as 25% of a planned cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries. On Wednesday, the Social Security Administration announced that beginning in January beneficiaries will receive a 3.6% cost-of-living increase, or an extra $39 monthly on average, the first increase since 2009. In May, Medicare trustees projected that premiums for Part B, which covers physician services, would be about $106.60 monthly in 2012. At that rate, about one-quarter of beneficiaries would have lower premiums, while the rest would pay about $10.20 more each month. AP/Christian Science Monitor, San Francisco Chronicle.
Editorial Urges S.F. Mayor To Veto Health Care Law Change
A San Francisco Chronicle editorial argues that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors “seems to have lost sight of its mission” to close a loophole in a city mandate requiring employers to provide funds for employees’ health care costs. Earlier this month, the board granted preliminarily approval to a measure by Supervisor David Campos that “would leave any unspent money in an individual account for at least 18 months after the employee left the job.” The editorial states that this money “might not necessarily increase workers’ access to health care,” concluding that Mayor Ed Lee “should follow through on his threat to veto the Campos legislation.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Health Reform Law’s Individual Mandate Not Severable, DOJ Says
In a brief filed with the Supreme Court this week, the Department of Justice argues that if the high court finds the health reform law’s individual mandate to be unconstitutional, it also would have to invalidate two other provisions aimed at improving access to care. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Study: Obesity, Diabetes Rates Lower for Women Who Leave Poorer Areas
A new study finds that rates of diabetes and extreme obesity are lower among women who moved from low-income communities to high-income areas than for those who remained in low-income areas. The study involved five major cities, including Los Angeles. CNN et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of October 21, 2011
Some El Camino Hospital workers are seeking to place a measure on the November 2012 ballot that would cap the salaries of the nine highest-salaried hospital executives. Meanwhile, Rady Children’s Hospital is launching a final push in its five-year, $220 million fundraising campaign.
CMS Issues Final Rule on ACOs, Adding Flexibility for Participation
On Thursday, CMS issued its final rule on accountable care organizations. Some health care providers say the rule relaxes key requirements for ACO participation, but insurer and employer groups are expressing concern. Kaiser Health News et al.
Use of Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Homes Spurs Debate
Ventura County stakeholders are debating the safety and efficacy of the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing homes. Many patient advocates oppose the practice, citing an FDA black-box warning that antipsychotic drugs can cause severe side effects and nearly double the risk of death in patients with dementia. Meanwhile, county physicians and nursing home officials say that they dispense the drugs sparingly based on careful consideration of the risks and benefits to patients but note that sometimes the medications are necessary. Ventura County Star.
CDC: Antidepressant Use Up by 400% From 2005 to 2008
A CDC study released Wednesday showed that about one in 25 U.S. children ages 12 to 17 and one in 10 U.S. adults are taking antidepressants. The study was based on surveys and depression screenings of more than 12,000 U.S. adolescents and adults from 2005 to 2008. According to CDC, antidepressant use increased by nearly 400% during that period. The study found that antidepressants were the third most common drug used by people of all ages and the most common among individuals ages 18 to 44. Despite the high number of U.S. residents taking antidepressants, researchers noted that just one-third of survey respondents with symptoms of depression were taking medication, indicating that many people who are seriously ill are not receiving treatment. AP/Washington Post, Reuters.