Latest California Healthline Stories
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.
Calif. AG Calls for Restraint in Medical Pot Crackdown
In a statement issued Thursday, California Attorney General Kamala Harris urged federal prosecutors to ensure that their efforts to crack down on state marijuana dispensaries do not “make it more difficult for legitimate patients to access physician-recommended medicine in California.” Two weeks ago, four U.S. attorneys sent letters to landlords and owners of more medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, noting that even though medical marijuana is legal under a 1996 state law, the dispensaries are in violation of federal drug laws. Harris acknowledged ambiguities in the state’s medical marijuana law but said they must be resolved by the state Legislature or the courts. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Nurses Say Epilepsy Drug Law Will Not Require Them To Train Others
Gov. Brown has signed into law a measure that allows non-medical school personnel to administer the anti-seizure medication Diastat, but nursing leaders say the law does not change another state mandate that prevents them from training non-licensed staff. Orange County Register.
New CDC Data Show Significant Decline in Hospital Infection Rates
CDC has released new data showing that rates for four common hospital-acquired infections dropped last year. The agency also found that health care providers made notable progress in adhering to strategies to prevent infections. National Journal et al.
S.F. AIDS Prevention Groups Merging To Streamline Care
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation has announced that the HIV/AIDS prevention programs and services of the Stop AIDS Project in San Francisco will become part of the foundation’s roster of HIV testing, substance misuse and case management programs in November. The foundation’s CEO Neil Giuliano said that together, the two organizations’ portfolios “are going to be stronger and have a greater local service impact.” Stop AIDS Project will retain its name and maintain its location, and its 13 employees will be absorbed into the foundation’s 110-member staff. Current Stop AIDS Project Executive Director Kyriell Noon will serve as the director of prevention services at the foundation. San Francisco Chronicle.
USC Pharmacy School To Staff More Safety-Net Clinics
On Wednesday, USC School of Pharmacy officials announced plans to double the number of pharmacists at safety-net clinics in Southern California by 2013 in response to the ongoing economic recession. The school currently provides pharmacists at 12 clinics, and that number will increase to 24. Officials said the pharmacists will help dispense medications, educate patients and monitor patients with chronic conditions. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now,” Payers & Providers.
Calif. Infant Mortality Rate at Record Low; Disparities Persist
California’s infant mortality fell to a new low of 4.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009, though some disparities remain. Meanwhile, the overall birth rate decreased to levels not seen since the Great Depression. AP/San Jose Mercury News, Sacramento Bee.
California Telehealth Law Could Cut Costs by $1B, Report Concludes
A Center for Connected Health Policy report finds that a new law that aims to expand telehealth in California could result in annual Medi-Cal savings of more than $1 billion. Much of the savings would come from using telehealth for chronic disease management. CMIO, CCHP release.
CDC: Number of ED Visits Reached Record High in 2009
On Tuesday, CDC released estimates showing that emergency department visits in 2009 increased by 10% to a record high 136 million, up from 123.8 million visits in 2008. The increase is the largest since the government started tracking the figures in the early 1990s. Physicians attribute the uptick in ED visits to an increase in demand and improvements that allow EDs to treat patients faster. Jay Kaplan, an emergency physician at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, said the increase also could be a sign of difficult economic conditions because patients who lose health insurance coverage seek care at EDs. San Francisco Chronicle, Modern Healthcare.
Study: Heart Failure Hospital Stays Fall, Saving About $4B
A new Journal of the American Medical Association study found that hospitalizations for heart failure dropped by 29.5% from 1998 to 2008, generating at least $4.1 billion in Medicare savings. Yale University researchers and colleagues examined fee-for-service claims for 55 million Medicare patients during the 10-year period. They found that the risk-adjusted rate of heart failure hospitalizations fell from 2,845 per 100,000 person-years in 1998 to 2,007 per 100,000 person-years in 2008. The study attributed the drop to several factors, including improved blood pressure control methods, improved use of evidence-based therapies and a shift toward outpatient heart failure treatment. AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution et al.