Latest California Healthline Stories
Bill To Let Minors Obtain Preventive STI Services Awaits Brown’s Decision
A bill that would allow individuals ages 12 and older to receive preventive care for sexually transmitted infections without parental consent is before Gov. Brown, who has not expressed an opinion on the measure. Critics have said the bill is an affront to parents’ rights. Sacramento Bee.
S.F. Program Targets Patients With Diabetes, Mental Illness
Two UC-San Francisco graduate nursing students have launched a program, called SF Empower, that aims to help patients who have a mental illness, and diabetes or a high risk of developing diabetes, cope with the disease and stay healthy. The program operates out of Glide Health Services in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. Shawna Mitchell Sisler, who developed the program with Erin Lutes, noted that common techniques used to manage diabetes might not work the same way for individuals with severe mental or emotional ailments. San Francisco Chronicle.
Grocery Workers Ratify New Contract With Supermarkets
Over the weekend, nearly 62,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers union voted to accept a new labor contract agreement with Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons, three of the largest supermarket chains in Southern California. Under the deal, each worker will pay up to $15 for their health benefits, while the grocery chains will cover the rest of the cost. The contract ratification ended several months of contentious negotiations, which stalled over disagreements over how much each side would contribute to ensure the long-term viability of a health care trust fund for the workers. Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune.
Court Upholds State’s Medical Liability Cap on Noneconomic Damages
California’s Fifth District Court of Appeal has issued a ruling that upholds the $250,000 noneconomic damages cap in the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, saying the limit was established based on legitimate reasoning and does not compromise citizens’ rights. American Medical News.
Kentucky-Based Humana To Acquire California’s MD Care
On Friday, the Louisville, Ky.-based health insurance company Humana said it reached a deal to acquire MD Care, a southern California HMO, for an undisclosed amount. MD Care was founded in 2007 and offers Medicare Advantage plans to about 15,000 beneficiaries. The deal, which requires regulatory approval, is expected to close late this year. AP/Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters.
Judges Hear Arguments in Appeal of D.C.-Based Health Reform Lawsuit
On Friday, a three-judge panel heard testimony in a lawsuit challenging the federal health reform law. The lawsuit — filed by the American Center for Law and Justice on behalf of five private citizens — argues that the individual mandate conflicts with their religious beliefs. Wall Street Journal et al.
New Nursing Graduates Face Challenges Finding Jobs in S.F. Bay Area
Recent graduates from nursing programs in the San Francisco Bay Area are encountering difficulty finding employment opportunities. However, more jobs are expected to become available in the next few years as baby boomers age and require more health care services. San Francisco Business Times.
Thousands of Children Starting School Without Getting Vaccines
Thousands of California kindergarteners missed at least one vaccine in 2010 because parents filed personal belief exemptions. The rate of parents signing such exemptions has increased since 2004, raising concern among health officials. AP/San Diego Union-Tribune.
Probe Launched Into Patient Death Under Fill-In Nurses
Law enforcement and state health officials are investigating the death of a 66-year-old female cancer patient at the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. Hospital officials said the patient had been under the care of a temporary replacement nurse, who had been hired in response to last week’s California Nurses Association strike over a contract and benefits dispute. A police spokesperson said the replacement nurse allegedly gave the patient a fatal dose of medication, which the hospital described as an “extraordinarily rare” medical error. Steve O’Brien, chief medical officer at the hospital, said the medical center is conducting three investigations of its own and cooperating with the local police, coroner’s and California Department of Public Health investigations. San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News.
Report: Generic Medications Saved $931B in Last Decade
Over the last decade, consumers and the U.S. health care system have saved $931 billion because of increased use of generic prescription drugs, according to a Generic Pharmaceutical Association report. The report found that in 2010 generic drug use resulted in about $158 billion in savings, or $3 billion weekly. The report — which was based on an independently conducted analysis — found that Medicaid could save more than $1.3 billion annually by increasing use of generic drugs by two percentage points. Healthcare Finance News.