Latest California Healthline Stories
Orange County Hospital and ED Use Varies by Ethnicity
Latino and Asian residents in Orange County are hospitalized and seek emergency department care at lower rates than the county’s white residents, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Orange County Geographic Health Profile. The data show that Latino residents, who constitute 34% of Orange County’s population, account for 28% of ED visits and 27% of regular hospitalizations, while Asian residents, who constitute 16% of the county’s population, account for 10% of hospitalizations and 7% of ED visits. White residents, who constitute 46% of the population, account for 57% of hospitalizations and 47% of ED visits. Voice of OC.
Grocery Chains, Union To Resume Health Benefits Talks
A federal mediator has ordered the United Food and Commercial Workers union and three Southern California supermarket chains — Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons — to resume negotiations on employee health care benefits on Aug. 29. The order comes days after union members voted to reject the chains’ latest health care benefits proposal. The vote automatically authorized union officials to call for an employee strike after 72 hours. San Diego Union-Tribune, Orange County Register.
Dearth of Vital Drugs Spurs Review of Causes, Solutions
Federal officials, physician groups and drugmakers are examining possible solutions to the growing shortage of certain medications for life-threatening illnesses. At least 180 drugs — including medications for childhood leukemia, breast and colon cancer, infections and other diseases — have been declared in short supply this year. Many of the shortages involve generics that some companies have stopped producing because of low profitability. The shortages also have been caused by capacity limits or contamination issues at drug plants, stricter government regulation and the consolidation of drugmakers. Congressional legislation would give FDA the authority to demand that drugmakers give early warning of possible disruptions. New York Times.
ED Advertising Comes Under Fire as States Aim To Curb Routine ED Use
Some state officials are criticizing hospitals’ efforts to market their emergency departments, saying that such advertising campaigns undermine state efforts to reduce the number of Medicaid beneficiaries visiting EDs for nonemergency care. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.
California Infection-Reduction Initiative Cuts Costs, Mortality
A statewide campaign to reduce health care-associated infections in hospitals has slashed costs by about $11 million and lowered a number of infection rates. The three-year initiative involves 160 hospitals around California. Los Angeles Times.
Opinion: Electronic Payment Systems Must Be Overhauled
In light of “a never-ending stream of Medicare and Medicaid rip-off stories,” it is “no longer sensible to disburse public funds, on trust, through electronic systems,” Malcolm Sparrow — a professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and deputy chair of the White House Recovery Independent Advisory Panel, which advises on the integrity of the 2009 federal economic stimulus package — writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece. According to Sparrow, “Those committing fraud find it easy to get paid for fabricated claims because the government’s systems check for billing correctness but not for truthfulness.” He adds, “Such systems must now either be fortified with substantial resources for routine validation or, preferably, be phased out altogether through structural reforms.” Los Angeles Times.
Study: Hospitals Curb Treatment Time for Heart Attack Patients
A new study finds that about 91% of heart attack patients received treatment in the recommended 90-minute time frame in 2010, up from about 44% of patients in 2005. The study attributes the improvement to national initiatives to speed cardiac care. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.
Napa County Launches New Health Information Website
Napa County’s Health and Human Services Agency has launched NapaHealthMatters.org, a new website designed to provide residents with a range of health care information, advice and news. The site collates information from various county departments, hospitals, insurers and not-for-profit groups. Users also can access details about addiction treatment, care giving, counseling and insurance. Napa Valley Register.
Calif. Attorney General Files Brief Supporting Health Reform Law
California Attorney General Kamala Harris has filed a brief in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals supporting the constitutionality of the federal health care reform law. The brief was filed with nine other attorneys general. SF Weekly‘s “The Snitch,” Highland Community News.
WellPoint Finishes Acquisition of Calif.-Based CareMore
On Monday, health insurer WellPoint announced the completion of its acquisition of CareMore Health Group, the Cerritos, Calif.-based provider of Medicare Advantage and Special Needs plans for individuals with chronic illnesses. CareMore currently serves about 54,000 members in several markets in Arizona, California and Nevada. Modern Healthcare, Healthcare Finance News.