Latest California Healthline Stories
CDC Report: Asthma Rates Rising Among U.S. Population
The number of U.S. residents with asthma was about 24.6 million in 2009, up from 20.3 million in 2001, according to a new CDC report. The report found that asthma prevalence in the U.S. increased from 7.3% of the population in 2001 to 8.2% in 2009. It also showed that increases occurred among all demographic groups studied. Wall Street Journal, New York Times.
Plaintiffs Challenging Reform Law Ask Appeals Court To Uphold Ruling
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the health reform law have asked an appeals court to uphold a ruling that the law’s individual mandate is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, some states are considering how to avoid implementing the law while it is debated in the courts. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Legislative Counsel Sees Issues in Plan To Shift Redevelopment Funds
The Legislative Counsel Bureau is questioning the constitutionality of Gov. Brown’s plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies and shift $1.7 billion in redevelopment funds from local governments to the state as reimbursement for health care and other services. Sacramento Bee.
GOP Legislation Would Allow States To Cut Medicaid Enrollment
Republicans have introduced legislation that would repeal a health reform law provision requiring states to maintain existing Medicaid eligibility rules until 2014, when state-based health insurance exchanges are scheduled to open. Modern Healthcare, CQ Today.
Path Cleared for House Vote on Banning Federal Funding for Abortions
The House Rules Committee has approved a rule that allows the House to consider a bill that would ban federal funding for abortion services. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones opposes the legislation. CQ HealthBeat, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Lawmakers Seek To Increase CalFresh Program Enrollment
California lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at enrolling more individuals in CalFresh, the state’s food stamp program. The lawmakers and other advocates argue that expanding the program could help jump start the economy. AB 69 would establish a pilot program in two cities and authorize use of a Social Security database to identify people eligible for CalFresh, while AB 6 and AB 402 would streamline eligibility requirements in an effort to lower administrative costs that could be associated with a larger caseload. HealthyCal.
HHS Recognizes 37 Hospitals for Efforts To Fight Infections
On Monday, HHS for the first time recognized 37 hospitals and health care systems for their efforts to combat health care-associated infections. The awards highlight hospital efforts in two areas: prevention of central-line associated bloodstream infections and prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Modern Healthcare.
Advocates Push for Hiring of Workplace Safety Inspectors
The advocacy organization Worksafe is urging Gov. Brown to lift a statewide hiring freeze so the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health — or Cal-OSHA — can hire more inspectors. In a report released last week, Worksafe noted that violent work-related deaths are on the rise in California. The report cited several recent incidents, including the killing of a psychiatric technician at Napa State Hospital. California Watch.
Columnist: Medical Board of California Needs More Teeth
The Medical Board of California — “the state agency charged with protecting patients through ‘vigorous, objective enforcement’ of physician licensing and disciplinary laws” — is “a failed regulator,” Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik writes. Hiltzik continues, “California’s board consistently ranks near the bottom of all such bodies in the country when measured by the number of serious disciplinary actions it imposes … as a percentage of all doctors licensed in the state.” He suggests that one way to address this issue is to “replace [the board’s] majority of doctors and politicos with a few truly independent advocates for patient health.” Los Angeles Times.
House Passes Bill To Block Funds for State Insurance Exchanges
On Tuesday, the House approved, by a near party-line vote, legislation that would remove funding for state-based health insurance exchanges. The measure is unlikely to receive support from the Senate or President Obama. AP/Washington Post et al.