Latest California Healthline Stories
Kaiser Permanente Opens D.C.-Based Innovative Clinic
On Tuesday, Kaiser Permanente unveiled its Center for Total Health in Washington, D.C., which provides information on health care technologies and offers interactive learning exhibits. The center, which opens to the public on April 11, also will help Kaiser engage health care policymakers from the U.S. and around the world. San Francisco Business Times et al.
Obama, Lawmakers Fail To Agree on Long-Term Federal Spending Bill
Lawmakers have been unable to reach an accord on a federal spending measure that would avert a government shutdown on Friday. Disagreement on a long-term measure persists over provisions that would cut health care-related funding. Los Angeles Times et al.
FDA Proposes Calorie Count Rules for U.S. Restaurants
Last week, FDA issued proposed rules that would require some restaurants and fast food chains to post the calorie content of standard menu items. The rules — which are mandated by the federal health reform law — would apply to any food-selling chains that have 20 or more locations nationwide and to any businesses that either define themselves as restaurants or devote more than 50% of their floor area to the sale of food. Los Angeles Times, MedPage Today.
CareSouth’s California Assets Bought by Ky. Company
Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare has acquired home health care company CareSouth’s California agencies for an undisclosed amount. According to a release from Kindred Healthcare, the assets it is acquiring produced about $11 million in revenue last year. Kindred Healthcare has operations at 696 locations in 40 states. Louisville Business First.
Sutter Health Pushes EHR Adoption in Northern Calif.
On Monday, Sutter Health announced a new initiative, called Sutter Community Connect, that aims to help Northern California independent physicians join its electronic health record system. According to Sutter, regional hospital corporations will make donations that will cover up to 85% of the costs associated with EHR adoption for qualified independent physicians. San Francisco Business Times.
Panel Considers Bill That Would Boost Scrutiny of Health Plan Rate Hikes
Today, the Assembly Committee on Health is expected to vote on AB 52, which would authorize Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to review health insurance rate hikes and reject those that he deems excessive. Similar legislation has failed in the past. KPCC’s “KPCC News” et al.
GOP’s 2012 Budget Plan Seeks To Block Reform, Adjust Health Programs
Republicans’ fiscal year 2012 budget plan would overhaul Medicaid and Medicare and attempt to block implementation of the federal health reform law. Some experts say the proposed Medicaid changes could jeopardize coverage for children. Reuters/Orlando Sentinel et al.
UCSD Study Links Surgeon Availability, Trauma Care
Better distribution of surgical care could promote better health outcomes for U.S. motor vehicle trauma patients, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. For the study, researchers from UC-San Diego School of Medicine examined the relationship between the three-year averages of motor vehicle crash deaths and the availability of surgeons in 3,225 U.S. counties. The researchers found that an increase of at least one surgeon per one million persons in the U.S. was associated with 0.16 fewer motor vehicle-related deaths. To address the surgeon shortage and evenly distribute trauma services, the researchers suggest increasing new surgeon training, redistributing the trauma work force and developing hospital groups that would offer patients different levels of care. FierceHealthcare et al.
Brown Signs Bill To Curb Prison Overcrowding by Transferring Inmates
Gov. Brown has signed a bill to transfer tens of thousands of state inmates to county jails. Federal judges have ordered California to reduce its inmate population to address deficiencies in prison health care conditions. Los Angeles Times, Central Valley Business Times.
Three First 5 Commissions To Sue State Over Planned Funding Shift
Today, First 5 commissions in Fresno, Madera and Merced counties plan to file a lawsuit over budget legislation recently signed by Gov. Brown. The legislation would shift $1 billion from First 5 programs to Medi-Cal children’s services. Fresno Bee et al.