Latest California Healthline Stories
New State Plan Outlines Strategies for Tackling Alzheimer’s Disease
State officials and advocates have released a 10-year plan that outlines strategies for addressing Alzheimer’s disease in California. The plan calls for ramping up research on Alzheimer’s disease and streamlining services for people with the condition. Sacramento Bee et al.
GOP Begins Process To Develop Legislation To Defund Health Reform
On Wednesday, a House panel convened a hearing to discuss five sections of the federal health reform law that require government funding. Republicans say the funding should be considered discretionary and thereby subject to removal. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
USC Researchers Unveil New Index for Measuring Obesity
Researchers from the University of Southern California recently developed the body adiposity index, which relies on height and hip measurements to determine whether individuals are obese, according to a study published in the journal Obesity. The study states that the body mass index method is not flexible enough to be used for both men and women, across ethnic groups or by athletes. Reuters.
Brown, Republican Lawmakers Resume Budget Negotiations
Five GOP senators who declared an impasse in budget talks earlier this week have resumed negotiations with Gov. Brown. Senate and Assembly leaders said they might hold votes on the budget plan tomorrow. Sacramento Bee, AP/San Jose Mercury News.
Opinion: No ‘Credible’ Plan Exists To Rein In Medi-Cal
“While many commentators, including the governor, have said this may be the time to enact pension reforms, no one has made a credible proposal to address the long-term fiscal threat posed by the state’s largest entitlement, Medi-Cal,” California’s Medicaid program, Michael Genest — director of finance for former Gov. Schwarzenegger and principal of Capitol Matrix Consulting — writes in a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece. Genest discusses Gov. Brown’s proposals to extend taxes and enact “expenditure reductions” to address the state’s budget deficit, adding that “longer-term fiscal pressures would require dramatic additional solutions, either rolling back entitlements or raising taxes even more.” San Francisco Chronicle.
45% of Full-Time Workers Have Job-Based Coverage
The percentage of full-time employees who receive health coverage through their employers has declined over the previous three years and was at 45% in February, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. The poll also found that more than 25% of U.S. residents currently are covered by a government health insurance program. United Press International.
CMS Incorporates New Factors Into Analysis of Medicare Spending
After incorporating adjustments for patient health and geographic cost factors, a new CMS analysis shows that some areas of the U.S. that previously had been cited for high levels of Medicare spending actually had below-average Medicare spending rates. Kaiser Health News.
Report: Nursing Home Sector Fuels Economic Activity in California
A report finds that California’s nursing home industry generates nearly $17.9 billion in annual revenue and supports about 179,300 jobs. Only New York outpaces California for the amount of economic activity generated by nursing homes. Sacramento Business Journal.
Job Growth in U.S. Hospitals Regained Steam Last Month
Hospitals added 2,100 jobs in February after payrolls grew by only 700 positions in January, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released last week. Overall, the health care sector added 34,300 jobs in February, more than double the number of new positions created the month prior. Ambulatory care services continued to be the main driver of job growth last month, accounting for 16,900 new jobs, while nursing and residential care facilities added 15,000 new positions in February. The nation’s overall unemployment rate decreased slightly to 8.9% last month, down from 9% in January. HealthLeaders Media.
Maine Insurers Receive First Medical Spending Change Under Reform
HHS has granted Maine the first adjustment to medical-loss ratio rules under the health reform law. The adjustment allows insurers in the state’s individual market to spend 65% of premiums on medical costs, rather than 80% to 85% as required under the overhaul. Modern Healthcare et al.