Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Care Sector Jobs Rose During Economic Recession
Although the recent economic recession caused a 6.8% decline in non-health care jobs since late 2007, employment in health care has increased by 6.3% during that period, according to a report from the Altarum Institute’s Center for Studying Health Spending. The report also found that the area with the most health job growth in the previous year has been outpatient care centers at 5.3%, while hospitals have had the lowest job growth rate at 0.7%. Healthcare Finance News, Fierce Health Finance.
GOP Shows No Interest in Tax Proposal; Brown Seeks Cost-Cutting Tips
State Senate Republicans say they are not interested in supporting Gov. Brown’s plan to let Californians vote on extending taxes and instead prefer more spending cuts. Meanwhile, Brown is asking for more ideas on reducing government inefficiency. Sacramento Bee et al.
Health Care Experts Seek To Improve Rx Drug Compliance
Health care experts recently have been working to reduce the number of U.S. residents who do not comply with prescription drug instructions, which costs up to $290 billion in medical expenses annually. U.S. Pharmacopeia — a not-for-profit organization that sets quality and safety standards for FDA-approved drugs — is aiming to simplify, clarify and standardize drug labels by using simple words, big fonts and clear instructions on pill bottles. Other companies are designing ways to remind patients to take their medications, including sending text messages to patients, using a wireless pill bottle that lights up and beeps and educating patients on possible side effects of taking their medicines incorrectly. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.
Opinion: Medi-Cal To Be a ‘Bust’ on Long-Term Care
In an Inland Valley Daily Bulletin opinion piece, Stephen Moses — president of the Center for Long-Term Care Reform — argues that Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, will be unable to provide the long-term care many residents will need and that the cost of long-term care will fall to individuals. He writes, “Budget challenges have forced Medi-Cal to cut back on home care and adult day health programs. Californians should expect such cuts to continue and increase.” He adds, “On the other hand, when more Californians pay their own way, access to long-term care will improve, along with its quality.” Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
Lieu, Runner Win Special Elections, Avoid Runoffs
On Tuesday, former Assembly members Ted Lieu and Sharon Runner won their respective special elections for seats in the state Senate. The special elections were the first held under a new state balloting system, in which the two candidates with the most votes compete in a runoff, not the top finisher from each party. However, because both Lieu and Runner won a majority of the vote, there will not be runoff elections. Los Angeles Times, KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Obama Administration Responds to Criticism of 2012 Budget Proposal
Republicans have criticized President Obama for failing to address entitlement spending in his budget proposal. Obama acknowledged that Medicare and Medicaid are key drivers of deficit growth but said that he wants a bipartisan solution to the problem. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Many State Medicare Beneficiaries Readmitted to Hospitals in 30 Days
A study estimates that 81,000 Medicare beneficiaries in California, or about 20% of the Medicare population, are readmitted to hospitals within 30 days of being discharged. Health reform provisions aim to penalize hospitals for high readmission rates. San Francisco Chronicle.
House To Consider Plan To Offset Cost of 1099 Tax-Reporting Repeal
The House Ways and Means Committee will consider a proposal that would offset the cost of repealing the reform law’s 1099 tax-reporting requirement by allowing the federal government to recapture more overpayments to consumers who buy health insurance through state-based exchanges. CQ Today.
Calif. Medical Schools Among Top Recipients of NIH Funds
UC-San Francisco and UC-Davis School of Medicine ranked third and 37th, respectively, in an annual ranking of U.S. recipients of NIH medical research funding. UCSF received $475.4 million from NIH in 2010, while UC-Davis received nearly $119 million. Sacramento Business Journal, San Francisco Business Times.
California Jurisdictions Face Rising CalPERS Contributions
About 130 jurisdictions in California have asked employees to contribute more to CalPERS or are developing plans to limit new-hire benefits. Jurisdictions that rely on CalPERS for retiree benefits are facing higher contributions in part because of investment losses and because retirees are living longer and drawing more benefits. Sacramento Bee.