Latest California Healthline Stories
Stanford Researchers Find EHRs Do Not Improve Quality
Electronic health records, when paired with clinical decision support software, do not necessarily improve health care quality, according to a Stanford University study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers studied data from more than 250,000 outpatient visits between 2005 and 2007 and found that only one index of care quality — diet counseling for high-risk adults — out of 20 scored significantly higher in clinics using EHRs compared with clinics using paper-based records. Bloomberg et al.
Poll Finds Half of U.S. Residents View Health Reform Law Unfavorably
Fifty percent of U.S. residents say they have unfavorable views of the health reform law, the highest level since April 2010, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll. More than 60% of respondents disapprove of GOP efforts to defund the law, according to the poll. Politico.
Concerns Raised Over Brown’s Plan To Shift Services to Counties
Advocates for low-income residents are worried that some counties might provide lower levels of services under Gov. Brown’s plan to shift control of some state programs to local jurisdictions. State officials say such concerns are overblown. San Francisco Chronicle.
Treasurer: IOUs Could Be on the Horizon if Budget Action Stalls
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer said California might need to start issuing IOUs this spring if lawmakers fail to reach a budget deal. In 2009, the state issued IOUs to cover payments to health clinics and other entities. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
State Could Lose Funding if Reform Law Is Repealed
California could lose tens of millions of dollars in federal funding if Republicans are successful in repealing or blocking some provisions of the health reform law. Marian Mulkey — director of the Health Reform and Public Programs Initiative at the California HealthCare Foundation — said the state’s insurance exchange would be unsustainable in the long run if funding were removed. The GOP also could cut funding for federal agencies that are charged with implementing elements of health reform. San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Rep. Herger To Introduce Bill With GOP Ideas on Reform
This week, Rep. Wally Herger plans to reintroduce a bill that includes Republican proposals for reforming the U.S. health care system. Herger said the legislation aims to encourage competition among insurers, restrict unnecessary malpractice lawsuits, promote health savings accounts and reduce wasteful spending. Herger initially introduced the bill in May 2010, but it failed to advance to committee. Chico Enterprise-Record.
GOP Continues Efforts To Dismantle Provisions of Health Reform Law
House Republicans are working to complicate the rollout of the health reform law and are expected to conduct hearings on related actions the administration has taken. Meanwhile, the GOP is seeking a vote in the Senate on a bill to repeal the law. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Calif. Hospitals Prioritize Efforts To Curb Rates of Infections at Facilities
Hospitals in California increasingly are launching initiatives to reduce the rates of infections acquired at their facilities. Some infection-control programs involve the use of antiseptics, checklists and nurse training programs. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
AHRQ: Hospitalizations Up Among Medicaid Beneficiaries
Hospital admissions for Medicaid beneficiaries increased by 30% between 1997 and 2008, outpacing a 5% increase in privately insured patient admissions, according to a statistical brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. AHRQ also found that Medicaid was the primary payer for almost one in five hospital stays in 2008. FierceHealthcare.
Arizona Gov. Signs Bill Authorizing Waiver From Medicaid Provision
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed legislation allowing her to apply for a waiver from a health reform law provision that bans states from restricting Medicaid eligibility. Arizona is the first state to take steps for such a waiver. Washington Post, Healthcare Finance News.