Latest California Healthline Stories
Editorial Applauds Poizner’s Work in Insurance Post
“The state insurance commissioner plays a crucial role in protecting Californians against a system that is tilted in favor of insurance companies,” and Steve Poizner “understood that duty to consumers,” the Merced Sun-Star writes in an editorial. The editorial continues, “He developed regulations to stop insurance companies from canceling policies after someone gets a tragic illness,” adding, “Democrat Dave Jones will be the next insurance commissioner, and Poizner gave him a solid foundation to work from.” Merced Sun-Star.
Counties Implementing New Child Hospice Care Program
Torrance-based TrinityCare Hospice is leading implementation of pilot programs in Fresno and Los Angeles counties that will allow children on Medi-Cal to receive palliative care and still seek continuing treatment. Orange County officials implemented the program last year. Under a 2006 state law, California secured a waiver from federal hospice rules that kept the two options separate for patients with public insurance. Los Angeles Daily News.
Racial, Ethnic Health Disparities Persist in California, Study Says
A report by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development finds that black Californians are significantly more likely than other racial or ethnic groups to be hospitalized for preventable conditions such as asthma and diabetes. Sacramento Business Journal, Los Angeles Times.
Asthma Hits California’s Low-Income Residents Hardest, Report Finds
A new report finds that nearly five million Californians have been diagnosed with asthma and that low-income people with the condition generally visit hospitals more often and report more absences from school or work than those with higher incomes. Vallejo Times Herald et al.
Reports Look at Ways State Addresses Mental Health Care
In its December edition of “Health Dialogues,” KQED’s “The California Report” examines mental health issues. The edition includes segments on children’s and adolescents’ mental health care, and on efforts to ensure access to mental health care services. KQED’s “The California Report.”
Action Required To Meet Baby Boomer Needs, Editorial Says
“The baby boom generation begins to turn 65 this year. [and] most of the elderly eventually need some assistance to perform basic activities of daily living,” a Sacramento Bee editorial states. The Bee cites a Legislative Analyst’s Office report that states that nearly 66% of spending in Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, is related to care for the elderly and disabled. “In the future, long-term care insurance has to play a more significant role in the financing of home care and nursing home services,” the editorial concludes. Sacramento Bee.
Brown Expected To Propose Cuts to Medi-Cal, Other Programs
Sometime soon after taking office today, Gov.-elect Jerry Brown is expected to introduce a budget proposal that could include sweeping cuts to nearly all programs that receive state funding, including Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. Sacramento Bee et al.
Data Show Many People With Pertussis Received Vaccine
An investigation of whooping cough, or pertussis, cases in California and other states has revealed that many individuals who contracted the disease had received vaccinations. KPBS and the Watchdog Institute — a not-for-profit group based at San Diego State University — found that, in pertussis cases where inoculation histories were known, between 44% and 83% of individuals had received a whooping cough immunization in nine California counties with high rates of infection. As of Dec. 15, state health officials said there were 7,824 reported cases of whooping cough. Riverside Press-Enterprise et al.
California Releases Data Detailing Unnecessary Admissions to Hospitals
New data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development show that preventable hospitalizations in California have decreased for 10 of 14 medical conditions analyzed. Researchers say improved treatment could have a role in the findings. Sacramento Bee et al.
Officials: More Work Needed on Hospital Infection Reports
State officials say several issues need to be addressed regarding new data on hospital-acquired infections to make the information more beneficial for consumers. Kevin Reilly — chief deputy director for policy and programs at the California Department of Public Health — said that uniform reporting standards are necessary and that staffing issues resulted in inconsistent reporting from hospitals. The state will require hospitals to report to CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network. Sacramento Bee, AP/San Jose Mercury News.