Latest California Healthline Stories
DEA Seeks To Quicken Nursing Home Resident Access to Rx Medication
A new rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration aims to help nursing home residents obtain prescription pain and anti-anxiety medication more quickly. Under the guideline, physicians can authorize a nurse or health worker to communicate the need for such drugs. New York Times.
AHIP Voices Concerns With Oversight Rules for Insurance Exchanges
America’s Health Insurance Plans writes that the leadership of state health insurance exchanges should be independent from existing regulatory groups and that it opposes selective bidding processes to determine which health plans can participate. CongressDaily.
San Diego County Nets $25M for Health Worker Training
San Diego County is set to receive $25 million over the next five years to help low-income residents obtain training for jobs in the health care sector. The funds are part of the $67 million in Health Profession Opportunity grants that HHS awarded under the federal health reform law. San Diego County is the only California-based recipient of the grants. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Public Health Agency Releases Data on Health Worker Flu Vaccinations
A new report from the state Department of Public Health finds that 55% of California hospital employees received flu shots between 2008 and 2009. The findings are similar to data from a report published last month by the advocacy group Consumers Union. Payers & Providers.
L.A. Times Endorses Jones for Insurance Commissioner Post
The Los Angeles Times endorses Assembly member Dave Jones in the state insurance commissioner race because he “demonstrates a much better grasp of the details and complexities of insurance regulation” than his opponent, Assembly member Mike Villines. The Times writes, “Jones would make protecting insurance buyers his top priority [and] would be an energetic supporter of the new health care law.” Los Angeles Times.
Number of Whooping Cough Cases Highest in 60 Years
Pertussis, or whooping cough, has infected at least 5,272 Californians this year, the most since 1950, according to data released by the state Department of Public Health on Wednesday. Nine infants, who were too young to receive the necessary inoculations, have died from the infection. Officials are urging family members and caregivers to receive booster shots to avoid spreading the illness. Los Angeles Times, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Study Says Shorter Life Expectancy in U.S. Tied to Substandard Care
The U.S. health care system is less effective than systems in similarly developed nations and contributes to shorter life expectancy rates, according to a new study. Researchers say obesity, traffic fatality or murder rates did not significantly factor in to their results. Reuters.
New California Insurance Commissioner Will Help Set Up Health Exchanges
California’s next insurance commissioner will help roll out many provisions of the federal health reform law, including the state’s health insurance exchange. The two leading candidates for the position have weighed in on the issue. AP/San Jose Mercury News.
National Cancer Institute Gives Funds to Health Centers
The National Cancer Institute has provided more than $25 million to the Stanford University School of Medicine to study new methods to diagnose and treat cancer. NCI also awarded $5.6 million to the UC-Davis Cancer Center to set up the National Center for Reducing Asian American Cancer Health Disparities, which is the only center of its kind in the nation. San Francisco Business Times, Modesto Bee.
Project Seeks To Cut Hospital Heart Failure Readmissions
Five UC medical schools and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will use a three-year, $9.9 million grant to explore two approaches aimed at reducing hospital readmissions among heart failure patients. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality provided the funding as part of its Clinical and Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness program, which seeks to provide consumers with best practices information for health care decisions. Healthcare IT News.