Latest California Healthline Stories
Officials Seek Ways To Continue Offering Breast Cancer Screening
Although the state’s Public Health Department no longer accepts new enrollees for its breast cancer detection program, it continues to stress the importance of getting screened. Officials say the program cannot screen women because of decreased funding. HealthyCal.
Study: Community Programs Reduce Heart Disease Risks
Community heart health programs reduced the risk of heart disease by 0.65% over a decade, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Participation in such programs could avert 650 heart attacks or strokes annually for every one million people, study lead author Mary Pennant said. Reuters.
State Making Some Progress on Childhood Obesity Rates
Since 2005, obesity rates have fallen for white and Asian children and leveled off for Hispanic children, according to a study of 8.3 million California public school students published Sunday in the journal Pediatrics. The study also determined that black, Hispanic and American Indian girls were two to three times as likely to have a high body mass index as white girls. The researchers said that more interventions are necessary to help curb obesity among children of high-risk populations. Los Angeles Times.
Not-for-Profits Team Up on Pediatric Dental Care Project
First 5 Santa Clara County plans to provide $1.2 million in seed money to finance the planning and construction of a new pediatric dental care center in Sunnyvale. The not-for-profit groups Health Trust and Children’s Dental Group will operate the center and repay First 5’s investment by offering no-cost dental services to a portion of First 5-referred patients during the next 10 years. San Jose Mercury News.
State Seeks Renewal of Medi-Cal Waiver To Help Expand Health Coverage
California aims to secure $10 billion in federal funding for Medi-Cal by renewing a waiver from Section 1115 of the Social Security Act. The state plans to use the funds provided by the waiver to help expand and restructure its health care coverage. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
Legal Opinion Questions Power of Medical-Loss Ratio Rule Clarification
Insurance industry officials have obtained a legal opinion stating that a recent letter from congressional Democrats seeking to clarify medical-loss ratio rules should not be considered an explanation of Congress’ legislative intent. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Sacramento Hospitals See Jump in Mental Health Care
Sacramento County emergency departments are seeing an increasing number of patients with mental health issues, about 20% of whom are uninsured, according to state data. About 4,100 patients requiring mental health care visited a Sacramento County ED across the first three months of 2010, up by 30% from 2009. Part of the uptick stems from last year’s closing of the county’s mental health crisis unit. Sacramento Bee.
State Aid Package Includes Health Funds for L.A. County
Los Angeles County stands to receive more than $60 million in federal funding to support health care-related programs, as part of the $26 billion state aid package that President Obama signed into law last week. The Department of Health Services will get $22 million, the Department of Public Social Services will receive $26 million and the Department of Mental Health will collect $12 million. Los Angeles Times.
L.A. County Malpractice Payouts Rose by 50% in Two Years, Study Finds
Although the number of medical malpractice cases filed against Los Angeles County facilities declined in recent years, the amount of money the county has paid to settle such lawsuits increased between 2005 and 2007, an Abaris Group study finds. Los Angeles Daily News.
Many States Lack Legal Authority To Regulate Some Health Law Details
Many U.S. states lack sufficient power to oversee certain consumer protections mandated by the health reform law. Meanwhile, the federal government is expected to provide funding to help state regulators enact some reform provisions. New York Times, USA Today.