Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: State Insurance Regulators Often Outbid by Industry Lobbyists
The health insurance industry often is able to exert more control over health care costs than state officials, according to an analysis. Insurers have provided millions of dollars in contributions to lawmakers who decide how much leverage state regulators have. Los Angeles Times.
Editorial: Allow Regulation of Health Care Premiums
The new health reform law will extend health insurance options to more California residents, “yet there are no guarantees that the choices will be fairly priced,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial states. It adds that lawmakers should pass a bill to grant the state insurance commissioner “broad powers to approve or deny increases in health coverage premiums,” concluding that the cost of medical coverage “should be reviewed for fairness and economic sense.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Report Finds Reduction of MRSA Infection Rate in Health Care Settings
A new study concludes that the number of health care-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections decreased from 2005 to 2008. Researchers say that improved prevention measures at hospitals have contributed to the decline. Los Angeles Times et al.
UCSF Study: Emergency Department Visits Rose 23% From 1997 to 2007
The study, conducted by UC-San Francisco researchers, attributes half of the increase in emergency department visits to the growth of the U.S. population. Researchers suggest that Medicaid also might have played a major role in the rise in ED visits. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Not-for-Profit Receives Grant for Pediatric Dental Care
The First 5 Sacramento Commission has awarded a $2.95 million grant to The Effort, a not-for-profit facility in Sacramento that offers addiction services, and mental health and primary care across the four-county region. The Effort will use the funding to create four pediatric dental care clinics, with the goal of reducing dental disease in children ages five and younger. The clinics could serve up to 11,000 patients by 2015. Sacramento Business Journal.
Experts Gear Up for Health Needs of Aging Population
Health officials and experts are considering various strategies to deal with an expected surge in demand for health services as the population of older U.S. residents continues to grow. Many stakeholders are calling for increased efforts to recruit health workers with training in geriatric medicine. In addition, some experts are touting the benefits of telemedicine for helping older residents manage their health conditions. Washington Post.
Pilot Program Aims To Boost Care for Seniors With Cancer
Stacy D’Andre, an oncologist at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, has established a pilot program designed to improve care for elderly patients with cancer. D’Andre’s geriatric oncology clinic is collecting information on the effectiveness of the program, which provides patients and their families with nutrition evaluation, medication management and other services. Sacramento Bee.
Governor Appeals Ruling in Attempt To Proceed With Planned Furloughs
Yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger filed an appeal challenging a judge’s ruling that temporarily halted his furlough order for state workers. The governor said the state might need to cut funding from various programs if the furloughs do not take place. Sacramento Bee et al.
Lawsuit Seeks Removal of Initiative To Shift S.F. Workers’ Health Fees
Yesterday, several San Francisco labor unions filed a lawsuit asking a judge to strip Proposition B from the November ballot. The measure would require city employees to contribute more to their retirement plans and health coverage for their dependents. San Francisco Chronicle.
Obama Signs Package To Give States $16B in Medicaid Funds
On Tuesday, the House approved a state financial aid measure that includes $16.1 billion in funding for states’ Medicaid programs through June of next year. President Obama immediately signed the legislation into law. Washington Post et al.