Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA To Require New Safety Measures for Radiation Scans
On Tuesday, FDA announced plans to increase regulation of three of the most potent forms of medical radiation partly in response to radiation overdoses reported at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles last year. The agency plans to require manufacturers of CT scanners and other imaging devices to include new safety controls in their products to prevent patients from receiving unsafe doses of radiation. New York Times, AP/Los Angeles Times.
Senate Dems Hope To Sidestep Mental Health, First 5 Funding Transfer
California Senate Democrats are expected to start working on a partial budget that could solve one-third of the state’s nearly $20 billion deficit. The proposal would avoid funding transfers from special accounts for mental health services and early childhood development. Sacramento Bee.
Study Suggests Parents’ Age Affects Risk of Autism in Kids
Maternal age beyond 40 is associated with higher risk of having a child with autism, while advanced paternal age also can contribute to such a risk, but only if the father is older and the mother is under 30, according to a study published on Monday in the February issue of the Autism Research journal. The study is one of the largest population-based studies to report how each parent’s age affects the risk of autism, analyzing 12,159 cases of the disorder in California during the 1990s. New York Times, Sacramento Bee.
HMOs Show Improvement in California’s Annual Report Card
The California Office of Patient Advocate’s annual report
card shows improvements by many of the state’s HMOs in patient satisfaction and
meeting national standards of care. However, many of the HMOs still fall short
on some measures, such as colorectal cancer screenings and administration of
antibiotics to children, according to the report card. Los Angeles Times et al.
Congress Joins Call for Anthem Blue Cross To Reconsider Rate Hikes
On Tuesday, a House committee and subcommittee announced plans to examine Anthem Blue Cross of California’s scheduled rate increases. Reps. Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak have called for testimony from Angela Braly, CEO of Anthem’s parent company WellPoint. Los Angeles Times et al.
Cluster of Defects Not Due to Kettleman Hills, State Says
The California Department of Public Health released initial findings from its investigation of a cluster of birth defects for children born in 2007 and 2008 to women who lived in Kettleman City showing that the cluster did not have a sole cause. Environmentalists and other observers questioned whether the Kettleman Hills landfill, which contains toxic chemicals, might have contributed to the cluster. New York Times.
California’s Tab for Retiree Health Care Benefits on the Rise
California’s unfunded liability for health care and dental benefits for retired public workers increased by $3.6 billion since an estimate was released last year and now stands at $51.8 billion. Controller John Chiang is urging the Legislature to do more to prefund the liability. Sacramento Bee.
Calif. DHCS Mailing Mistakenly Includes Beneficiaries’ SSNs
A recent mailing from the California Department of Health Care Services to nearly 50,000 adult day health care services beneficiaries mistakenly included their Social Security numbers. The state has begun alerting affected beneficiaries. San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee.
Sebelius, Poizner Ask Anthem To Explain Scheduled Premium Hike
Yesterday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter asking Anthem Blue Cross of California to justify a plan to raise premiums by up to 39% for about 800,000 individual policyholders. California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner also has asked the company to delay the increase, pending the results of an investigation by an independent actuary. AP/USA Today et al.
First Lady Launches Initiative To Combat Childhood Obesity
First lady Michelle Obama is launching a campaign against childhood obesity called “Let’s Move” that will include public service announcements, efforts to improve school nutrition and promoting better access to grocery stores in communities. Childhood obesity puts kids at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and other health problems. USA Today.