Latest California Healthline Stories
San Francisco Could See Uptick in Drug-Resistant HIV Strains, Study Says
A new study suggests that about 60% of the drug-resistant HIV strains in San Francisco could be strong enough to create mini-epidemics. Health officials said physicians should continue following standard treatment protocol for HIV-positive patients. San Francisco Chronicle.
Drive-Through Clinics Show Promise, Stanford Finds
An experiment conducted at Stanford last summer shows that drive-through medical clinics are an effective way to screen and treat patients during a pandemic. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department has awarded a grant to Stanford to develop a drive-through medical clinic approach. San Jose Mercury News.
H1N1 Flu Exerts Higher Toll Among California’s Minority Communities
New state data find that black and Hispanic Californians are significantly more likely than whites to be hospitalized or die as a result of H1N1 influenza. Health officials say the disparities could stem from insufficient access to health care and other factors. Los Angeles Times.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of January 15, 2010
A report by state regulators found that a patient had the wrong kidney removed in an operation at Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center. Meanwhile, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center won a grant from the Verizon Foundation that it will use to improve efficiency and outreach to uninsured Californians.
Families of Autistic Children Sue Over Treatment Cuts
On Thursday, the families of seven autistic children filed a lawsuit against the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center for discontinuing a type of treatment that they say was helping their children. Gloria Wong, executive director of the medical center, said the treatment was discontinued because of a $384 million budget cut to the state’s 21 regional medical centers. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Obama, Democratic Leaders Push To Wrap Up Reform
President Obama and Democratic congressional leaders are trying to work out final deals on health care reform legislation and submit a merged version of the Senate and House proposals to the Congressional Budget Office today. Political observers say the special election for the Massachusetts Senate seat is increasing pressure to complete work on health care reform. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Tentative Agreement Reached on Excise Tax on High-Cost Plans
Yesterday, Democratic negotiators hammered out a tentative deal to scale back the proposed excise tax on high-cost insurance plans after meeting with union leaders who oppose the provision. However, the new deal creates almost a $60 billion funding gap in the health care reform bill. Wall Street Journal et al.
Advocates: Cuts Could Propel Elderly, Disabled Into Nursing Home Care
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s new budget plan would drastically cut or eliminate certain state services for seniors and adults with disabilities. Advocates say the cuts could drive more people into nursing homes and escalate Medi-Cal costs. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” Sacramento Bee.
Editorial Endorses House Take on Insurance Exchanges
Provisions in the House health care reform bill that would create a national health insurance exchange are “far better” than elements of the Senate bill that would create exchanges at the state level, according to an editorial, which urges House leaders from California to push hard to include a national exchange in final legislation. Sacramento Bee.
Molina Healthcare Warns of Loss for Fourth Quarter 2009
This week, Long Beach-based Molina Healthcare issued a guidance warning that it might post a loss of as much as $6.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, down significantly from net income of $14.8 million for the same period a year earlier. Molina’s CEO traced the loss to an increase in the cost of treating members with H1N1 flu. Payers & Providers.