Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Expands Coverage of Drugs for Cancer Treatment
Medicare has expanded its coverage of off-label use of some medications to treat cancer. Doctors had pushed for the changes, arguing that such treatments are critical to providing patients with the most up-to-date care. However, opponents of the move argue that the new approach might waste money and expose patients to side effects of drugs that might not help them. New York Times.
Challenges Await Embryonic Stem Cell Research
The Obama administration is expected to lift federal limits on human embryonic stem cell research funding, but federal officials likely will face some of the same obstacles California’s stem cell research program has faced in trying to encourage companies to launch embryonic stem cell studies. San Jose Mercury News.
Psychiatric Technicians Union Sues To Block Mandatory Furloughs
To help address California’s mounting budget deficit. Gov. Schwarzenegger has ordered unpaid furloughs for state employees. The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians is the latest union representing state workers to challenge the order. Sacramento Bee‘s “State Worker.”
California Sees Little Response to Language Assistance Rules
Rules that require health insurers to provide interpreters to members whose primary language is not English took effect on Jan. 1 in California, but state officials have fielded few inquiries about the requirement from consumers. California regulators are working to build public awareness of the regulations through foreign language media and other strategies. Ventura County Star.
Orange County Children Have High Rate of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay among kindergarten students in Orange County is 33%, compared with the state average of 27%, according to the Dental Health Foundation. Meanwhile, third graders in Orange County have a tooth decay rate of 75%, according to Sandra Bolton, director of Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County. A 2007 state law requires all public school students entering kindergarten and first grade to receive oral health screenings prior to the start of the school year. Orange County Register.
Free Clinics in Ventura County Grappling With Jump in Patient Visits
Statistics show that free clinics nationwide are seeing an increase in patients, and clinics in Ventura County are no exception. One facility in Simi Valley had almost twice as many patient visits in 2008 as it did in 2006. Ventura County Star.
Expansion of Children’s Health Insurance Could Clear Senate This Week
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program is set to expire on March 1, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expects the Senate to approve legislation to reauthorize and expand the program this week. The House approved similar legislation earlier this month. CQ Today et al.
Many Hospitals Unlikely To Meet Seismic Safety Deadlines
Up to half of the state’s hospitals at risk of seismic damage or collapse will not meet state construction requirements due to economic conditions and other factors, according to a new California HealthCare Foundation policy brief. A 1994 state law requires hospitals at risk of earthquake damage to retrofit or rebuild by 2008 or face closures. The deadline later was delayed until 2013, or 2015 or 2020 in special cases. Modern Healthcare.
California Hospitals Cut Back Pediatric Beds, Analysis Shows
A Los Angeles Times analysis indicates that California lost almost 20% of its pediatric hospital beds from 1998 to 2007. Health policy experts have raised concerns that children might not be receiving appropriate care because of the cutbacks, which have resulted in pediatric services being concentrated at a small number of facilities. Los Angeles Times, United Press International.
Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research Could Flow to Calif.
President Obama is expected to reverse rules that limit federal funding for stem cell research. California researchers could be ahead of the game in part because the state has been funding human embryonic stem cell research for several years. KQED’s “The California Report.”