Latest California Healthline Stories
San Francisco Mayor Resists Cuts to HIV/AIDS Services
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom rejected a proposal to eliminate $3 million for complementary therapy for residents with HIV/AIDS. Mitch Katz, director of the city Department of Public Health, recommended the cuts, explaining that the city does not provide the same services to other residents with chronic diseases. Newsom will present his budget proposal on Monday. San Francisco Chronicle.
Troops See Significant Jump in New PTSD Diagnoses
In 2007, there were nearly 14,000 new cases of post-traumatic stress disorder across the military troops, compared with about 9,500 new cases in 2006 and 1,632 new cases in 2003, according to Army statistics. Army Surgeon General Eric Schoomaker attributed the rise in PTSD to increased exposure of troops to combat, as well as the fact that officials began keeping an electronic health record system in 2004 that captures more information and that people are becoming more knowledgeable about the illness. AP/Ventura County Star.
Bill To Permit Direct Rx Mailings in California Goes Up for Second Vote
Supporters of the measure maintain that mailings from drug makers would help remind patients to take their medicine and refill prescriptions. The California Medical Association said the mailings could confuse patients and weaken their relationships with doctors. San Francisco Chronicle.
Study Links Children’s Insurance Status To Quality of Health
Health measures of children nationwide would improve substantially if all states reached the same level of children’s health coverage as the states with the highest percentage of insured children, a new Commonwealth Fund study finds. The study ranked states based on 13 health care indicators. California ranked 34th. McClatchy/Kansas City Star et al.
Health Care in San Joaquin Valley Below U.S. Goals, Study Finds
Residents in the eight counties that comprise the San Joaquin Valley meet federal goals for adult physical activity, adolescent tobacco use and adolescent immunizations, the study found. Area residents do not meet federal health standards in 19 other areas. Fresno Bee.
Express Scripts To Pay $9.5M in Multistate Settlement
California is among 28 states that will receive a total of $9.5 million from Express Scripts over allegations that the pharmacy benefits manager misled consumers when it encouraged physicians to switch patients’ cholesterol drug brands to control costs. In February, rival benefits manager Caremark agreed to a similar $38.5 million multistate settlement. AP/St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
UC Seeks To Block Health Care Workers’ Strike
Yesterday, UC officials asked the state Public Employment Relations Board to prevent health care workers at 10 UC campuses from conducting a two-day strike next week. About 20,000 union members plan to strike to secure better wages and benefits. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Bill on New Construction Rules for Health Districts Advances in California
The California Senate has approved a measure intended to reduce construction costs and expedite hospital building projects for health care districts in California. The measure would let districts use the “design-build” contracting process that private hospitals use. Eureka Reporter.
Governor’s Budget Plan Limits Home Health Services
As part of funding reductions for the Department of Health and Human Services, Gov. Schwarzenegger’s revised budget proposal would lower hourly wages for state-subsidized home health care workers who assist elderly and disabled Californians. The plan also would limit hours for home health workers and the types of tasks they can perform. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Federal Report Details Issues in Organ Transplant Network
A Government Accountability Office report questions whether federal agencies are responding quickly enough to continuing issues in the nation’s organ transplant system. Charles Ornstein of the Los Angeles Times — which has scrutinized California’s organ transplant programs in various articles since 2005 — discussed the report findings on a syndicated radio show. WBUR’s “Here & Now.”