Latest California Healthline Stories
Federal Judge Rejects California Suit Against U.S. Abortion Law
The judge ruled that California’s challenge of a federal rule barring action against health care providers who refuse to provide abortions in any circumstances could not move forward unless a case putting California’s law at odds with the federal law emerges. San Francisco Chronicle.
Stockton, San Joaquin County Debate Release of Response Data
San Joaquin County argues that maintaining confidentiality of emergency medical response data is needed for health care providers to participate in a quality improvement program. Stockton officials maintain that public disclosure will boost accountability. Stockton Record.
Medicare Payment Cuts Could Decrease Bone Scan Access
Medicare payment cuts may prompt physicians to stop offering osteoporosis bone density scans, which could mean seniors would have less access to the screenings. The National Osteoporosis Foundation predicts that most physicians and smaller imaging centers will not be able to absorb the cut and will stop offering the scans. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
New NIH Research Center To Study Health Care Disparities
NIH has launched a new research center to study the genetic, economic and social factors that contribute to differences in disease rates and medical responses among races. Charles Rotimi, former director of the National Human Genome Center at Howard University, will head the new Center for Genomics and Health Disparities. New York Times.
Hospitals Use Personal Data To Assess If Patients Can Pay
A growing number of hospitals are accessing patients’ credit reports or contracting with outside services to predict patients’ incomes and how likely they are to pay their medical bills. Consumer advocates say the practice creates the potential for hospitals to misuse the data by denying or reducing care to patients who cannot afford it. Wall Street Journal.
Health Plans Back Third-Party Review for Policy Cancellations
A trade group is seeking to include provisions of its plan for third-party reviews of health insurance policy cancellations in legislation under consideration in California. The move is seen as an attempt to head off other efforts to ban or limit health coverage cancellations, and it has drawn opposition from attorneys and consumer advocates. Los Angeles Daily Journal.
NPR Spotlights Healthy San Francisco, Other Programs
NPR’s “Justice Talking” on Monday examined San Francisco’s universal health access program, as well as laws in Massachusetts on health insurance coverage and mental health care for children. The program also included discussions with health policy experts on whether health care is a right for all U.S. residents. NPR’s “Justice Talking.”
Mental Health Court Would Boost Treatment in San Diego
San Diego officials will meet today to discuss creating a mental health court that can impose a two-year mental health treatment program for petty offenders with mental illnesses. The program would be “far less expensive and far more effective than treating the petty thief in jail, emergency rooms or hospitals,” according to an editorial. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Nurses’ Union, University of California Agree on New Contract Terms
Nurses represented by the California Nurses Association are scheduled to vote on a proposed contract that includes average salary increases of about 6% for the first year. The deal would apply to nurses at UC medical centers and student health centers. San Diego Union-Tribune et al.
California Community Colleges Fall Short in Allied Health Professions
A new report found there are about 85% fewer allied health care professionals coming out of community colleges in the Central Valley than the demand for such workers. Data show that there will be almost 12,000 new jobs in those fields in the region by 2014. Modesto Bee.