Latest California Healthline Stories
Nearly 50 Percent Of U.S. Teen Boys Have Received The HPV Vaccine
Almost 63 percent of girls across the country have been vaccinated for the human papillomavirus. In other children’s health news, a study links violence exposure to higher viral loads for HIV-positive kids.
Public Health Officials Seek To Warn LA Homeless About Dangers Of Spice
The drug has been available on Skid Row for years, but health experts, reacting to two recent episodes of multiple overdoses, say it is risky because it’s impossible to know what’s in each batch. Also in the news, reports on the opioid epidemic.
Ventura County To See 15.8 Percent Rise In Covered California Premiums
Rates are expected to increase across California counties for 2017.
ACOs Save Medicare $466M Last Year But Quality Improvements Are Mixed
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces that a third of the accountable care organizations will receive bonuses, which are awarded in part on performance and quality marks.
HHS Study: Medicaid Expansion Could Lead To Lower Premiums For Everyone
Department of Health and Human Services researchers compared counties across state borders and adjusted for several differences between them. Their calculations led them to conclude that expanding Medicaid helped produce to marketplace premiums that were 7 percent lower.
In Response To Zika’s Spread, Public Health Labs Expand Testing Capacity
The Wall Street Journal reports that 12 California public health labs are preparing to start performing Zika tests; five others already do. Meanwhile, in Florida, officials announce another case of locally transmitted Zika.
Middle Class Feels Pinch Of Health Care Costs As Out-Of-Pocket Expenses Rise
The Wall Street Journal reports that the burden of health care costs is shifting in greater part to working middle-class families, in large part because of higher deductibles in insurance plans.
Lawmakers Send Bills On Alerts About Premium Increases, Smoking To Brown
The California legislature has approved bills that would alert consumers when state regulators think insurance premium rate increase are too high and ban smoking within 250 feet of youth sporting events. Also in the news, a look at a ballot measure that would require porn stars to wear condoms.
EpiPen’s Soaring Price Tag Leads To More Debate, Discussion Of U.S. Drug Costs
A Sonoma Country family feels the pinch of the high price of this emergency allergy medicine. Meanwhile, news outlets explore recent developments such as the response by Mylan, the company that markets the EpiPen, as well as positions being taken by lawmakers, parents, public figures and even Mylan’s CEO.
HHS Analysis Says Subsidies Will Help Buffet Consumers From Marketplace Turmoil
The government analysis finds that subsidies to help pay premiums will protect people buying coverage on the health law’s marketplaces even as the number of insurers offering plans decreases and insurers set steep premium increases.