Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Law Implementation Puts Strain On Already Diminished IRS Resources
Republicans, however, told IRS Commissioner John Koskinen at a hearing that his agency should be using his funds more efficiently. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Democrats are calling for more funding to fight the opioid addiction crisis, but are running up against Republican resistance.
At Debate, Clinton Knocks Sanders’ Medicare-For-All Plan: ‘The Numbers Don’t Add Up’
The Democratic candidates sparred over universal health care at their latest debate on Thursday, with Hillary Clinton painting Bernie Sanders’ proposal as unrealistic. But Sanders defended his vision, saying “health care is a right of all people.”
Free HIV Testing To Be Offered During Coachella Festival
In other local news, Bakersfield residents are worried after dozens of syringes turn up in a nearby field, two Ventura County human services offices are moving to new spaces, and Paramount Farming faces up to $180,000 in fines over pesticide drift.
LA Health Officials Launch Campaign To Combat Obesity
As part of “Healthy Eating Out,” restaurants across the county will offer smaller portions to help fight the obesity epidemic. The organizers would like to grow the participating list of restaurants from 700, many of which are Subways, to 30,000. In other news, restaurants’ health inspections are falling behind because of a shortage of inspectors.
Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital Reports High Infection Rate
The 25 total Clostridium difficile cases reported by Sutter in 2014 was almost double the number set as a national benchmark. News outlets report on other hospital developments related to a statewide rise in C. diff. cases, an increase in Southern California’s hospital inspectors and an executive pay clash at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside.
Despite Boards Stocked With D.C. Luminaries, Theranos Still Faces Consequences From Regulators
The blood testing startup’s advisory board includes, among others, former Cabinet secretaries George Shultz, Henry Kissinger and William Perry, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and legal star David Boies. Analysts worry its failure, even with such big names advising it, could cripple investors’ enthusiasm for innovative health care companies.
New Zenefits CEO Admits Its Software May Have Allowed Employees To Circumvent Law
The human resources company “self-reported” the issue to the California Department of Insurance, which launched an investigation of Zenefits in 2015 for possible regulatory violations.
Unexpected Health Costs Add To Challenge Of Recovering From Medical Care
The Associated Press reports that nearly a third of insured Americans who have financial problems tied to medical bills faced charges that their insurance would not cover. In other news, The Wall Street Journal reports on a counter-intuitive finding that, in retirement, the healthier a person is, they more they will spend on health care.
Nonprofit Hospital Trade Group Faces Lobbying Fine
Los Angeles Ethics Commission staffers want to impose a $17,500 fine against the Hospital Association of Southern California for alleged violations tied to lobbying disclosures. In other hospital news, a state Department of Public Health report indicates that bacterial infection controls are still a struggle for many facilities.
Zika Case Confirmed In Yolo County
The person tested positive after traveling to another country. In other Zika news, The Los Angeles Daily News reports on the capability of Southern California mosquitoes to carry the virus. And a Catholic group asks Pope Francis to reconsider contraceptive guidance.