Latest California Healthline Stories
Kaiser Permanente Announces Plans To Open Independent Medical School in Southern California
Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente has announced plans to open an independent medical school in Southern California. The school is expected to open for enrollment for the 2019 fall semester. Officials say the school will focus on teaching team- and population-based care aimed at improving outcomes and lowering costs. Meanwhile, Christine Cassel has announced she will step down as president and CEO of the National Quality Forum on March 1, 2016, to join the new Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine’s leadership team. Modern Healthcare.
New Study Takes a Closer Look at Market Power, Hospital Prices
A soon-to-be-published study in the National Bureau of Economic Research finds little correlation between lower Medicare spending and lower overall health care spending. However, the researchers say there is evidence that hospital market power is strongly related to hospital prices. New York Times‘ “The Upshot” et al.
Experts Say HHS Guidance on ACA Waivers Reduces States’ Options
Health policy experts say that HHS’ new guidance on Affordable Care Act waivers is so restrictive it could make it difficult for some states to secure exemptions to certain ACA provisions set to take effect in 2017. The National Governors Association expressed disappointment with the guidance’s lack of flexibility. Modern Healthcare.
California’s Population Gains 346K People in One Year
California’s population increased by 346,000 people from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2015, bringing the total population to just under 39.1 million, according to new data released Wednesday by the Department of Finance. Officials say the growth was caused by a “natural increase,” resulting from a larger number of births than deaths. AP/Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
USC Telehealth Receives $100K Grant To Expand Program
The University of Southern California’s telehealth clinic has been awarded a $100,000 grant from QueensCare, a public charity that runs its own health care programs. The grant will allow USC Telehealth to expand remote mental health care services to an additional 90 families with special needs. FierceHealthIT.
Black, Hispanic Calif. Women Report Issues Accessing Health Care
A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that a disproportionate number of black and Hispanic women in California say they have a hard time finding a personal physician and paying for doctor visits. In addition, 23% of black women and 31% of Hispanic women in California reported being in fair or poor health, compared with 13% of white women in the state. HealthyCal, Kaiser Family Foundation report.
Covered California Officials Report Recent Surge in Enrollment
Covered California officials say that the exchange has experienced a recent enrollment surge, with about 55,000 consumers enrolling in health plans through the exchange on Monday and Tuesday. A total of more than 197,000 consumers had signed up for coverage since the enrollment period began Nov. 1. Central Valley Business Journal, Covered California release.
New Rules Aim To Tighten Rx Approval Process for Calif. Foster Kids
Proposed new rules in California aim to tighten the courts’ process for approving psychiatric drugs for children in the state’s foster care system. For example, the rules would require judges to consider how recommended drugs might improve a child’s mental health and children’s input, among other things, before providing approval. San Jose Mercury News.
FDA Opens Online Platform of Genomic Data to Public
On Tuesday, FDA made its precisionFDA Web platform for sharing genomic information publicly available. FDA’s Office of Health Informatics contracted with cloud-based genome informatics and data management company DNAnexus to create the precisionFDA platform. The platform will allow users to crowdsource reference data sets and evaluate bioinformatics workflows. FDA has received more than 190 requests for user accounts. FierceHealthIT, Health Data Management.
Problems Persist at VA Hospital at Center of Scandal
A Phoenix Veterans Affairs hospital at the center of a patient care scandal continues to face various issues, according to whistleblowers who testified at a Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing on Monday. During the hearing, Katherine Mitchell, a former emergency department physician at the Phoenix hospital, said triage nurses at the facility are still not adequately trained to determine which patients require immediate attention. She said, “There’s no standardized triage training, and it’s the luck of the draw if you have a triage nurse who knows what they’re doing.” Washington Times.