Latest California Healthline Stories
Officials Discuss Ways To Address Millions of Dollars in Unspent Charitable Donations
During a legislative hearing, lawmakers and state agency officials discussed ways to ensure that millions of dollars in charitable donations are properly distributed. By the end of 2014, about $10 million in charitable tax donations to various efforts in California — including those related to health care — remained unused, according to an analysis of financial records earlier this year. Suggestions during the meeting included requiring faster notices to state agencies when funds are available, requiring agencies to publicly report how such money is spent and redistributing unspent funds that have been dumped into the state’s general fund. AP/KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
CMS Penalizes 758 Hospitals Over Hospital-Acquired Conditions
CMS says 758 hospitals — including 88 in California — are being penalized in fiscal year 2016 under Medicare’s Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program. According to CMS, more than 50% of hospitals that are being penalized in FY 2016 were also penalized in FY 2015. Modern healthcare, Kaiser Health News.
Pension Reform Efforts Move Forward After Harris Issues Summaries
Yesterday, supporters of two pension reform initiatives said they will not challenge state Attorney General Kamala Harris’ recently released summaries of the measures. Earlier this year, proponents dropped similar pension reform efforts after Harris issued summaries that supporters said favored labor unions. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Report: California Ranked 16th Healthiest State in the U.S.
An annual report from the United Health Foundation and the American Public Health Association ranks California as the 16th healthiest state in the country, up from 17th last year. The America’s Health Rankings report finds that California has a low prevalence of obesity and smoking. USA Today et al.
Right-To-Die Supporters Urge Officials To Implement Law
On Thursday, supporters of the recently passed right-to-die law urged policymakers to begin implementation to help patients in need of the life-ending medication. The law currently is on hold and will not take effect until 90 days after the state Legislature ends its special health care session. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Developmental Disability Advocates March in Sacramento for Increased Program Funding
On Wednesday, hundreds of advocates marched in Sacramento calling for a 10% funding increase for programs that support individuals with developmental disabilities. The Legislature during its ongoing special session on health care is supposed to be considering additional funding for such programs, but so far no progress has been made. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
California College Students Increasingly Seek Mental Health Care
A new study by the RAND Corporation finds that the proportion of college students in public universities and community colleges in California who sought mental health care increased by more than 10% between 2013, when the state implemented an early intervention program, and last spring. AP/Sacramento Bee, STAT News‘ “Morning Rounds.”
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of December 11, 2015
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has fined Kaiser Foundation Hospitals in Vallejo nearly $150,000 for improperly disposing used needles. The Petaluma Health Care District’s board of directors has started a series of four public meetings to gather feedback as it works to identify criteria for selecting a new operator for Petaluma Valley Hospital.
Hospitals Face Financial Challenges With EHR Adoption
Some hospitals face financial challenges when adopting electronic health records. For example, Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s implementation of an Epic EHR system ran about $27 million over budget, according to hospital spokesperson Erin McDonough. The hospital had budgeted $47 million for the switch in the last fiscal year, McDonough said. STAT News.
UCLA Health Sciences Gets $10M for Migraine Research
On Tuesday, UCLA Health Sciences announced it has received a $10 million donation to support research on migraines, which affect about 36 million U.S. residents. John Mazziotta, vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences, said the funding is the largest individual donation ever received by UCLA for migraine research and treatment. Torrance Daily Breeze.