Latest California Healthline Stories
Report Suggests That Rural Providers Should Have To Take Part in Pay-for-Performance Programs
Rural health care providers should be required to participate in federal pay-for-performance programs, according to a National Quality Forum report requested by HHS. HHS should develop quality metrics that appropriately assess rural providers, according to the report. Modern Healthcare.
Supporters Confident About Chances of Proposed Cigarette Tax
Supporters of a proposed ballot initiative that would impose a $2-per-pack cigarette tax increase in California are confident they will garner enough support from voters after a previous effort was rejected in 2012. Meanwhile, opponents say the measure could be a burden on taxpayers. Inside Bay Area News, San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Report: Gilead Prioritized Profits Over Patient Access to Hep C Drug
A Senate Finance Committee report says that Gilead Sciences prioritized maximizing its revenue over ensuring patient access when pricing its $84,000 hepatitis C treatment, Sovaldi. According to the report, Gilead was aware that the drug’s price would be too high for some patients and cause “extraordinary problems” for government health programs. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Democratic Lawmakers Discuss Expiring MCO Tax at Hearing
Yesterday, the California Legislature’s health care special session conference committee convened an informational hearing to address the state’s expiring managed care organization tax. Some lawmakers and other stakeholders at the hearing expressed concerns about the lack of urgency in revamping the tax. Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
HHS: CHIP Coverage More Comprehensive Than ACA Exchange Plans
An HHS analysis finds that coverage available for children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program is more affordable and offers more comprehensive benefits than health plans sold through the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges. Health care industry experts say they were not surprised by the findings. Modern Healthcare.
Los Angeles County To Set Up Task Forces To Help Ex-Offenders Under Prop. 47
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County officials voted to create two task forces to help local residents convicted of felonies that are eligible for reduction to misdemeanors under Proposition 47. The task force members will include two people who have been in jail or have experience with mental health issues or substance misuse. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
California Researchers Awarded $6M Federal Grant To Create Asthma-Predicting Technology for Children
A team of researchers from UCLA and the University of Southern California has been awarded a $6 million grant to help develop technology that can predict children’s asthma attacks. The money was awarded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering as part of the National Institute of Health’s $144 million initiative to create sensor monitors for children. Healthcare Informatics, MobiHealthNews.
NLRB Rules Prime Healthcare Violated National Labor Relations Act
Last week, the National Labor Relations Board upheld an administrative law judge’s ruling that Prime Healthcare Management violated the National Labor Relations Act in its negotiations with Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West over health plans for employees at a California hospital. Law360, Reuters.
Retail Prices of Dermatological Drugs Rose by 400% in Past Six Years, Analysis Finds
The retail prices of 19 brand-name prescription dermatologic drugs increased by an average of more than 400% between 2009 and 2015, according to an analysis published last week in JAMA Dermatology. The analysis found that prices for the drugs had relatively modest increases from 2009 to 2011. However, price increases for the drugs were “astronomical” in 2014, according to Stephen Rosenberg, a dermatologist and professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Modern Healthcare, Wall Street Journal.
Number of Facebook Friends Could Influence Teens’ Stress Levels, Study Finds
Teens’ stress levels could increase with the number of Facebook friends they have, according to a small study published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. The study showed that participants who had more than 300 Facebook friends tended to have higher cortisol levels than those with fewer friends. Meanwhile, more peer interaction on Facebook was linked to lower cortisol levels. Reuters.