Latest California Healthline Stories
CSU Approves $91M for New Biology, Chemistry Facility
On Wednesday, the California State University Board of Trustees approved $91 million to build a new teaching facility for Sacramento State’s biology and chemistry departments. Construction on the new building is slated to begin in April 2017. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
McConnell Fast-Tracks Bill To Repeal Major ACA Provisions
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the Senate after its Thanksgiving recess will vote on a budget reconciliation bill that would dismantle the Affordable Care Act by repealing some of its major provisions. Among other things, the bill would repeal the law’s individual and employer mandates. The Hill‘s “Floor Action.”
Bay Area Research Consortium Awarded $4.8M Grant To Examine Effects of Childhood Trauma on Health
The Tara Health Foundation has awarded a $4.8 million grant to the Bay Area Research Consortium on Toxic Stress and Health to study the effect childhood stress or traumatic events, such as domestic abuse, has on a child’s health. The consortium includes UC-San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, UC-San Francisco and the Center for Youth Wellness. San Jose Mercury News.
CDC: STI Cases on the Rise in U.S., Los Angeles County
The number of reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis increased in the U.S. in 2014, with rates of chlamydia reaching record levels, according to a CDC report released Tuesday. The data show that of the more than 3,000 counties in the U.S., Los Angeles County had the most cases of all three diseases in 2014. According to the report, Los Angeles County had 548 cases of chlamydia per 100,000 people, 153 cases of gonorrhea per 100,000 people and 10 cases of primary and secondary syphilis per 100,000 people. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Brown Administration Continues Efforts To Replace MCO Tax
Yesterday, a top policy aide to Gov. Brown said efforts to rework the expiring managed care organization tax are ongoing. Officials said that the state general fund will be unable to pay for Medi-Cal without the tax but acknowledged that gaining enough votes in the state Legislature to approve the tax will be challenging. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
California Has Second-Highest Rate of HIV-Infected Individuals
California public health officials say that at least 400 state residents are newly diagnosed with HIV each month. A total of 137,000 Californians are living with HIV — the second-highest rate in the U.S. Officials say the high number of infected state residents largely is due to longer life spans because of improved treatment and care options. Payers & Providers, ABC 7.
Five Calif. Hospitals Among Best in U.S. for Cardiovascular Care
Five California hospitals are listed among the top 50 in the U.S. for cardiovascular care in a new report by Truven Health Analytics. According to Truven, if all hospitals providing cardiovascular care performed at the same level this year as the top 50 selected, it would have resulted in 8,000 additional saved lives and $1.3 billion in savings. Sacramento Bee, Truven release.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of November 20, 2015
Antelope Valley Hospital’s board of directors has voted 3-2 to have Alecto Healthcare Services take over management of the hospital. California Attorney General Kamala Harris has delayed until Dec. 3 a decision on whether to approve BlueMountain Capital Management’s proposed acquisition of the Daughters of Charity Health System.
Largest U.S. Health Care Labor Union Backs Clinton for Democratic Presidential Nomination
On Tuesday, the Service Employees International Union — the country’s largest health care labor union — announced its support for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. SEIU represents about two million caregivers, nurses and other health care workers. AP/Modern Healthcare.
Global Rx Spending Expected To Reach $1.4T by 2020
Prescription drug spending is expected to increase by 3% to 6% annually over the next five years, according to an IMS Health report released Wednesday. The report predicts that global drug sales will reach a record $1.4 trillion in 2020, up from $349 billion in 2015. However, rebates and discounts could reduce the total by $90 billion, according to the report. In comparison, global prescription drug spending increased by about $182 billion between 2011 and 2015. AP/New York Times.