Latest California Healthline Stories
On Friday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health called for public comments on a proposal to require pharmaceutical companies to create a plan to pay for the collection and disposal of unused medications, as well as needles and other medical devices that are sharp. Five other Northern California counties — Alameda, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara — already have adopted such requirements. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Access to HIV/AIDS Drugs Restricted in Calif., Other Exchanges
A recent Avalere analysis finds that just 16% of silver-level plans sold through some of the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges — including Covered California — in 2015 covered all of the 10 most common drug treatment options for HIV/AIDS. Kaiser Health News‘ “Insuring Your Health,” Avalere report.
California Aging Population Likely To Increase Health Care Costs
California’s population of residents over age 65 is expected to grow to more than 11 million by 2050. As that population increases, experts say demand for health care services likely will surge, and taxpayers could be required to help cover a higher share of the costs. Sacramento Bee.
Medicare Spending on Hepatitis C Drugs To Surpass $9B This Year
Data from Medicare’s Office of the Chief Actuary show that the program will spend $9.2 billion on hepatitis C drugs in 2015, an increase of 96% from the $4.7 billion the program spent on such treatments in 2014. Observers note that spending growth could ease next year as more hepatitis C drugs enter the market. AP/Sacramento Bee.
SCOTUS To Hear Case Challenging Texas Antiabortion Rules
The U.S. Supreme Court this spring will hear a case challenging parts of a Texas omnibus antiabortion-rights law that requires abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers and mandates that abortion providers must have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. A ruling is expected before the court’s term concludes in June. New York Times et al.
San Francisco Committee To Debate Repealing Law Barring Soda Advertising on Public Property
On Monday, the San Francisco Land Use Committee will discuss terminating the city’s five-month-old ban on advertising sugar-sweetened beverages on public property. The law has not been enforced because the American Beverage Association filed a lawsuit following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the town of Gilbert, Ariz., violated the First Amendment by restricting church advertisements on public property. KQED’s “State of Health.”
Kaiser, Mental Health Workers Reach Tentative Three-Year Contract Deal To Avoid Strike
On Sunday, the National Union of Healthcare Workers — which represents 1,400 Northern California psychologists, therapists and social workers — announced that it had reached a tentative contract deal with Kaiser Permanente averting a strike that was expected to start Monday. Among other things, the proposed three-year contract calls for a one-to-four ratio of new-to-return patients and allows Kaiser workers to advocate for their patients and meet treatment needs without threat of discipline or discharge. The deal now must be ratified by union members. San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle.
Vaccine Exemption Rates Higher in White, Affluent Calif. Communities
Communities in California with larger white populations and higher median incomes had higher rates of parents filing personal belief vaccine exemptions. In 2013, personal belief exemptions were filed at private schools in the state at nearly twice the rate of those filed for public school children, at 5.5% and 3%, respectively. HealthDay/U.S. News & World Report.
Employees’ Share of Health Care Costs Up This Year
Employers’ health care costs increased by 3.2% in 2015, marking the lowest growth rate in nearly 20 years, according to research from Aon Hewitt. However, the research noted that employees’ share of health care costs have significantly increased. According to Aon, employees in 2005 paid about $2,001 for both premiums and out-of-pocket health care costs. However, employees in 2015 paid about $4,698 for such costs, marking an increase of 134% over the past decade. USA Today.
Army review boards are granting upgrades in discharge status to “small but record numbers” of veterans who have requested reviews of less-than-honorable discharges resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to Yale Law School’s Veterans Legal Services Clinic. New guidelines instruct independent boards charged with reviewing veterans’ petitions seeking status upgrades to provide “liberal consideration” to PTSD symptoms at the time veterans were discharged and “special consideration” when VA has determined that a veteran might have had PTSD. Philadelphia Inquirer.