Latest California Healthline Stories
Feds Say State Medicaid Programs Must Boost Oversight of Payments to Certain Hospitals
On Tuesday, the Government Accountability Office and Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission reiterated that state Medicaid programs must boost their scrutiny of payments made to providers who are not associated with federal disproportionate share hospital programs. During a hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, GAO said the lack of transparency in state Medicaid payment reporting and documentation reduces the federal government’s ability to ensure that the payments are efficient and actually support Medicaid beneficiaries. Modern Healthcare.
Senate, House Launch Investigations Into Rx Drug Price Hikes
Yesterday, the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging launched an investigation into steep prescription drug price increases by four drugmakers. Meanwhile, House Democrats announced a new task force to look into rising prescription drug costs. AP/New York Times et al.
Calif. Groups Seek Tax Extension Deal To Fund Health Care, Education
Stakeholders — including the California Hospital Association, California Medical Association, California Teachers Association and Service Employees International Union — are seeking to develop a compromise plan that would extend California’s sales and income tax increases to raise money for health care programs and education. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Cal-OSHA Proposes Regulations To Prevent Workplace Violence
The California Department of Occupational Safety and Health has proposed new regulations to prevent workplace violence in the health care and social assistance sectors. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United says the proposed regulations could “serve as a national model.” Safety+Health Magazine, CNA/NNU release.
Medical Groups Urge Congress To ‘Refocus’ Meaningful Use Program
More than 100 medical societies, including the California Medical Association, have sent letters calling on congressional lawmakers to “refocus” Stage 3 of the meaningful use program on the goal of achieving comprehensive interoperability. The groups argue that CMS has failed to adequately respond to “the widespread failure” of Stage 2. EHR Intelligence et al.
March of Dimes Gives California a ‘B’ Grade for Preterm Birth Rate
An annual report released by the March of Dimes gives California a “B” grade for preterm birth rates. Meanwhile, of the 18 California cities that were among the 100 in the U.S. with the highest birth rates, Oxnard was the only city in the state to receive an “A” grade, with a preterm birth rate of 7.8%. Philadelphia Inquirer et al.
UCSF Receives $20M To Fund Mood Disorder Research
On Wednesday, UC-San Francisco officials announced that the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund donated $20 million to the university’s psychiatry department. The funding will be used for research on bipolar disease, depression and other mood disorders. The research aims to reduce stigma associated with mental health issues. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
State Worker Retirements Down by 6% in First Eight Months of 2015, CalPERS Data Show
In the first eight months of this year, 5,043 state workers claimed their pensions, according to CalPERS data. That number is down by 6% from the same time last year. Meanwhile, local-agency and school-employee retirements increased by 1% over the same time period.Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
FDA Issues Guidance for HIV Drug Development
On Monday, FDA issued new guidance for drugmakers that are developing treatments for HIV. The guidance includes recommendations for drugmakers producing therapeutic biologics and antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV. The guidance focuses particularly on drugs under development to treat “treatment-experienced patients” who have HIV and have not positively responded to other drugs. The Hill.
Posted Calorie Counts Do Not Necessarily Make Diners Choose Healthier Foods, Study Finds
Posting calorie counts on menus does not necessarily lead consumers to select healthier foods, according to a study published Tuesday in Health Affairs. FDA in November 2014 announced new rules that will require some restaurants to place calorie counts on their menus. The policy is scheduled to take effect in December 2016. Los Angeles Times‘ “Science Now,” Reuters.