Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospitals Rank Below National Average for Health Information Exchange Capabilities
Health IT Interoperability analyzed data from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s Dashboard to assess states’ performance on various hospital health information exchange capabilities. California ranked below the national average for five of the six metrics. For example, just 54% of California hospitals could electronically share summary-of-care records with other hospitals outside their system. In addition, just 53% of California hospitals could electronically share summary-of-care records with outside ambulatory providers. Meanwhile, 61% of California hospitals were capable of electronically sharing lab results with any outside provider. Health IT Interoperability.
Obama Administration Unveils HealthCare.gov Upgrades
An updated version of HealthCare.gov includes several new features designed to provide consumers with more information and a smoother enrollment experience. However, officials delayed the release of a tool that will allow consumers to check which physicians and medications are covered under various health plans. Washington Times et al.
Exchange Enrollees Could See Larger Premium Increases in 2016
Premium increases for health plans purchased through the state and federal exchanges are expected to be larger in 2016, but they will vary based on local markets. For example, the five insurers participating in Minnesota’s exchange are increasing premiums by 14% to 49%, while exchange enrollees in Southern California who re-enroll in their current plans could see an average increase of 1.8%. AP/Sacramento Bee.
California, Other States Testing Community Health Worker Programs
Efforts are underway in California and other states to use community health workers to meet the demands of the Affordable Care Act. For instance, Los Angeles County is testing a program that uses 25 community health workers to support physicians and provide appointment scheduling, medication reminders and other services. Kaiser Health News.
Calif. Study: Prenatal Whooping Cough Vaccine Can Protect Infants
A study by the California Department of Public Health finds that infants born to women who receive the pertussis vaccine in their third trimester but still contract the disease are less likely to be hospitalized or die, compared with infants with unvaccinated mothers. The findings come amid high rates of whooping cough reported in the state so far this year. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Second California Prison Gets Failing Grade for Health Services
On Friday, the California Office of the Inspector General said medical services are inadequate at a second state prison facility, marking a setback in the state’s efforts to regain control of its prison health care system. OIG identified “[h]ealth care staff, especially the providers … as the primary weakness” at North Kern State Prison. AP/Sacramento Bee, OIG report.
WHO Group Finds Processed Meat Can Cause Cancer; Meat Industry Criticizes Findings
On Monday, the International Agency for Research on Cancer — part of the World Health Organization — released research finding that processed meats, such as bacon and hot dogs, can cause cancer. For the study, researchers examined decades of research on animal experiments, human diets, cell mechanisms and other research. In response to the findings, the North American Meat Institute accused IARC of “dramatic and alarmist over-reach.” Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog,” Financial Times.
FBI Serves Search Warrants at Riverside Nursing Home
On Thursday, the FBI served search warrants to Alta Vista Healthcare and Wellness Centre in Riverside, a nursing home owned by Shlomo Rechnitz. FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller said patients were unaffected by the investigation. Rechnitz’s facilities have been the target of investigations, lawsuits and other measures in the past. A spokesperson for Rechnitz said that the nursing home cooperated with authorities and that Rechnitz did not believe the search warrants were related to patient care. AP/Modern Healthcare.
Civil rights advocates have asked the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to alter rules that could keep homeless individuals with mental health issues from obtaining welfare benefits. In a 12-page report submitted to the board, attorneys with the Disability Rights Legal Center and other groups argue that the rules result in tens of thousands of homeless individuals losing or being denied monthly benefits worth $221. Gary Blasi, a civil rights lawyer, said the request to the board was an attempt to avoid litigation. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Kan., La. and Texas Sue Obama Admin Over ACA Tax
Kansas, Louisiana and Texas on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration claiming that a tax levied under the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. In the suit, the states argue that an excise tax levied on private insurers that helps fund the ACA is ultimately passed on to state governments because the insurers use some of the state funding they receive under Medicaid managed care plans to pay for the levy. Modern Healthcare.