Latest California Healthline Stories
Marin County’s Breast Cancer Incidence Rate Declines
Breast cancer incidence rates among women in Marin County have fallen at a rate of 1.8% annually since 1998, according to a new report by the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. Lead report author Tina Clarke attributed the decline to women consuming less alcohol, exercising more and other factors. However, the study found no evidence that a 2009 recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for women to have fewer mammograms contributed to the decline. San Jose Mercury News, KQED’s “State of Health.”
CSU-Los Angeles Takes Steps To Prevent Heart Disease Among At-Risk Women
California State University-Los Angeles this week announced a new campaign that aims to prevent heart disease among women who are at high-risk of cardiovascular disease. On Monday, the school held a forum featuring no-cost heart screenings and a panel of experts to discuss the issue. In addition, teams of students are competing to create a mobile application to help students track blood pressure, cholesterol and other risk factors. The school also will provide additional screenings for heart disease and educational exhibits through the year. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
SCOTUS’ Refusal To Hear Challenge of New York Vaccine Law Could Have Implications in California
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will not hear a case challenging New York’s requirement that children receive mandatory vaccinations before attending public school. Dorit Reiss, a vaccine law expert at UC-Hastings College of the Law, said the decision means potential challenges to a new vaccine law in California are “not likely to succeed.” The California law, by state Sens. Richard Pan and Ben Allen, only allows children who have received vaccinations for certain diseases, such as measles and whooping cough, to be admitted to schools in the state. The legislation allows some exemptions for medical reasons and for children enrolled in home-schooling programs. KQED’s “State of Health.”
FDA Orders Medical Scope Makers To Study Cleaning Procedures
FDA has ordered three manufacturers of duodenoscopes to complete post-market studies on how the devices are cleaned. The order comes after FDA earlier this year sent warning letters to manufacturers of medical scopes tied to superbug outbreaks, including those at two California-based hospitals, claiming the companies failed to properly report issues. Washington Post‘s “To Your Health.”
SCOTUS Allows Home Care Pay Rule To Take Effect This Month
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has denied with no explanation an emergency request to delay enforcement of a rule that would extend minimum wage and overtime pay protections to home care workers. Under the rule, which is scheduled to take effect on Oct. 13, home care workers must receive pay at least equal to the federal minimum wage and overtime compensation. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Poll: Majority of California Voters Support Physician-Assisted Death
A new Field Poll finds that 65% of California voters support physician-assisted death. The poll was conducted in the days just before Gov. Brown signed a bill to allow some terminally ill patients to end their lives through lethal doses of medication. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal,” Field Poll.
NIH Awards UC-San Francisco $9.8M To Build Platform for Mobile Health Research
UC-San Francisco has been awarded $9.8 million from NIH to develop a platform, called Health ePeople, which researchers can use to connect with a large group of volunteers and conduct mobile health studies. The platform will be developed over the next five years. MobiHealthNews.
San Francisco Firm Offering Credit Lines To Some Providers During ICD-10 Transition
San Francisco-based Trans Pacific National Bank is offering physician practices with three to 10 doctors immediate credit lines to avoid any cash flow issues as the health care industry transitions to new ICD-10 billing codes. Some providers have expressed concerns about delays in Medicare payments during the transition. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Contra Costa County Nurses Strike Over Salaries
On Tuesday, nearly 1,000 Contra Costa nurses began a two-day strike over salaries. During the strike the county hospital and 11 medical clinics will operate at full capacity using replacement workers, according to administrators. However, the strike did cause several elective surgeries to be canceled. San Jose Mercury News.
Drugmakers Donate $10M To Fight Rx Purchase Price Ballot Proposal
Drugmakers have donated more than $10 million to defeat the California Drug Price Relief Act, a proposed ballot initiative that would impose price controls on drug purchases funded directly and indirectly by the state. Supporters of the measure have raised more than $1.25 million. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”