Latest California Healthline Stories
Calif. Agency Receives Grant To Study Paid Family Leave Policies
The California Employment Development Department has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau to study more than a decade of paid family leave data in the state. The project aims to determine the economic and social effects of paid leave policies. Bethesda Magazine et al.
Rate of Veterans Affected by Health Data Breaches Down
Last month, the Department of Veterans Affairs experienced a 72.8% decline in veterans whose personal health information was affected by a health data breach, according to VA’s August report to Congress. According to the report, 431 veterans were affected by a health data breach incident in August, including 237 who had their protected health information compromised. That figure is down from the 872 veterans who were affected by protected health information-related breaches in July. Health IT Security.
Brown Signs Measure Aimed at Increasing State Department of Insurance’s Processing Efficiency
Gov. Brown has signed a bill that makes changes to the state’s insurance code in an effort to increase the state Department of Insurance’s processing efficiency. Under the new law, the code will require interest to be applied to certain disability claims when payments are made more than 30 days after the claim is received. In addition, it calls for an update to DOI’s contact information that is included in notices and consumer disclosures. The measure was sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Insurance Journal.
Foster Children With Untreated Health Issues Face Barriers to Care
A report by researchers from California and other states finds that children in foster care systems who have unmet physical and mental health needs face several barriers to health care, including consent and confidentiality issues, a lack of care coordination and limited access to health information. NPR’s “Shots,” Pediatrics.
Calif. Prison Realignment Failed To Result in Savings, Report Finds
A new report by the Public Policy Institute of California finds that a California prison realignment plan implemented in October 2011 has reduced the inmate population but failed to save the state money, in part because of increased spending to improve prison health care at the state and county levels. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
GAO Slams CMS’ Oversight of Medicare Advantage Provider Networks
A new Government Accountability Office report finds several deficiencies in CMS’ oversight of Medicare Advantage plan network adequacy. Among other things, the report says that CMS’ definition of an adequate MA plan network fails to account for whether providers are accepting new patients. Modern Healthcare, CQ HealthBeat.
More Not-for-Profit Hospitals Entering Insurance Market Despite Risks
A new Moody’s Investors Service report finds more not-for-profit hospitals plan to offer health insurance products, even though the associated startup costs and short-term losses can strain their margins. For example, Sutter Health recently announced plans to expand its HMO to five more California counties. Modern Healthcare.
Opponents of California’s New Vaccine Law File Repeal Petition
Yesterday, opponents of a new state law that will end personal belief exemptions to California’s childhood vaccination requirements turned in signatures to qualify a ballot measure to repeal the law. Election officials have 30 days to count the signatures and check a random sample for authenticity. KQED’s “State of Health” et al.
Steinberg Calls for ‘Modest Adjustments’ to State Mental Health Services Act
In Sacramento Bee‘s “SoapBox,” former California Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg calls for “modest adjustments to the Mental Health Services Act” to help individuals with mental illnesses. He argues that the act should “aggressively address three statewide priorities”: create “a revenue bond to fund tens of thousands of supportive housing units” for homeless individuals with mental illnesses; allocate $400 million annually for “prevention and early intervention” for youths and to offer a financial incentive to improve mental health resources on college campuses; and expand efforts to create alternatives to emergency departments for individuals with mental illnesses experiencing a crisis. Sacramento Bee‘s “SoapBox.”
Reports Show Declines in Sacramento County’s Chlamydia, Teen Pregnancy Rates
An increase in no-cost home testing kits, sex education and cooperation among clinics, community groups and schools has helped Sacramento County reduce its rates of chlamydia infections and teenage pregnancies. A California Department of Public Health report showed the chlamydia rate in Sacramento County have decreased from an average of 634.7 cases per 100,000 people in 2011 to 526.1 cases per 100,000 people in 2014. Meanwhile, the county’s Community Health Status Report showed the teenage pregnancy rate declined by 25.5% between 2002 and 2012. Sacramento Bee.