Latest California Healthline Stories
Report: California Has 6th Lowest Adult Obesity Rate in U.S.
California has the sixth lowest rate of adult obesity in the U.S., according to a report released Monday by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report found that California has an adult obesity rate of 24.7%. Colorado had the lowest obesity rate at 21.3%, while Arkansas had the highest at 35.9%. AP/Los Angeles Times.
House Passes Two Antiabortion Bills in Effort To Avoid Federal Government Shutdown
On Friday, the House passed two antiabortion bills in an effort to avoid a government shutdown over funding for Planned Parenthood. Following the release of a series of videos targeting Planned Parenthood, some conservative lawmakers have said they will not support any government spending measure that includes funding for the organization. The government will shut down after Sept. 30 if lawmakers do not pass a continuing resolution to keep it funded through mid-December. One bill passed on Friday would eliminate Planned Parenthood’s federal funding for one year, while the other would create steep penalties for abortion providers in certain situations. The Senate has not arranged for a vote on either measure. The Hill.
FDA Issues Alert About Potential Infection Risk
FDA on Thursday issued an alert highlighting the potential risks of infection posed by bronchoscopes, which are used to examine the throat airway or lungs. FDA said it is investigating reports that the reusable devices are leading to infections in patients despite having been cleaned. FDA noted it has reviewed 109 reports it received between January 2010 and June 2015 regarding infections or device contamination related to bronchoscopes. AP/Washington Times.
Support Grows To Stop ACA’s New Definition of Small Business
Many lawmakers and industry groups are supporting legislation that would halt an Affordable Care Act provision that defines a small business as one with 100 or fewer employees. Most states define a small business as one with 50 or fewer employees. Companies falling into the new small business definition will have to comply with ACA rules on employee health plans and enter the small-group insurance market as of Jan. 1, 2016. New York Times.
Kaiser’s Private, Medicare Plans Rated Highest in California
The National Committee for Quality Assurance finds that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Northern California was the highest-rated private and Medicare health plan in the state in terms of performance and customer satisfaction. Fairfield-Suisun Daily Republic et al.
Report: VA Needs ‘Systemwide Reworking’ To Fix Health Care Issues
A collection of reports mandated by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act finds that the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system is plagued by inconsistencies in care, mismanagement and unsustainable costs. The review calls for a “systemwide reworking” to address the issues. Wall Street Journal.
Calif. Community Health Centers’ Telehealth Programs Face Barriers
A new report by the Center for Connected Health Policy finds that California community health centers with telehealth services face several barriers — such as complex billing and reimbursement rules and difficulty tracking visits — to making their programs financially sustainable. Healthcare Informatics, CCHP report.
Calif. AG Seeks Criminal Charges Against Nursing Home Over Patient Death
On Thursday, lawyers for Verdugo Valley Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre and California’s attorney general, representing the family of a patient who died last year due to alleged “grossly negligent” care, appeared in court. The state attorney general says the skilled nursing facility — which is operated by Shlomo Rechnitz, the state’s largest nursing home owner — should be held criminally responsible for the patient’s death. However, lawyers for the nursing home say it is “outrageous” to hold the nurses and facility accountable. Sacramento Bee.
California Added New Health Services Jobs in August
Last month, California-based employers added 36,200 nonfarm payroll jobs, causing the unemployment rate to fall one percentage point to 6.1% in August, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data show that the state’s education and health services added 3,800 positions. Los Angeles Times.
Bay Area County Jails Struggle To Provide Care, Treatment for Inmates With Mental Illnesses
Thousands of jail inmates with mental health illnesses are waiting for spots to open up in mental health treatment programs, according to jail officials. Experts say such programs are necessary to prevent inmates from becoming repeat-offenders. However, officials say they have not been able to expand services or staffing to meet inmates’ mental health needs. Bay Area News.