Latest California Healthline Stories
Study: Number of Premature Deaths Worldwide Linked to Air Pollution Expected To Rise to 6.6M by 2050
Three million premature deaths across the globe each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution — and that number could increase to 6.6 million by 2050, according to a recent study published in Nature. For the study, researchers used an atmospheric chemistry model in conjunction with global health and population data. They investigated connections between premature mortality and outdoor air pollution from seven sources: agriculture, biomass burning, industry, land traffic, natural sources, power generation, and residential and commercial energy use. Washington Post, CNN.
In the first half of 2015, the health care industry accounted for 21.1% of 888 total data breaches worldwide, according to a report by digital security vendor Gemalto. According to the report, the health care industry had 34% — or 84.4 million — of its total records breached, the highest rate of any industry. FierceHealthIT.
Analysts Say Guaranteed Subsidy Payments Not Always Linked to Financial Success for Health Insurers
Insurers likely are drawn to participate in exchange markets in states with large numbers of individuals receiving federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, but the guaranteed subsidy payments might not always lead to financial success for the companies. Analysts have said insurers are attracted to participate in such states’ exchange markets because of their large customer bases and the promise of more paying customers. Modern Healthcare.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Up by 7.3%, Expected To Grow More
CMS data show that enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans rose by 7.3% over the past year, from 16.5 million individuals to about 17.7 million. Experts predict that MA plan enrollment will continue to grow when open enrollment begins next month. Modern Healthcare.
HHS Gives $500M to Community Health Centers in Calif., Other States
HHS has awarded $500 million in grants to boost primary care services at community health centers, which have helped 12 million people enroll in health plans through the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges in the past two years. In California, grants were awarded to more than 100 facilities. The Hill et al.
Insurers Work To Ensure Access to Care for Displaced Californians
Several California insurers have taken action to assist their members who have been affected by two large wildfires in the state. Anthem Blue Cross will extend its deadlines for filing claims, while Blue Shield of California and Health Net will replace medications that were lost in the fires. Meanwhile, air quality experts say smoke from the fires could cause respiratory problems for millions of Californians. Payers & Providers, Wired.
Lawmakers Send Bill To Curb Antibiotic-Resistant Diseases to Brown
The California Legislature has sent a bill to limit the amount of antibiotics used on livestock to Gov. Brown. Antibiotic use in livestock can contribute to antibiotic-resistant diseases among humans, which affect two million U.S. residents annually. CDC has listed antibiotic-resistant diseases as a top health threat facing the nation. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” NRDC’s “Switchboard.”
Number of Uninsured in Calif. Fell Nearly 27% in 2014, Census Data Show
A Census Bureau report shows that the number of uninsured Californians fell from 6.5 million in 2013 to 4.76 million in 2014. Overall, the number of U.S. residents who were uninsured for the entire year fell from 41.8 million in 2013 to 33 million in 2014, reflecting a decline in the uninsured rate from 13.3% to 10.4%. Sacramento Bee et al.
Kaiser Health System’s online prescription drug refill tool increased medication adherence for the system’s diabetes patients, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. For the study, researchers at Kaiser and UC-San Francisco compared medication adherence rates of Type 2 diabetes patients who used the tool with those who did not. They found that those who used the tool reduced their time without their medication by more than 3%. Reuters.
Monterey County Officials OK Program To Provide Health Care Services to Local Uninsured Residents
On Tuesday, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to invest $500,000 into a pilot project that aims to provide expanded health care services — such as blood work and prescription medications — to uninsured and undocumented county residents. County health officials estimate 1,200 to 2,000 of the county’s uninsured population of 30,000 to 50,000 would be eligible for the program. Salinas Californian.