Latest California Healthline Stories
California Sen. Bill Monning has pulled his bill from a legislative package aimed at reducing the amount of psychiatric medication prescribed to children in California’s foster care system. Monning pulled his bill — which would prohibit juvenile courts from authorizing psychotropic drugs without prior medical examination and ongoing monitoring of the child — to smooth out some issues with the Brown administration. The Assembly could vote on the remaining three-bill package as early as Tuesday. San Jose Mercury News/Inside Bay Area.
Davis Officials Ban Smoking in Parks, Recreation Areas
The Davis City Council has unanimously approved a measure to expand restrictions on public smoking to include parks, recreational areas and the main downtown plaza. The move comes after Pleasanton and San Ramon passed similar measures in July. Sacramento Bee.
OMB Director Calls for ‘More Aggressive Strategy’ To Halt Improper Medicare, Medicaid Payouts
White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan has called for “a more aggressive strategy” to stop improper Medicare and Medicaid payments to providers and insurers, according to a recently released letter sent to HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell in February. In the letter, Donovan wrote that federal health care programs, which cover millions of U.S. residents, waste billions of dollars annually because of improper payments. He noted, “While some progress has been made on this front … we believe a more aggressive strategy can be implemented to reduce the level of improper payments we are currently seeing.” Center for Public Integrity/NPR’s “Shots.”
Report: VA’s Health Enrollment Backlog Includes 300K Deceased Vets
A Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General report finds that the Veterans Health Administration’s enrollment system in 2014 had about 867,000 pending records, 35% of which were for deceased veterans. The report says VHA’s Health Eligibility Center is not successfully managing data, which has caused a significant applications backlog and limited veterans’ access to care. Washington Times et al.
CMS To Let States Keep Using SNAP Data for Medicaid Eligibility
CMS has told state Medicaid directors that it will make permanent a program that allows states to use data from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to determine eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Observers say the change will help states expedite the enrollment process. Modern Healthcare, CMS letter.
Legislature OKs ‘Right-To-Try’ Bill, Sends Measure to Brown
Yesterday, the California Assembly approved a bill that would give patients with terminal illnesses greater access to experimental medications, sending the legislation to Gov. Brown. The “right-to-try” legislation would protect doctors and insurers from liability for negative consequences. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Oakland Group Taking Legal Action Against 19 E-Cigarette Companies
Yesterday, Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health announced it is taking legal action against 19 electronic cigarette makers for allegedly failing to warn consumers about high levels of cancer-causing chemicals in their products. In a report, CEH said it found the chemicals in at least one product from each e-cigarette company. The Hill et al.
Calif. Bills Targeting Foster Kids’ Medication Could Be National Model
The Assembly is considering four California bills aimed at reducing the amount of psychiatric medication prescribed to children in the state’s foster care system. Some observers say the reforms could be used as a template for national legislation. KQED’s “State of Health.”
San Quentin Prison Says 95 Inmates Under Observation After Six Diagnosed With Legionnaires’ Disease
On Wednesday, California corrections department officials said about 95 San Quentin inmates have shown symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, and six have tested positive for the illness. Officials said X-rays show 50 inmates are sick with some form of pneumonia. Showers and drinking water have been shut off since the first prisoner was diagnosed with the illness last week. AP/Washington Times, Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
USC Researchers Launch Pilot Program To Help Latinos Recognize Mental Illness, Seek Treatment
On Tuesday, University of Southern California researchers launched a pilot program in east San Fernando Valley to raise awareness among Latinos about how to recognize serious mental illness. The program, called La CLAVE, aims to reduce the time it takes for individuals with psychosis to seek and find treatment. Los Angeles Daily News/Press-Telegram.