Latest California Healthline Stories
California Health Care Personnel Roundup for August 2015
Art Torres, vice chair of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, has been appointed to Covered California’s board of directors. Kelsey Martin has been named interim dean of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.
FDA Announces Approval of Second Rx Drug in New Class of Cholesterol-Lowering Medications
On Thursday, FDA approved Amgen’s Repatha, the second medication to be approved in a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors. FDA has approved Repatha for two groups of patients who are unable to control cholesterol levels with existing treatments: those with very high LDL cholesterol because of an inherited condition and those with a history of heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular issues. USA Today, AP/Modern Healthcare.
Demand for Wearable Health-Tracking Devices Down
Consumer demand for wearable health devices has slowed since peaking in early 2015, according to a report by Argus Insights. According to the report, the wearables market has grown significantly during the last 18 months. Demand for such tools peaked in January, when it was four times higher than the year before. However, demand has since tapered, particularly among fitness-tracking devices. MobiHealthNews.
Report: Demographic Disparities in California Greatly Affect Health
A new report by the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity finds that overall health outcomes in the state are significantly affected by demographic disparities, including income inequality, race and education. The report also details a plan to reduce such disparities. Payers & Providers, DPH report.
Audit Finds Calif. Correctional Health Care Services Wasted $3.2M
A state audit finds that the California Correctional Health Care Services improperly awarded a contract to improve electrical upgrades at state prisons, wasting $3.2 million in state funds. The audit also highlighted $96,000 in misused funding by CHCS and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and $49,937 in misused funding by the Chula Vista Veterans Home. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of August 28, 2015
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center has settled with the Department of Justice over allegations that the hospital failed to provide interpreters and other services for patients with hearing impairments. Mercy Medical Center, a Catholic hospital, has reversed its decision to refuse a patient’s request to be sterilized after giving birth.
CDC: Majority of School-Aged Children Received Vaccinations
A new CDC study finds more than 90% of children starting kindergarten in 2014 were immunized against preventable diseases, and the average national exemption rate was just 1.7%. Next year, California will no longer permit personal belief exemptions for childhood vaccines. HealthDay/U.S. News & World Report et al.
Moody’s Upgrades Not-for-Profit Hospitals’ Outlook to ‘Stable’
A report from Moody’s Investors Service upgrades not-for-profit hospitals from a “negative” to a “stable” outlook in part because of employment growth and demand among patients who were previously uninsured. The upgrade marks the first time such hospitals have had a stable outlook since 2008. Modern Healthcare.
Seven California-Based Health Care Entities Make Modern Healthcare’s ‘Best Places To Work’ List
Seven California-based health care organizations were featured in Modern Healthcare‘s eighth annual list of the “Best Places to Work” in health care. The rankings — which are open to any organization that works in health care and has at least 25 employees — included Beach Cities Health District in Redondo Beach, Grand Rounds in San Francisco, MedeAnalytics in Emeryville, Sutter Center for Psychiatry in Sacramento, Sutter Davis Hospital, TigerText in Santa Monica and Triage Consulting Group in San Francisco. Sacramento Bee, Modern Healthcare.
California Researchers Make the Case for Expanding Questions for Bone Marrow Donors, Recipients
A study conducted by researchers at UC-San Francisco and Stanford University found that the questions asked of potential bone marrow donors and recipients can vary by the ethnicity of the patient. The researchers found that data show asking an individual about their geographic background can be more effective in matching donors than asking their ethnic background because self-identity is not always associated with their genetic ancestry. Payers & Providers.