Latest California Healthline Stories
Professional Sports Teams Tap Data Analytics To Prevent Injuries
Professional sports teams in California and other states are turning to mobile activity trackers to record and analyze players’ performance and risk of injury. However, some experts question who would have access to the data and whether such information could be used against players. Washington Post, Catapult website.
Safety-Net Hospital Group Raises Concerns About CMS’ New Online Rating System
In a letter to CMS acting Administrator Andy Slavitt, America’s Essential Hospitals, which represents 250 U.S. safety-net hospitals, questioned whether the agency’s new online hospital rating system can accurately assess quality while omitting certain factors. The group questioned CMS’ proposed methodology for the new system, writing, “We are not confident that the measures currently available on Hospital Compare enable CMS to create a single, methodologically sound rating of all aspects of hospital quality.” Modern Healthcare.
Former Santa Clara County Public Health Official Selected as a White House Fellow
On Monday, the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships named seven health care professionals to the 2015-2016 White House Fellows. One of the fellows was from California: Teeb Al-Samarrai, an epidemiologist and physician from Oakland who was deputy health officer and tuberculosis controller at the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. The fellowship program aims to give participants “first hand, high-level experience with the workings of the federal government and to increase their sense of participation in national affairs.” UPI, Healthcare IT News.
About One-Fourth of Medicare ACOs Earned Shared Savings Bonuses
Yesterday, CMS announced that 97 of the 353 Medicare accountable care organizations earned bonuses last year. Of the 29 Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO participants that include California beneficiaries, just John Muir Health Medicare ACO earned a bonus payment. Becker’s Hospital Review et al.
Study: 75% of California Exchange Plans Have Narrow Networks
A study released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds that three-fourths of provider networks in plans sold through Covered California cover 25% or fewer physicians in a given area. California has the fourth-highest rate of narrow networks among all states. Los Angeles Times, RWJF study.
Revised CBO Projections Show Increase in Federal Health Spending
A revised budget projection from the Congressional Budget Office says the federal government will spend $272 billion more than anticipated on health care over the next decade. CBO attributed the revision in part to changes under the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015. Modern Healthcare.
Poor Security Puts California Medical Records, Other Data at Risk
A state audit finds that the lack of safeguards and compliance with security standards among California departments make the state’s databases — some of which house health data — “vulnerable to unauthorized use, disclosure or disruption.” The audit outlines recommendations for the state Department of Technology and the California Legislature to improve security. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker” et al.
California Senate Passes Bill To Ban Smokeless Tobacco at Major League Baseball Venues
On Monday, the California Senate approved a bill that would ban the use or possession of smokeless tobacco products on the playing field during Major League Baseball games and practices. Sen. John Moorlach says professional baseball already voluntarily bans the product. The bill now goes back to the Assembly. AP/Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ.”
Some California officials have raised concerns with a Los Angeles County proposal to use county and state funding to help reduce the number of county jail inmates with mental illnesses. For example, officials say the plan would inappropriately divert funds authorized only for the county’s probation department. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
State Legislative Panel Will Not Audit Planned Parenthood
On Tuesday, the California Joint Legislative Audit Committee denied a request to audit Planned Parenthood following the release of controversial videos targeting the group’s work in providing fetal tissue to medical researchers. State Sen. Connie Leyva said, “The allegations made by the proponents did not justify spending over $300,000 of taxpayer dollars for this audit,” adding that “a compelling fact-based case was not made for this audit. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Los Angeles Times‘ “Political.”