Latest California Healthline Stories
Lawmakers To Consider Funding for Developmentally Disabled
Advocates are calling for increased funding for programs that help Californians with developmental disabilities, as state lawmakers go into a health-focused special session called by Gov. Brown. While both Democrats and Republicans agree that such programs need more funding, they differ on where that money should come from. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
VA Has 41K Job Vacancies for Medical Professionals
As the Department of Veterans Affairs faces issues providing veterans with timely access to care, there were 41,500 job vacancies for medical professionals at the Veterans Health Administration as of late June. VA has full- or part-time openings for 5,000 physicians, nearly 12,000 nurses and more than 1,200 psychologists. USA Today.
FDA Proposed Rule Calls for Nutrition Labels To Include More Sugar Information
On Friday, FDA released a proposed rule that would mandate nutrition labels note how much added sugar a product contains, as well as the recommended daily limit for added sugar consumption. The rule would list the recommended upper limit for added sugar at 10% of calories per day. Wall Street Journal.
Some State Health Exchanges Could Move to Federal Exchange
Observers say the Supreme Court’s ruling in King v. Burwell takes pressure off of states to run their own exchanges. Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee said he expects to see more hybrid exchanges, adding that states are “talking a lot about shared services” in the wake of the ruling. AP/San Diego Union-Tribune.
Senate Rejects Highway Funding Bill Amendment To Repeal ACA
Yesterday, the Senate rejected an amendment to a highway funding bill that would repeal the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Mike Lee could ask the chamber to reconsider the amendment today by using a rare procedural maneuver. Politico et al.
ABA Files Lawsuit Against Warning Labels on Sugary Drink Ads in S.F.
The American Beverage Association alleges that recently approved ordinances in San Francisco that require health warnings on advertisements for sugary drinks and bar such advertisements on city property violate the First Amendment. San Francisco Chronicle.
Opinion Piece Makes the Case for Health Data Encryption in Wake of UCLA Health Breach
In an opinion piece, Payers & Providers publisher Ron Shinkman writes that the recent UCLA Health data breach announcement “was another in a series of non-shocking shocking stories about lax health care security.” He argues that “encrypting patient records or the devices that hold them is easy and these days almost always free,” yet in many cases stolen data are not encrypted. Payers & Providers.
Calif. Researchers Find Remote Monitoring Helps Boost Outcomes for Patients With Diabetes
A team of researchers — including those from Sutter Health, UC-Davis and the University of California Health System — found remote monitoring as part of a health IT feedback loop helped to improve A1c levels of patients with diabetes. The study compared the results of patients using the remote monitoring with those receiving traditional care. FierceHealthIT.
UC-San Diego Wins Legal Battle Over Alzheimer’s Study
On Friday, San Diego Superior Court Judge Judith Hayes ruled that UC-San Diego controls a major research project on Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier this month, UC-San Diego filed a lawsuit against the University of Southern California and a prominent Alzheimer’s researcher alleging they illegally planned to take over a major research project on the disease. Hayes said she will issue a preliminary injunction that will require USC to relinquish custody of the study. AP/KPCC’s “KPCC News” et al.
Jones Says Anthem-Cigna Deal Raises Consolidation Concerns
On Friday, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said he plans to review Anthem’s proposed acquisition of Cigna, noting that further consolidation in California’s insurance industry could lead to less competition and higher premiums. If the deal is approved, Anthem would become California’s largest insurer. San Jose Mercury News et al.