Latest California Healthline Stories
Groups Unveil Ballot Measure To Expand Home Health Services
A group of Southern California not-for-profits have proposed a ballot measure that would impose a surcharge on certain real estate in order to raise money for services for low-income state residents. For example, some of the money would be used to expand certain home health visits. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Experts Commemorate 50th Anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid Programs
On July 30, Medicare and Medicaid will celebrate their 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion, health care experts from Princeton University, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and other institutions have produced a “written roundtable discussion,” called “Medicare and Medicaid at 50: America’s Entitlement Programs in the Age of Affordable Care.” The piece includes 16 essays that focus on how the programs were developed and legislated, and how they were reworked during the 1970s and 1980s. The piece also highlights how the programs have affected politics and the health care industry. Washington Post.
The Alliance on Aging in Monterey County is expanding its peer counseling program in an effort to meet the mental health care needs of the area’s growing Latino senior population, which faces unique cultural challenges. For example, the organization last year offered its first training program specifically for Spanish-speaking program counselors. HealthyCal.
Physician Payments Rarely Tied to Care Quality, Study Finds
A study published in the Annals of Family Medicine finds physician pay practices vary widely and include a combination of salaries, fees for services and rewards for quality. Further, it finds that only a small percentage of physicians’ income is tied to care quality regardless of whether they worked in accountable care organizations or more traditional practices. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”
CMS Expands Pilot of Concurrent Coverage of Hospice, Curative Care
Yesterday, CMS announced that it will expand a pilot project — called the Medicare Care Choices Model — that will allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive coverage for curative treatments and hospice care simultaneously. The expanded project now will include 140 hospice providers and run from January 2016 through 2020. Modern Healthcare et al.
Several California Facilities Among U.S. News’ ‘Best Hospitals’ List
U.S. News & World Report includes 19 California facilities on its “Best Hospitals” list. Meanwhile, three California hospitals made the “Honor Roll,” meaning they achieved high scores in six or more medical specialties. San Diego Union-Tribune et al.
Californians With Disabilities Often Face Barriers to Health Care
Californians with disabilities often face barriers to health care access. For example, California has moved millions of adults with disabilities into Medicaid managed care plans, which have low reimbursement rates and fewer providers. In addition, the California Children’s Services program is set to end this year, and lawmakers are unsure about how or whether to extend it. HealthyCal.
Report: California Children’s Health Improving After ACA Efforts
A new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds that California ranked 14th in the U.S. for children’s health in 2013 — up from 26th in 2008. However, California ranked lower for measures related to children’s economic well-being, education and family and community. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
Patient Advocates Ask California Attorney General To Investigate New Breast Cancer Treatment
Patient advocacy groups in California have asked Attorney General Kamala Harris to investigate how a new radiation treatment for breast cancer is advertised and discussed with patients. The treatment — called intraoperative radiation therapy — is provided to women who have undergone the removal of a tumor and is considered by some to be less costly and less damaging to older women. However, some patient advocacy groups argue that the treatment is not proven and could be used on patients who are too young. Sacramento Bee.
DPH Confirms First Calif. West Nile Virus Death of 2015
On Monday, the California Department of Public Health confirmed that an elderly individual in Nevada County was the first person to die from West Nile Virus in California this year. The death comes as 33 counties in the state report West Nile activity — four more than at the same time last year. DPH Director Karen Smith said, “West Nile virus activity is more widespread in 2015 than in years past,” adding, “Californians need to be vigilant in protecting themselves.” Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”