Latest California Healthline Stories
Overdoses Are Leading Cause of Injury-Related Deaths in California
A report released yesterday finds that California is one of 36 states where drug overdoses — including those related to prescription medications — are the leading cause of injury-related deaths. Meanwhile, California ranked fourth in the U.S. for the lowest number of overall injury-related deaths. Reuters et al.
Advocates for Developmentally Disabled Protest Budget Deal
The state budget deal announced Tuesday left out funding to increase provider rates for those who care for individuals with developmental disabilities — a move that advocates protested outside the Capitol. Gov. Brown and lawmakers say rate increases for such providers could be discussed during a special legislative session. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Second Calif. Prison Receives Passing Health Care Grade
On Wednesday, the California inspector general gave medical care at a second California prison –the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad — a passing grade, calling overall care at the prison “adequate.” The state is working to regain control of its prison health care system, which has been under federal control for nearly a decade. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Report: Orange County Residents With Serious Mental Illnesses Have Shorter Life Spans
The life span of Orange County residents diagnosed with a serious mental health illness was nearly 18 years shorter than those without such an illness, according to a county Health Care Agency analysis of 2010 death records. The analysis found that the average age of death for individuals with a mental illness was 58.5. Orange County Register.
Kaiser Researchers Find New Colonoscopy Focus Could Reduce Rate of Colon Cancer
Health care providers could reduce the rate of colon cancer by focusing on a particular type of polyp — known as an adenoma — during colonoscopies, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, which was conducted by researchers at Kaiser Permanente, found an 11% decrease in colorectal cancer rates and a 13% decrease in mortality for each 5% increase in adenoma detection and removal. Payers & Providers.
Nearly Half of U.S. Cancer Deaths Attributed to Smoking
Cigarette smoking caused roughly half of the 345,962 deaths attributed to cancer among U.S. residents in 2011, according to a study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. According to the study, 45% of cancer-related smoking deaths can be attributed to lung, bronchus and trachea cancer. Overall, the researchers determined 48.5% of deaths associated with 12 different types of cancers studied can be linked directly to smoking. Reuters.
FDA Moves To Ban Trans Fats From Foods by 2018
On Tuesday, FDA announced food makers will have until 2018 to phase out trans fats from their products, a move the department estimates will save thousands of lives annually. FDA said partially hydrogenated oils — the source of trans fats — are no longer “generally recognized as safe.” The department noted that the Institute of Medicine concluded that say there is no safe level of consumption of trans fat. New York Times.
CMS Poorly Manages ACA Exchange Subsidy Payments, Report Finds
An HHS Office of Inspector General report says CMS ineffectively manages the federal subsidies to help U.S. residents purchase exchange coverage. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers reportedly are nearing a backup plan that would allow individuals to temporarily keep their federal exchange subsidies if the Supreme Court rules against them later this month. Modern Healthcare et al.
Brown, Calif. Lawmakers Reach Budget Deal After Compromises
Yesterday, California lawmakers and Gov. Brown announced a budget deal that would expand Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented immigrant children. However, the deal does not include funding to increase reimbursement rates for providers in the state’s Medicaid program. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal” et al.
Majority of Consumers Say Rx Costs ‘Unreasonable,’ but Affordable
A new poll finds that a majority of U.S. residents feel prescription drug costs are “unreasonable,” but they are affordable for most. According to the poll, many U.S. residents attribute the high costs to drugmakers’ profits. Kaiser Health News, Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll.