Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Coverage for Misuse-Deterrent Painkillers Falls
A recent Avalere Health study finds that fewer Medicare plans are covering misuse-deterrent painkillers and instead are opting for generic medications without misuse-deterrent properties. For example, the study shows that about 61% of Medicare plans covered the misuse-resistant OxyContin in 2012, compared with 33% in 2015. Kaiser Health News.
Survey Finds 21% of California Physician Practices Not Prepared for ICD-10 Transition
Twenty one percent of California physician practices reported that they are not prepared for the Oct. 1 transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes sets, according to a survey by the California Medical Association. In addition, the survey showed that more than half of California physician practices said they are minimally prepared for the new coding sets. Health Data Management.
On Friday, Los Angeles County health officials issued an alert to local hospitals and doctors to be on the lookout for patients with respiratory illnesses who have recently travelled abroad, amid the growing number of Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, cases in South Korea. However, health experts say U.S. residents are unlikely to contact the illness even if they have travelled in infected regions. Los Angele Daily News, Los Angeles Times.
Calif. Launches Audit of Mental Health Services for Students
The California state auditor is investigating whether school districts are providing adequate mental health services to students with disabilities. The audit, which was called for by state Sen. Jim Beall, comes after a 2011 law shifted the responsibility for students’ mental health services to school districts. CHCF Center for Health Reporting/Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
California’s Largest Nursing Home Operator Under Scrutiny From State, Federal Regulators
In the past year, several facilities operated by Brius Healthcare Services — California’s largest nursing home chain — have become the targets of lawsuits, regulatory fines, police scrutiny, and state and federal investigations that have uncovered numerous alleged violations. Between October 2014 and January 2015, three of the nursing home chain’s 81 facilities were decertified by the federal government. Brius’ owner Shlomo Rechnitz has said regulators are singling out his facilities, but the state has denied such allegations. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee.
New Database Developed by VA, NIH Uses EHR Data To Predict Veterans’ Risk of Suicide
A database developed by Department of Veterans Affairs and NIH researchers could use predictive modeling to help identify veterans at high risk of suicide, according to a study published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health. The database uses electronic health records to help flag veterans who are at risk of suicide by searching for patterns using 381 variables. New York Times.
Obama Administration Announces Campaign To Raise Awareness of No-Cost Preventive Services Under ACA
The Obama administration on Thursday announced a preventive health campaign aimed at helping newly insured U.S. residents better understand and use their health coverage. The goal of the “Healthy Self” campaign is to raise public awareness about no-cost preventive services covered by health plans under the Affordable Care Act. The Hill.
Federal Exchange Premiums To Increase by Around 5% in 2016
An Avalere Health analysis estimates that premiums for silver-tier health plans sold through HealthCare.gov will increase by about 5.8% next year. HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell earlier this month said she anticipates many of the proposed increases will lower. The Hill.
Use of Physician Networks Up in California Workers’ Comp System
A report by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute finds that the use of physicians in medical provider networks in the state’s workers’ compensation system increased by almost 30 percentage points from the time before the networks were introduced to the period after they had been fully implemented. Business Insurance, CWCI release.
Health Care Spending Up 7.2% in Q1 2015, Compared With Q1 2014
Federal data show that health care spending in the U.S. has grown by 7.2% in the first quarter of the year, compared with Q1 2014. The increase in health care spending growth, which is higher than previous estimates, has been driven by more spending among hospitals. Modern Healthcare.