Latest California Healthline Stories
Analysis Finds Individual Mandate Penalty Might Be Too Low
An Avalere analysis suggests that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate penalty might not be high enough to encourage middle-income residents to purchase coverage. According to the analysis, it is typically less costly for those residents to pay the individual mandate penalty than to purchase subsidized coverage. The Hill.
Feinstein Co-Sponsors Bill To Expand FDA Oversight of Cosmetics
A new bill, by Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins, would require companies to submit to FDA any consumer-reported adverse health effects of their products. In addition, the bill would expand FDA’s authority to recall dangerous products and require the agency to study annually the safety of five different chemicals. New York Times, Feinstein Release.
ACLU Says California Vaccine Bill Could Violate State Constitution
In a letter sent to California Sens. Richard Pan and Ben Allen this month, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers not to pass a bill to strengthen the state’s childhood vaccination requirements because it could violate children’s constitutional right to education. Los Angeles Times “California Journal.”
LAO: Surplus Calif. Tax Revenue Could Go To Health Programs
A new Legislative Analyst’s Office report finds that California’s tax revenue is expected to surpass previous estimates in Gov. Brown’s budget proposal by about $4 billion. Some of the extra money could be used to fund state health and welfare initiatives. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
California Colleges Nab Top Two Slots for Public Health Bachelor’s Degree Programs
UC-Berkeley and the University of Southern California were named the top two colleges to receive an undergraduate degree in public heath, according College Factual. The rankings focus on colleges that help students achieve high outcomes. Other California-based colleges that made the top 20 are UC-Irvine at number 14 and Santa Clara University at number 20. USA Today.
Los Angeles Researchers Work To Improve Detection of Childhood Eye Cancer
Researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are leveraging advanced genetic analysis to help improve diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma, a type of hereditary eye cancer. The researchers are able to use new technology to sequence a child’s entire retinoblastoma gene and get a realistic picture of a patient’s chances of developing the eye cancer. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
L.A. Officials Propose Measure To Help Homeless
Last week, five Los Angeles city council members introduced a measure that calls for a comprehensive plan for getting homeless individuals off the streets. The measure follows a report by City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana that found the city spends about $100 million annually on homelessness, including providing mental health and other services. Los Angeles Times.
Fewer Veterans Using VA Choice Program Than Expected
Department of Veterans Affairs officials announced that 37,648 veterans as of April 11 had scheduled appointments with private health care providers through VA’s Choice Card program. According to the officials, that figure is just a fraction of eligible patients. AP/Washington Times.
Editorial: Precision Medicine ‘Holds Great Promise’
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that precision medicine “holds great promise” but that “scientists have only scratched the surface of what this field has to offer.” It adds, “That’s why a new precision medicine initiative announced last week by Gov. Jerry Brown and the University of California is so important.” The editorial concludes that “the governor and the university are taking this step to ensure that the school and the state remain leaders in a field that could transform the way we diagnose and treat disease.” Sacramento Bee.
Calculation Error Causes Incorrect ACA Subsidies for Thousands
CMS has acknowledged that a glitch on HealthCare.gov might have incorrectly denied individuals Medicaid coverage and caused some families to receive a lower subsidy than they were eligible for by adding a child’s Social Security income to their modified adjusted gross income. One expert estimates about 40,000 households might have been affected. Kaiser Health News.