Latest California Healthline Stories
Senate GOP Unveils Budget Plan With $430B in Medicare Cuts
Senate Republicans have released a fiscal year 2016 budget plan that includes few details for achieving $430 billion in Medicare savings over 10 years. The Senate proposal does not include a plan to transition Medicare to a “premium support” model that is included in a House GOP budget plan. Politico et al.
Efforts To Curb Rx Misuse in Calif. Could Be Fueling Heroin Use
California hospitals’ efforts to combat prescription drug misuse could be driving an increase in heroin use across the state. New data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development show that California hospitals have seen a significant increase in the number of heroin overdoses in recent years. Payers & Providers.
Calif. Senate Republicans Call for Hearing on Gun Ownership Backlog
California Senate Republicans are calling for a joint oversight hearing on a backlogged list of individuals who are prevented from owning guns because of mental health issues, violent behavior or other issues. Sierra Sun Times, San Jose Mercury News‘ “Internal Affairs.”
Unions, CalPERS Oppose Brown’s High-Deductible Health Plan Pitch
Yesterday, union and CalPERS officials expressed concern over Gov. Brown’s proposal to introduce a new high-deductible health plan for state workers. Supporters say the plan could curb costs, but opponents say it would discourage patients from seeking necessary care. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
A study of the electronic health records of more than one million Kaiser Permanente Southern California patients found that expanding blood pressure screenings in non-primary care settings could help improve the diagnosis and management of hypertension. About 112,000 patients involved in the study were diagnosed with high blood pressure. Of those, 83% were diagnosed in a primary care setting and 17% were diagnosed in a non-primary care setting. Health Data Management.
L.A. Times Editorial Calls SB 591 ‘Sane Approach’ To Taxing Tobacco Products
A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that money raised by taxing tobacco products should be spent appropriately, noting that SB 591, by Assembly member Richard Pan, would spend the new revenue “in ways that largely benefit the people who pay the tax.” The editorial concludes, “California taxpayers shell out about $3 billion a year for treatment of smoking-related illness,” adding, “SB 591 represents a sane approach to reducing the ravages of smoking and paying for some of the injury it incurs.” Los Angeles Times.
Study: Zoning Ordinance Restricting New Fast Food Restaurants in South L.A. Had No Meaningful Effect
A 2008 zoning ordinance that restricted the opening of new stand-alone fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles did not have a meaningful effect on obesity rates or improving residents’ diets, according to a new RAND study. Although no stand-alone fast food chains opened between 2008 and 2012, the study found that nearly 50% of approved food permits were for convenience stores that sell junk food and soda. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Consumer Groups Call Anthem’s No-Cost Credit Monitoring for Breach Victims Inadequate
Consumer groups are criticizing the no-cost credit monitoring Anthem is offering to potential victims of a recent cyberattack, which affected the personal data of nearly 80 million people, including 13.5 million California residents. The groups say that the single credit bureau monitoring Anthem is offering is not adequate, noting that industry best practices call for three-bureau monitoring when Social Security numbers have been compromised. Orange County Register.
San Diego County Supervisors Approve 10-Year Action Plan To Address Alzheimer’s Disease
On Tuesday, San Diego County Supervisors approved a 10-year action plan to for Alzheimer’s disease that includes education, research, diagnosis and caregiving efforts. Some programs mentioned in the action plan already are underway, including a campaign to raise $7 million for research, efforts to draft new guidelines for physicians and other projects. The plan also includes the long-term goals of reducing the cost of long-term care and improving access to adult day health care services. U-T San Diego.
Backlogged List of Individuals Barred From Owning Guns Reduced by Less Than 20% from 2013 to 2014
A backlogged list of individuals who are prevented from owning guns because of mental health issues, violent behavior or other issues decreased by less than 20% from 2013 to 2014, according to a report by the state attorney general. The report attributes the failure to further reduce the backlog to “hiring challenges.” California is the only state that runs a database to cross-reference certain criminal convictions, mental health records and active domestic violence restraining orders when individuals purchase firearms. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”