Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. Unified School District Begins Efforts To Track Under-Immunized Kindergarteners
The Los Angeles Unified School District has begun hiring temporary and full-time nurses to help with efforts to track which kindergarten students in the district begin school under-immunized. California law requires children entering kindergarten to obtain vaccinations for several diseases, including measles. However, a previous report by KPCC’s “KPCC News’ and the CHCF Center for Health Reporting noted that schools do not have reporting guidelines to keep track of whether the parents get their children up to date on vaccinations after the school year begins. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Lawmakers Tout Vaccines; Boxer Introduces Head Start Legislation
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers have signed a resolution that urges parents to consult with their health care provider and vaccinate their children. Meanwhile, Sen. Barbara Boxer has introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate that would require all children attending preschools that participate in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs to get vaccinated. The Hill‘s “Floor Action” et al.
Report: Southern Calif. Health Care Industry Likely To See Job Growth
A new report by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s Kyser Center for Economic Research projects that Southern California’s health care industry will see large gains in job growth between 2015 and 2016. San Gabriel Valley Tribune, LAEDC report.
Obama Administration Weighing Special Open Enrollment Period
The Obama administration is considering whether to allow a special open enrollment period lining up with the federal tax filing deadline that would allow individuals who become aware of penalties under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate to purchase coverage for 2015. HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell said officials will announce a decision within the next two weeks. Reuters et al.
Audit Finds Hundreds of Unprocessed Claims at VA Office in Oakland
An audit by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General finds that hundreds of financial and disability claims were not properly processed by the VA office for Northern California, leaving many veterans without necessary benefits. San Francisco Chronicle, VA OIG audit.
Calif. Bill Aims To Limit Which Rx Drugs Are Listed in High-Cost Tiers
A new California bill seeks to keep prescription drug costs down by preventing insurers from placing all of the medications to treat a condition into the highest-cost tier of a drug formulary. The bill’s author says it would prevent discrimination, but insurers say the bill could be misleading. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” AB 339.
Feinstein Co-Sponsors Bill To Improve Breast Cancer Screening, Raise Awareness
Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kelly Ayotte have introduced a bill in Congress that would help raise awareness of breast cancer risks and the importance of appropriate screening. Among other things, the bill would ensure that women and their health care providers receive the patient’s relative breast density after a mammogram. The Valley Gazette.
Three Large California Insurers Report Q4 Gains
Three of California’s large health insurers reported fourth quarter gains in part due to increased enrollment under the Affordable Care Act. Molina Healthcare and Health Net reported big gains in enrollment and revenue for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2014, while Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente, reported a 5.4% gain in revenue, totaling $14.2 billion. Payers & Providers.
This week, UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center began notifying 179 patients who were treated at the hospital between October 2014 and January and may have been exposed to potentially deadly bacteria from contaminated medical scopes. UCLA said that seven patients have been infected by a drug-resistant superbug known as CRE and two patients’ deaths have been linked to the bacteria. Los Angeles Times, CNN.
Apple Watch Reportedly Lacks Features To Track Blood Pressure, Other Health Metrics
The Apple smartwatch set to be released in April lacks some health-related technology components that the company had originally envisioned. Individuals familiar with the device said the Apple Watch does not include tools to monitor individuals’ blood pressure, heart activity and stress level — features that previously were expected. The individuals said that development on those features faltered and they ultimately were left out of the first version of the watch. Wall Street Journal.