Latest California Healthline Stories
A top CDC official on Thursday attributed the recent measles outbreak to the “measles vaccine not being used” and urged U.S. residents to get vaccinated. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said that 79% of the individuals infected with the disease last year said they had decided not to receive the measles vaccination because of their “personal beliefs.” The Hill.
Bill Would Raise California Minimum Legal Smoking Age From 18 to 21
Yesterday, state Sen. Ed Hernandez proposed a bill that would raise California’s legal smoking age from 18 to 21. If the bill is passed, California would be the first state to raise the minimum legal smoking age to 21. However, the measure likely will receive strong opposition from the tobacco industry. Los Angeles Time‘s “PolitiCal,” KQED’s “State of Health.”
Calif. Health Groups Join Pledge To Move to Value-Based Agreements
Dignity Health and Blue Shield of California, along with a group of some of the largest health care systems and insurers in the U.S., have made a commitment to move from fee-for-service payments to value-based agreements by 2020. The move comes shortly after the Obama administration announced plans to move toward alternative payment models. New York Times et al.
Anthem Leads Covered California Open Enrollment Sign-Ups
Data obtained by the Los Angeles Times show that through Jan. 15, Anthem Blue Cross has signed up the most consumers through Covered California, accounting for nearly 30% of the exchange market. Together, the state’s four largest insurers control 94.5% of the exchange market. Los Angeles Times.
Medi-Cal Website Glitches Cause Issues for Beneficiaries, Workers
Problems with the computer system for California’s Medicaid program are causing beneficiaries to receive redundant and contradictory notifications about their coverage. The system also does not allow county eligibility workers to delete duplicate applications or applications that consumers request be removed. HealthyCal.
California Prison Officials Say More Than 3,000 Inmates Tested Positive for Valley Fever
On Thursday, California prison officials said that a $5 million screening effort conducted this month showed that more than 3,000 inmates have been exposed to Valley Fever, making them eligible to be moved to one of two prisons where the fungus is common. Most individuals who have been exposed to the illness — which is caused by a fungus that grows in the soil in the Central Valley and other dry locations — become immune. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
Calif. Senate Looks To Restore Social Services Safety Net
On Thursday, California Senate Leader Kevin de León said that this year, Democratic lawmakers will try to restore the social services safety net, among other things, by offering changes to the state budget. Brown has defended his fiscal year 2015-2016 budget proposal, saying that about one-third of the budget is dedicated to serving low-income individuals through various programs, including child care and health care. Los Angeles Times “PolitiCal,” AP/Sacramento Bee.
California Lawmaker To Introduce School Vaccine Bill
Today, Sen. Richard Pan is expected to introduce a bill that would require schools to share their immunization rates with parents. Under the bill, schools also would have to provide parents with a “reference rate” of what public health officials believe the vaccination rate should be to protect individuals who cannot receive vaccinations for medical reasons. KQED’s “State of Health.”
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of January 30, 2015
Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers have expressed their support for the contentious sale of six safety-net hospitals to Prime Healthcare Services. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a payment of nearly $3 million to settle a claim filed by the family of a woman who was found dead in a stairwell of the San Francisco General Hospital.
Bay Area Rapid Transit Considering E-Cigarette Ban
The Bay Area Rapid Transit Board has unanimously approved a measure that would ban the use of electronic cigarettes on its trains or in its stations. The American Lung Association pushed for the measure, but an e-cigarette industry spokesperson said it overreaches because it bans the devices on all BART property — not just trains. A final vote on the ban will be held on Feb. 12. AP/Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” San Jose Mercury News.