Latest California Healthline Stories
VA Announces Reorganization Plans for Health Care Services, Other Benefits
On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced plans to create a single regional framework that will organize the agency into five regions. The agency currently uses nine organizational maps and about a dozen websites, some of which require unique usernames and passwords to provide a range of services, such as health care, disability benefits, home loans and cemetery plots. VA officials have said the new framework comes as part of a broader reorganization that will give the department a “singular focus on customer service.” AP/Washington Times.
Majority of U.S. Residents Favor Gov’t Action To Keep ACA Subsidies
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that about two-thirds of U.S. residents would favor congressional action to restore federal subsidies to help people purchase coverage through HealthCare.gov if the Supreme Court strikes them down. Meanwhile, several advocacy groups have filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the subsidies. Kaiser Health News et al.
HHS: Exchange Sign-Ups Reach 9.5M in Second Enrollment Period
Yesterday, HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell announced that 7.1 million consumers have signed up for coverage through HealthCare.gov since the start of the second open enrollment period, while 2.4 million selected plans through state exchanges. California had the second-highest enrollment numbers, with 1.2 million residents signing up through Covered California. New York Times et al.
Clusters of Unvaccinated Kids Could Lead to More Disease Outbreaks
Public health officials are warning that highly infectious diseases — such as measles — are becoming more common, in part because of clusters of unvaccinated children living in the same areas. A recent study found five regions with clusters of unvaccinated children in California, including an area south of Sacramento, where 13.5% of children were unvaccinated or under-immunized. Wall Street Journal et al.
20% of Low-Birthweight Calif. Babies Not Referred to Follow-Up Care
A new study by researchers at Stanford University’s School of Medicine finds that 20% of California infants who are born weighing less than 3.3 pounds are not referred to the state’s follow-up care program, despite their increased risk for neurological and developmental issues. EdSource, Education Week‘s “Early Years.”
Editorial Praises San Diego County Supervisors for Voting To Implement Laura’s Law
A U-T San Diego editorial applauds “four San Diego County supervisors for their votes Tuesday to finally take a crucial first step toward realizing” the benefits of Laura’s Law, a program that allows court-ordered intensive outpatient treatment for people with serious mental illnesses. The editorial noted that “New York state’s experience with a similar measure for the severely mentally ill led to reductions in hospitalizations, arrests and jail time,” adding, “Here’s hoping that after careful implementation, San Diego County has similar success.” U-T San Diego.
Kaiser Kicks Off New Sponsorship Deal With U.S. Professional Basketball Leagues
On Monday, Kaiser Permanente launched a multi-year sponsorship deal with the National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, NBA Development League and USA Basketball. The monetary value and length of the deal, which marks Kaiser’s first national partnership with a professional sports league, were not disclosed. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Study: Undocumented Students Report High Levels of Anxiety
A new study by UCLA researchers finds that undocumented college students report stress levels that are above clinically healthy standards. To address the issue, researchers suggest that universities improve mental health counseling for students with immigration status issues, among other steps. Los Angeles Times, UCLA study.
L.A. Supervisors Order Audit of L.A. Care Health Plan
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted for a financial review of the not-for-profit health plan L.A. Care, which administers Medi-Cal coverage and manages more than $4 billion in public funds. Supervisor Michael Antonovich says L.A. Care has never been audited, despite a state law that requires the county auditor-controller to conduct audits annually. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Obama’s Proposed Budget To Include $1.2B for Research To Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
White House officials on Tuesday said President Obama’s fiscal year 2016 budget proposal will include nearly twice as much funding for efforts to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Obama’s budget request, which the Obama administration is set to release next Monday, will include nearly $1.2 billion to fight such bacteria. Reuters.