Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA Panel Recommends Approval of First Biosimilar Drug
An FDA advisory panel on Wednesday voted 14-0 to recommend the agency approve Novartis AG’s version of Amgen’s biologic drug Neupogen, paving the way for it to be the first biosimilar approved by the agency. The copycat would be marketed under the name Zarxio. Wall Street Journal.
Workers Spending More on Health Care, Commonwealth Fund Finds
A Commonwealth Fund report finds that average health insurance premiums went up at a faster rate than median incomes for employees under age 65 in every state from 2003 to 2013. The report shows that employees’ average spending on premiums and deductibles in 2013 represented 9.6% of the median U.S. household income. Los Angeles Times et al.
Report: Patients’ Perceptions of Doctors Vary Across California
A new report released by Consumer Reports finds that patients’ perceptions about health care providers vary by region, with about one in four physician groups in the Bay Area receiving a score of 70 or higher out of 100, compared with just one in 24 in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Sacramento Business Journal et al.
HealthCare.gov Enrollment Nears 6.6M, HHS Data Show
The latest HHS data show about 103,000 U.S. residents enrolled in coverage through the federal exchange in the seventh week of the second open enrollment period, bringing the total enrollment number to nearly 6.6 million. Observers say the data suggest that overall enrollment could exceed HHS’ 2015 projection of nine million individuals. Reuters et al.
New Calif. Law Aims To Protect Patients’ Sensitive Health Information
Under a new state law that went into effect on Jan. 1, individuals covered under another person’s health plan can submit confidentiality requests to insurers when they receive sensitive services, such as birth control prescriptions or mental health care. KPBS, Politico‘s “Morning eHealth.”
Dems Urge More Spending on Health Care for Low-Income Californians
California Democrats are calling on Gov. Brown to increase spending on health care, among other social programs, for low-income residents. However, Brown has said the state already made large financial commitments for health and human services. AP/Sacramento Bee.
Stanford Researchers Receive $300K From Life Sciences Pioneer in China To Study Childhood Diseases
On Monday, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health announced that China’s Luming Ai — a life sciences pioneer — donated $300,000 to a team of researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine that is working to help doctors identify Kawasaki disease. The disease affects young children — particularly those of Asian descent — and causes the walls of arteries, including the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, to become inflamed. San Jose Mercury News.
UC-San Francisco Affiliated Medical Group Reaches Settlement in Balance-Billing Case
The San Francisco General Hospital Medical Group and the Department of Managed Health Care have reached a settlement regarding allegations that the medical group used a practice known as balance billing in which members of a Blue Shield of California PPO between January 2009 and March 2014 were charged the difference between the provider’s bill and the allowed amount. The medical group is affiliated with UC-San Francisco. Payers & Providers.
Calif. Officials Link Measles Cases to Disneyland Parks
On Wednesday, California public health officials confirmed that at least nine people contracted measles after visiting Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park between Dec. 15, 2014, and Dec. 20, 2014. Officials say just one of the nine individuals diagnosed with the highly-contagious disease was vaccinated. KQED’s “State of Health” et al.
Gallup: U.S. Uninsured Rate Falls to 12.9%
The uninsured rate among U.S. adults has declined to 12.9%, its lowest point since 2008, according to the latest data from Gallup. In comparison, about 17.1% of U.S. adults were uninsured in the fourth quarter of 2013, before the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate went into effect. Politico.