Latest California Healthline Stories
Hearst Foundations Dole Out Funding To Support Health Care Initiatives, Research in California
The Hearst Foundations in California have awarded 10 grants totaling more than $1.5 million to support various programs, including $50,000 to improve children’s dental care in the Bay Area. In addition, the University of Southern California received $250,000 to support the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research’s Hearst Fellowship Award, while the Kids’ Cancer Research Foundation in San Luis Obispo was awarded $50,000 for neuroblastoma research. San Francisco Chronicle.
CIRM Approves $50M Effort To Streamline Funding Process
On Thursday, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine approved a plan to spend $50 million through the end of June to accelerate its funding process. The effort aims to decrease the time it takes for an applicant to receive funding from about 24 months to four months. Sacramento Business Journal.
Most Exchange Enrollees Unlikely To Shop for New Plans During Second Open Enrollment Period
Data from the first few weeks of the Affordable Care Act’s second open enrollment period suggest that the majority of enrollees will not shop around for new coverage and instead will automatically be re-enrolled in their current plans. According to HHS data, about 720,000 of the roughly five million individuals who enrolled in 2014 federal exchange plans have returned to HealthCare.gov to select a plan for 2015. New York Times, Wall Street Journal.
Survey: Patients Increasingly Interested in EHR Access
Patients this year are significantly more interested in accessing their electronic health records online than they were in 2011, according to a survey released by the National Partnership for Women & Families. Overall, the survey found that 80% of U.S. adults said they have a physician who uses EHRs, up from 64% in 2011. Meanwhile, the survey found that 86% of respondents with online access to their EHRs used it at least once annually, while 55% used it three or more times annually. EHR Intelligence.
House Narrowly Passes Cromnibus, Advances Bill to Senate
The House has voted to pass a continuing resolution omnibus spending bill that contains various health provisions that eventually could affect hospitals, home health agencies and drugmakers, as well as funding for U.S. efforts to combat Ebola and other health initiatives. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. New York Times et al.
43M U.S. Residents Have Medical Debt, Report Finds
A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report finds that more than 40 million U.S. residents have unpaid medical bills. The report suggests confusion about treatment costs could be the cause of many U.S. residents’ outstanding medical debt. AP/Modern Healthcare.
Calif. Lawmakers Urge Harris To Block Sale of Six Hospitals to Prime
Yesterday, a group of 18 Democratic California lawmakers sent a letter to state Attorney General Kamala Harris urging her to reject the sale of six safety-net hospitals run by not-for-profit Daughters of Charity Health System to Prime Healthcare Services. Victorville Daily Press, Gilroy Dispatch.
Audit: Denti-Cal Failing To Serve Half of Children in Program
A new state audit finds that Denti-Cal has failed to provide adequate services to low-income children. The audit also criticizes California’s Department of Health Care Services for inadequate oversight of the program that “put[s] child beneficiaries at higher risk of dental disease.” San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Opinion Piece Urges Congress To Extend Health Center Trust Fund Program
In a U-T San Diego opinion piece, Henry Tuttle — CEO of the Council of Community Clinics — argues that Congress in the current lame duck session should extend the Health Center Trust Fund program, which provided financial support to help community clinics to expand their services. He noted that the program — which is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2015 — helped San Diego County community clinics “deliver primary care services to more than 700,000 individuals annually,” many of whom are newly insured under the Medi-Cal expansion and Covered California. U-T San Diego.
Several Bat Area community groups are working to prevent Sutter Health’s California Pacific Medical Center from increasing workers’ out-of-pocket costs for health coverage. The move by the hospital to push more of the cost of employee health care on workers comes as many employees are being forced to move outside of San Francisco to obtain affordable housing. San Francisco Examiner.