Latest California Healthline Stories
UCLA-Backed mHealth Clinical Trial Shows Promise in Improving Women’s Health and Wellness
Preliminary results from a UCLA-backed clinical trial involving 40 young black women show promise for fitness and diet tracking smartphone applications to improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels, eating and exercise habits and to reduce levels of anxiety and stress. The trial, which will continue over the next year, equipped women with custom Android phones that were loaded with an app that asked women about their daily eating habits and tracked their daily exercise. Los Angeles Times.
Santa Clara County Veterans Share Health Care Concerns
At a Town Hall meeting with Department of Veterans Affairs officials on Thursday, Santa Clara County veterans said long appointment wait times and communication gaps result in delayed diagnoses and higher out-of-pocket costs for necessary care. Lisa Freeman, director of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, said the administration has to improve communication and notifications of changes that affect the roughly 85,000 veterans in the county. San Jose Mercury News.
A majority of U.S. residents equated shopping for health coverage with having a cavity filled or similarly unenviable activities, according to a Bankrate.com poll. Specifically, 75% of respondents compared looking for health coverage to doing their own taxes and 64% said shopping for a health plan is similar to having a cavity filled. The Hill.
Two San Diego Biotech Firms Reach Settlement Over Prenatal Test Patents
On Wednesday, San Diego-based biotech companies Illumina and Sequenom announced that they reached a settlement over a patent dispute. Under the agreement, the firms will combine their patents for noninvasive prenatal tests, which are used to identify abnormalities in fetuses using DNA in the mother’s blood. U-T San Diego.
765K U.S. Residents Have Selected Federal Exchange Plans, HHS Says
The latest HHS data show that as of Nov. 28, about 765,000 U.S. residents have chosen health plans through HealthCare.gov since the second open enrollment period began on Nov. 1. However, the numbers do not take into account whether individuals have paid their first premiums, effectively completing the enrollment process. Washington Times et al.
2013 Health Spending Grew at Slowest Rate Since 1960, CMS Says
The Obama administration has released a report that shows health care spending in 2013 increased by 3.6%, to $2.9 trillion, accounting for 17.4% of the country’s gross domestic product. White House officials attribute the slowdown in part to the Affordable Care Act’s health care delivery reforms. New York Times et al.
Brown Considering Medi-Cal for Undocumented Immigrants
Yesterday, a policy aide for Gov. Brown said his administration is considering expanding Medicaid benefits to undocumented immigrants in California who qualify for protection under President Obama’s recent executive action on immigration. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
Calif. Department of Public Health Director To Step Down Next Month
Yesterday, California Department of Public Health Director Ronald Chapman in an email to staff said he will step down at the end of January 2015. Chapman’s resignation comes amid many issues facing the department, including allegations of inadequate oversight of the state’s nursing homes. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
WellPoint Changes Name to Anthem
WellPoint — the second-largest insurer in the U.S. — has changed the company’s name to Anthem in an effort to adopt a more consumer-friendly name. The insurer already runs several insurance plans under the new name, including Anthem Blue Cross in California. AP/Washington Post.
Common Heart Medicine Could Increase Risk of Death
A common heart medicine, called Digoxin, is associated with a significantly higher risk of hospitalization or death for some patients with atrial fibrillation, according to a study by Kaiser Permanente. The drug is commonly prescribed for patients who have an irregular heartbeat and is branded as Digoz and Lanoxin. Payers & Providers.