Latest California Healthline Stories
Out-of-Pocket Costs for Specialty Drugs Prices To Increase for Some ACA Exchange Shoppers
U.S. residents who purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges will likely pay more out-of-pocket in 2015 for specialty drugs, according to a report by Avalere Health. The report showed that 41% of “silver” level plans will require specialty drug payments of 30%, up from 27% in 2014. Kaiser Health News.
San Diego County Initiative Aims To Find Alzheimer’s Cure
On Tuesday, San Diego County officially launched a new initiative aimed at finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Project brings together local neuroscientists, health care experts and politicians to develop a drug to treat the disease. U-T San Diego.
Bill To Create Office of New Americans ‘Raises Big Questions,’ Sacramento Bee Editorial Argues
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that legislation introduced Monday by Sen. Ricardo Lara that would create an Office of New Americans to assist undocumented immigrants “comes straight from the heart.” However, the editorial notes that the bill “also raises big questions that must be answered fully as this bill goes through the legislative process,” such as how the office would be funded. Sacramento Bee.
Law Enforcement Officers Report 50% Cost Increase for Drug To Treat Opioid, Heroin Overdoses
Costs for naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of opioid or heroin overdose, have spiked by 50% or more in some areas, according to police officials. Phillip Coffin, director of substance abuse research at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, said the cost spikes “will decrease access” to the medication. New York Times.
CMS Issues Proposed Rule To Delay ACO Penalties by Three Years
In an effort to discourage accountable care organizations from dropping out of its Medicare Shared Savings Program, CMS has released a proposed rule that would give participants an additional three years before imposing penalties. CMS also proposed a third track for ACOs that would allow them to retain up to 75% of what they save but be responsible for up to 75% of their losses. Kaiser Health News et al.
Mortality Rates for Medical Conditions, Procedures Vary Across Calif.
Data released by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development finds that mortality rates for common medical conditions and procedures vary across California. For example, 59 hospitals were rated better than the state average in at least one category, while 79 hospitals were rated worse than average in at least one category. Sacramento Business Journal, OSHPD report.
Largest Insurers Control Market in Many States, GAO Report Says
A Government Accountability Office report finds that a few insurers controlled much of the individual and employer insurance markets in most states between 2010 and 2013. The researchers say it is unclear how increased competition through the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges will affect market shares. Modern Healthcare, The Hill.
Lawmakers Introduce Health Bills on First Day of Legislative Session
Yesterday, California lawmakers returned for a new legislative session and introduced several health-related bills. For example, state Sen. Ricardo Lara introduced two bills that would expand Medicaid and subsidized coverage to undocumented immigrants and would create an Office of New Americans to assist undocumented immigrants. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
San Diego Biotech Firms’ Products Nab Half of Spots on Top 2014 Innovation List
San Diego-based companies were responsible for five of the top 10 2014 innovations ranked by The Scientist, a highly regarded life science magazine. La Jolla’s Edico Genome took first place for its Dragen Bio-IT Processor, while Illumina’s genome sequencers took second and third place. U-T San Diego.
L.A. County Sees Declines in HIV/AIDS Diagnoses, Deaths
Data from the Los Angeles County Division of HIV and STD Programs show a downward trend in HIV/AIDS diagnoses and deaths. As of Dec. 31, 2013, there were 47,148 people living with HIV in the county, of which 75% were at least 40 years old, 15% were over age 60 and less than 1% were younger than age 20. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now”