Latest California Healthline Stories
California Public Health Officials Create Ebola Hotline
On Wednesday, the California Department of Public Health announced that it has created an Ebola hotline call center to respond to questions related to Ebola. The call center will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In a release, state public health officials said there are no confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola in the state. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” KTVU.
Jones Calls Anthem Rate Hike for Small Business Plans ‘Excessive’
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones says a 9.8% rate increase on Anthem Blue Cross’ small business health plans is “excessive” and based on an “unwarranted accounting maneuver.” Anthem counters that the actual increase will be closer to 7.8% and that it is necessary to offset losses. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Lawmakers Should Renew Funding for Children’s Health Insurance Program, Editorial Argues
A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that the Children’s Health Insurance Program “plugs a troubling gap between Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act’s subsidized plans.” The editorial urges lawmakers to renew funding for the program, adding that “states need to know whether they can count on federal funding or whether they will have to spend far more dollars of their own.” However, it notes that “chances are slim that Congress will act on CHIP this year.” Los Angeles Times.
Obama Administration Freezes ‘Gain-of-Function’ Research on Influenza, Other Pathogens
On Friday, the Obama administration announced it has temporarily halted funding new “gain-of -function” research that involves making influenza or other pathogens more transmissible or deadly. The funding freeze comes after experts last month criticized the federal government for not addressing gain-of-function research in its guidelines for “dual-use research of concern,” or research on pathogens that can be used for legitimate reasons and also for biowarfare. Reuters.
28% of Calif. Hospitals Had Worse-Than-Expected Infection Rates
A Kaiser Health News analysis of CDC data finds California is one of 13 states and Washington, D.C., where more than one quarter of hospitals had higher-than-expected infection rates for at least one of six infections tracked by CDC. Further, the analysis finds more than one in six U.S. hospitals reported higher-than-expected rates for infections monitored by CDC. Kaiser Health News.
CMS Proposes 2016 Basic Health Program Payment Plan
Yesterday, CMS issued a proposed notice outlining its plan to reimburse states for the Affordable Care Act’s Basic Health Program in 2016. The proposed payment methodology for 2016 closely mirrors the rules for 2015 but would allow states to factor in the health differences between BHP enrollees and exchange enrollees. Modern Healthcare.
Calif. Physician-Owned Medical Groups Have Lower Care Costs
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that medical costs are 19.8% higher at California medical groups owned by large health systems and 10.3% higher at groups owned by local hospitals, when compared with independent physician groups in the state. Los Angeles Times, UC-Berkeley release.
Increased Demand for Care Under ACA Falling to Community Clinics
As more Californians gain health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, much of the increasing demand for medical services is falling to community clinics and health centers. Experts say clinics that helped individuals enroll in coverage and have put new systems in place are best able to adjust to the higher demand. CHCF Center for Health Reporting/Los Angeles Daily News.
NIH Awards Two UCLA Researchers Grants To Study How Social Media Can Combat Substance Misuse
NIH has awarded $11 million over the next three years to support 11 research projects — including two by UCLA researchers — on how social media can improve substance misuse prevention and treatment. Marya Schulte will test a social media intervention for parent support, while Sean Young will adapt the HOPE social media intervention to address prescription drug misuse. FierceHealthIT.
More than 5 million California residents live within one mile of an oil or gas well, and increasing drilling could leave them more at risk to health issues caused by air and water pollution, according to a report released Wednesday by a the Natural Resources Defense Council. The report found that most of the at-risk population lives in Los Angeles and Kern counties. Los Angeles Times.