Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital, Nurses Groups Announce Support for New CDC Ebola Guidelines
On Tuesday, the California Hospital Association and several state nurses associations announced their support for new CDC guidelines for health care providers caring for patients with Ebola. In a statement, the lobbying group said it is “working with [the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health], California’s regulatory agency, to implement these guidelines” and “strengthen our preparedness to respond.” San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Union Files Lawsuit Against Daughters of Charity Health System
In an ongoing battle over the sale of six California safety-net hospitals to for-profit Prime Healthcare Services, the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West has filed a lawsuit alleging that Daughters of Charity Health System underfunded its pension plan and that the sale would further jeopardize workers’ pensions. Los Angeles Times et al.
Majority of Nurses Dissatisfied With EHR Systems
About 92% of nurses report being dissatisfied with their organization’s inpatient electronic health record systems, according to a report by Black Book Market Research. Further, the report found that 88% of surveyed nurses blamed their hospitals’ financial administrators and CIOs for choosing low-performing systems based on price, rather than quality of care delivery. Health Data Management.
Average of 63K U.S. Children Experience a Medication Error Each Year, Study Finds
An average of 63,358 children in the U.S. experienced a medication error each year between 2002 and 2012, according to a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. The study found that a medication error was reported about every eight minutes between 2002 and 2012. In other words, there were 27 medication mistakes per 10,000 U.S. children under age six each year. Reuters.
CDC Updates Ebola Treatment Guidelines Amid Criticism
CDC has issued new voluntary guidelines for health care providers caring for patients with Ebola after several experts said the existing guidelines were too lax. Officials say CDC’s new guidelines are based on strict protocols used by Doctors Without Borders and represent a “consensus” by workers who have already treated Ebola patients in the U.S. NPR’s “The Two Way” et al.
Most Uninsured Unaware of Next ACA Open Enrollment Period
A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds about 90% of uninsured respondents are unaware that the Affordable Care Act’s second open enrollment period begins in November. The survey also finds about 66% of uninsured respondents say they know “only a little” or “nothing at all” about the insurance exchanges. New York Times‘ “The Upshot,” KFF poll.
Calif. Insurers Spend $12M in Five Days on Campaign Against Prop. 45
Insurers have spent more than $12 million over five days on a campaign to defeat Proposition 45, which would give the state regulatory authority over health care premium rates. The spike in spending brings the total amount raised by opponents of the measure to $55.4 million, compared with about $2.5 million raised by supporters. Los Angeles Times.
CalPERS’ Administrative Costs Outpace Similar U.S. Pension Funds
A newly released comparison of five similar U.S. pension funds in 2012-2013 finds that CalPERS’ administrative costs were $215 per member, compared with an average of $108 per member. However, observers and CalPERS officials say the findings already are somewhat outdated. Sacramento Business Journal.
Officials Say Hepatitis C Drug Too Pricey To Give to All Calif. Inmates
A study finds that Gilead’s hepatitis C drug — which costs $84,000 for a full 12-week treatment — could save $2 billion to $5 billion nationally if given to prisoners. However, prison and jail officials in California say the drug is too expensive to provide to all inmates who have the disease. San Francisco Business Times‘ “BiotechSF” et al.
Teachers Union Slams Sacramento City School District Over Health Benefits Change
Last week, more than 70 current and former educators criticized Sacramento City Unified School District’s decision to switch a large portion of teachers and retirees to a different health insurer without collective bargaining. Although the move — which is expected to save the district between $6 million and $8 million — was approved by four other large labor groups, the Sacramento City Teachers Association said it did not agree. Sacramento Bee.