Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. County Officials Say They Are Prepared for Ebola
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County public health officials told members of the county Board of Supervisors that hospitals and health workers in the area have received proper training for how to handle the Ebola virus. Officials said they have already taken several precautions, including sending hospital CEOs a checklist for self-readiness assessments, distributing posters about the virus to providers and non-government organizations and coordinating with the coroner’s office. Los Angeles Times et al.
Steinberg Reveals Plan To Create Foundation Focusing on Mental Health Policy Issues
On Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg in a tweet wrote that he plans to form a foundation to focus on mental health policy issues after he leaves the Legislature at the end of November. Steinberg has long championed such initiatives. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
$1.1B in Payments Missing From Physician Payment Site
CMS’ recently launched physician payment website is missing $1.1 billion in payments made by drugmakers and medical device manufacturers to health care providers, according to a CMS factsheet. CMS said it would not publish information regarding 9,000 payments that had been disputed by doctors or hospitals during the physician review period. In addition, CMS said it would withhold data on 190,000 research payments for drugs and medical devices that have not been introduced to the market, as is required by the law. ProPublica.
Specialty Rx Drugs More Costly, but Offer Greater Benefits
Specialty drugs often provide patients with greater health benefits compared with traditional drugs but are significantly more costly, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. The high price of specialty drugs, including the hepatitis C drug Sovaldi, recently has spurred debate over their cost-effectiveness. Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”
CMS Plans To Update Nursing Home Compare System With E-Filing
CMS announced it will update the Nursing Home Compare program by implementing an electronic filing system. CMS also issued a proposed rule that would change the conditions of participation for home health agencies that treat Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, while President Obama signed a bill to increase hospice inspections. New York Times‘ “Business Day” et al.
California Patients Face Longer ED Wait Times Than Most of U.S.
Recent CMS data show that emergency department patients in California waited 23 minutes longer for care than the national average in 2013. The average wait in California EDs was about two-and-a-half hours, and at least 5% of patients at 20 of the state’s EDs left before being treated. CHCF Center for Health Reporting/Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram.
VA Seeks To Fire Four Senior Executives Over Wait Time Scandals
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to terminate four senior executives over issues related to long appointment wait times and manipulated waiting lists at VA health facilities. A law passed in August to improve veterans’ access to care gave the VA secretary more power to fire top-level employees based on their performance. AP/New York Times et al.
Calif. Cities Rank Among Best, Worst for Disabled Individuals
A new report finds that Rancho Cucamonga is among the best cities in the U.S. for individuals with disabilities, based on economic environment, quality of life, and health care access and quality. Meanwhile, Los Angeles ranks among the worst cities for individuals with disabilities. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” WalletHub report.
L.A. Restaurants Increasingly Charging Health Care Surcharge
More than 12 restaurants in the Los Angeles area are charging a 3% fee on bills to pay for employees’ health care coverage. The restaurants say the surcharge is the only way they can offer their employees health insurance while still maintaining a profit. Los Angeles Times.
On Friday, California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein sent a letter to the officials at the California Hospital Association and California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems urging them to ensure their members have protocols in place to identify and treat patients with Ebola. They cite a suspected communication breakdown that led to a Texas Ebola patient being sent home. AP/Sacramento Bee.