Latest California Healthline Stories
Merced County Gets $4M Grant To Fight Chronic Diseases
On Thursday, Rep. Jim Costa announced that the Merced County Department of Public Health was awarded a $4 million federal grant to continue efforts to reduce chronic diseases among county residents. Costa said the funding, which will be doled out over a three-year period, will bolster initiatives aimed at reducing exposure to tobacco and secondhand smoke, promoting physical activity, and expanding access to healthy food and resources for chronic disease prevention. Sacramento Bee.
Opinion Pieces Face Off Over Prop. 46
Two Sacramento Bee opinion pieces address Proposition 46, which would increase the state’s $250,000 limit on pain-and-suffering awards in malpractice lawsuits and require doctors to undergo random drug-testing. Bob Pack, the main proponent of Prop. 46, argues that the measure is essential to protecting patient safety. However, Paul Phinney — who was chief of pediatrics at two Kaiser Permanente facilities in the Sacramento area and the immediate past president of the California Medical Association — argues that Prop. 46 “would increase costs and limit Californians’ access to the doctors they know and trust.” Sacramento Bee.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of September 26, 2014
John Muir Health has donated $35,000 to help Doctors Without Borders and MedShare combat the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Meanwhile, stakeholders recommended that Doctors Medical Center convert from a full-service hospital to an urgent care clinic or a satellite emergency department to avoid closure.
San Fernando Valley Warns Residents About Growing Threat of West Nile Virus
San Fernando Valley officials are warning residents to take extra precautions against mosquitos as the number of West Nile virus infections in the state grows. The Valley historically has higher West Nile virus rates than the rest of Los Angeles County, and three Valley neighborhoods have had nine or more mosquito samples test positive for the virus this year, according to Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District spokesperson Levy Sun. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Report Highlights Challenges Faced by Asian-Americans During ACA’s First Open Enrollment Period
Asian-Americans who sought coverage through state and federal health insurance exchanges during the first open enrollment period faced several challenges, including a lack of outreach, identity verification issues and language barriers, according to a report by Action for Health Justice. Modern Healthcare.
HealthCare.gov Costs Hit $2B; Admin Reassess 2015 Enrollment Goals
A Bloomberg Government analysis finds that the total cost of HealthCare.gov now exceeds $2 billion, compared with the Obama administration’s cost estimate of $1 billion through fiscal year 2015. Meanwhile, Obama administration officials say they are re-evaluating how many U.S. residents could sign up for health coverage before announcing its estimate for the second enrollment period. The Hill, Los Angeles Times‘ “Nation Now.”
ACA Will Save Hospitals $5.7B in Uncompensated Care, HHS Says
Obama administration officials say that hospitals in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act have experienced a significant decline in the amount of uncompensated care they provide. HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell says hospitals will save $5.7 billion in uncompensated care costs this year, of which $4.2 billion will occur in Medicaid expansion states. New York Times et al.
Report: ACA Helps Cut Uninsured Rate Among Latinos in Calif.
A new Commonwealth Fund report finds that the uninsured rate among working-age Latino adults was cut in half, from 35% to 17%, in states that expanded Medicaid, like California. The report highlights efforts in California to improve outreach and boost insurance enrollment among Latinos. Los Angeles Times et al.
Soda Tax Fight in Berkeley, S.F. Could Have Nationwide Implications
The outcome of November ballot proposals to tax sugar-sweetened beverages in Berkeley and San Francisco could have implications throughout the country. Experts say that if the cities approve the soda tax, it could reignite similar measure throughout the U.S. but that if the proposals fail in the liberal cities, it could discourage other cities and states from even trying. Politico.
CVS Issues Refunds to 11K Women Illegally Charged for Birth Control
CVS Health violated the Affordable Care Act by charging about 11,000 women for generic birth control. The pharmacy chain said that the issue stems from a price-coding error that will be fixed by Sept. 26, and that it is sending refund checks to affected individuals. Calif. Rep. Jackie Speier earlier this month sent a letter to CVS CEO Larry Merlo urging him to rectify the situation. The Hill et al.