Latest California Healthline Stories
Obama Signs Bill To Reform VA, Improve Veterans’ Access to Care
President Obama has signed a bill to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs and improve veterans’ access to care. Specifically, the law allows veterans to seek care at private facilities if they meet certain criteria and authorizes funding for VA to lease new facilities. The Hill et al.
Monthly Medi-Cal Complaint Investigations Up 82% This Year
In the first six months of this year, a division of the California Department of Health Care Services that is in charge of Medicaid complaints investigated about 9,466 cases per month — 82% more than the monthly average in 2013. A DHCS spokesperson said the office has hired additional staff to handle the increase. HealthyCal.
L.A. Health Advocates Launch Campaign Targeting High Blood Pressure Among Black, Latino Populations
This month, the not-for-profit Community Health Councils launched a campaign aimed at encouraging Black and Latino Los Angeles area residents to check and manage their blood pressure. The campaign, called “Know Your Digits,” involves billboard advertisements and no-cost hypertension screenings at more than 40 locations, including grocery stores and public libraries. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
CDC on Wednesday issued a Level 1 response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the agency’s highest-level alert and one that it has not issued since the 2009 influenza epidemic. Meanwhile, President Obama during a conference with leaders from Africa said that the outbreak can be contained through standard public health measures and that the U.S. would send more health care workers into West Africa to help address the issue. USA Today, AP/Miami Herald.
Asian Health Services Receive $1M Donation To Build New Oakland Medical Center
Asian Health Services has received a $1 million donation to build the Rolland & Kathryn Lowe Medical Center in Oakland. The center will include a Geriatric Center of Excellence and Family Medicine Center. Oakland Tribune/Contra Costa Times.
CBO: 90% of Uninsured Will Qualify for Individual Mandate Exemptions
A new report finds that nearly 90% of the 30 million U.S. residents who are uninsured will qualify for a federal exemption and will not have to pay a penalty under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate in 2016. Insurers are concerned that the increasing number of exemptions will weaken the individual mandate and increase premiums. Wall Street Journal, Washington Times.
Two Calif. Residents Have Died From West Nile Virus, Officials Say
Yesterday, California public health officials reported the first two West Nile Virus fatalities — one in Sacramento County and one in Shasta County — in the state this year. Last year, 15 California residents died after contracting the disease. San Jose Mercury News et al.
AMA Grants $1M to UC-Davis’ Three-Year Medical School Program
The American Medical Association will provide $1 million over five years to a pilot program at UC-Davis that allows medical students to become physicians in three years instead of four years. The program began in June and cuts out electives, summer vacations and the search for a residency slot. NPR’s “Shots.”
More Live Organ Donations Needed To Address Gap in California
In California, there are more individuals waiting for organ donations than there are organs available for transplant. Stakeholders argue that more live donors are needed — particularly for kidney donations — in order to fill the gap, but they disagree on the best method for increasing live donations. San Francisco Chronicle.
Health Net Reports Increased Income, Enrollment
Woodland Hills-based Health Net has reported $121 million in net income on $3.4 billion in revenue in the second quarter of fiscal year 2014, compared with $33.5 million in net income on $2.7 billion in revenue in Q2 2013. In addition, the insurer’s enrollment increased by 17.4% from Q2 2013 to Q2 2014, reaching 2.9 million members. Payers & Providers.