Latest California Healthline Stories
San Bernardino Officials Look to Medical Marijuana Tax To Bring in Revenue After Bankruptcy Filing
San Bernardino officials are considering a proposal to impose taxes on medical marijuana dispensaries in an effort to bring in more revenue after the city filed for bankruptcy in 2012. A city council hearing likely will be held next month on the proposal. NPR’s “The Two-Way.”
New Medical School in Elk Grove Delays Opening Date
The California Northstate University College of Medicine in Elk Grove has pushed back its opening date to 2015 as it works to receive accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The school previously planned to begin classes this month. Sacramento Business Journal.
UCLA Researchers Receive $3M Grant for Domain-Specific Health Care Computing Efforts
UCLA’s Center for Doman-Specific Computing group has been awarded a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation and Intel for their work in domain-specific computing, which aims to accelerate the computing side of health care through innovations. The group’s research could lead to the development of patient-specific cancer treatments and help reduce radiation exposure during CT scans. Health Data Management.
Complaint Filed Over Use of Pepper Spray on Youth Offenders With Medical Issues in San Diego County
On Monday, civil rights groups in California filed a joint complaint against San Diego County’s juvenile detention centers for excessive use of pepper spray on youth offenders, including those with sensitive medical conditions and those at risk for suicide. The complaint was filed by the California Rural Legal Assistance, the San Francisco-based Youth Law Center and a coalition of San Diego-area community organizations. AP/NBC San Diego.
Rate of Uninsured Individuals Falling Faster in States That Expanded Medicaid, Urban Institute Finds
The uninsured rate has declined faster among states that have expanded Medicaid than in those that have not, according to the Urban Institute’s most recent Health Reform Monitoring Survey. According to the poll, the uninsured rate between September 2013 and June 2014 among those under age 65 in Medicaid-expansion states fell by five percentage points, from 15.1% to 10.1%, while the uninsured rate in non-expansion states declined by two percentage points, from 20.3% to 18.3%. Modern Healthcare.
Jones: Rates for Health Insurance Plans Rose Significantly in 2014
A report released yesterday by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones finds that health insurance premiums for California residents were 22% to 88% higher in 2014 than in 2013. Insurers criticized the report as misleading. Los Angeles Times et al.
IOM Report Calls for Changes to Graduate Medical Education Funding
An expert panel of the Institute of Medicine has offered five recommendations to change the way the U.S. funds physician training without raising funding levels. The recommendations include moving to a performance-based system and creating a graduate medical education policy council to direct policy to improve the geographic distribution of doctors. Kaiser Health News et al.
California Medicare Beneficiaries Save Nearly $952M on Rx Drugs
A new CMS report finds that Medicare beneficiaries in California saved about $951.9 million — including $123.6 million this year — on prescription drugs because of a provision in the Affordable Care Act. The average discount on prescription drugs was $883 per beneficiary. Sacramento Business Journal, CMS report.
3.4M Previously Uninsured in Calif. Gained Coverage After ACA
A Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds that about 60% of California residents who were uninsured prior to the Affordable Care Act’s first open enrollment period have since gained health coverage. Reaching the remaining uninsured population during the second open enrollment period could present new challenges. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now” et al.
Senate Unanimously Confirms McDonald as VA Secretary
Yesterday, the Senate unanimously voted to confirm Robert McDonald as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. McDonald replaces Sloan Gibson, who had been serving as acting VA secretary since Eric Shinseki resigned in May following revelations that many veterans faced long wait times at various VA health centers. Wall Street Journal et al.