Latest California Healthline Stories
Mental Health Crisis Training for Police Varies Across California
California law enforcement officers undergo six hours of basic mental health crisis training at the police academy, but additional training varies widely by local agency. For example, Orange County offers a 16-hour Crisis Intervention Training program, while San Diego offers a 24-hour Psychiatric Emergency Response Team training program. KQED’s “State of Health.”
San Diego Approves E-Cigarette Smoking Ban, Regulations
On Monday, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to ban the use of electronic cigarettes in all places where conventional smoking is prohibited. The legislation also regulates the way e-cigarettes can be sold, requiring businesses to obtain special permits to sell them and barring them from being sold in vending machines. U-T San Diego.
Mountain View Company Uncovers New Findings About Genes Related to Parkinson’s Disease
Mountain View-based genetic testing company 23andMe has determined six new locations of specific genes related to Parkinson’s disease and 24 known genetic associations with the disease. The findings recently were published in the journal Nature Genetics. San Francisco Chronicle.
Kaiser Awards $1.4M in Grants to Not-For-Profit Groups Focused on Health in Sacramento Area
Kaiser Permanente is providing $1.4 million in grants to not-for-profit groups in the Sacramento area that focus on active and healthy living, health care access and mental health. The funding will be broken into 55 grants, ranging from $7,590 to $99,000. Sacramento Bee‘s “Healthy Choices.”
Hospital Chains Report Boost in Earnings After More Patients Gain Insurance Through ACA
An influx of newly insured patients spurred by the Affordable Care Act has contributed to a boost in hospitals’ second-quarter earnings, according to officials from a pair of hospital chains. While the ACA had little effect on hospitals during the first quarter of 2014, hospital systems Universal Health Services and LifePoint Hospitals in the last week reported gains during the second quarter. Wall Street Journal.
Walter Zelman, chair of California State University-Los Angeles’ Department of Public Health, writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece that the CSU Health Insurance Education Project — which he directs — has enrolled young adults in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act “at an impressive rate.” He argues that the project is “a model that can be exported to other university systems.” Los Angeles Times.
Automatic Federal Exchange Plan Renewal Could Increase Costs
An HHS proposal to automatically renew insurance plans and subsidy amounts for federal health insurance exchange enrollees could lead to many consumers paying more for plans that no longer meet their needs. Some stakeholders say the proposal should be adjusted to account for changes to consumers’ income levels and to the overall exchange market. Kaiser Health News‘ “Stateline,” AP/Sacramento Bee.
House, Senate Negotiators Reach Deal To Address VA Wait Times
House and Senate negotiators have reached a deal on legislation to address long wait times for care at Veterans Affairs health centers. The legislation likely would cost about $15 billion and would authorize VA to lease new facilities, hire more health care providers and allow veterans to seek care outside the VA health system. Washington Post‘s “Post Politics” et al.
Calif. Schools Address Lawsuit Over Physical Activity Requirements
Dozens of California school districts are asking teachers to provide lesson plans proving that students receive the required amount of physical education. The action comes amid high obesity rates and a lawsuit alleging that schools are not providing the mandated amount of physical education. Los Angeles Times.
DPH Levies $775K in Fines on Eight California Hospitals
The California Department of Public Health has fined eight hospitals a total of $775,000 following violations of licensing requirements that could have endangered patients. The facilities are required to develop a correction plan, but they also can appeal the fines. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now,” DPH release.