Latest California Healthline Stories
CDC Says Calif. Inmates Should Be Tested for Valley Fever Immunity
A recent CDC report urges California prison officials to test inmates for immunity to valley fever before placing them at two prisons where the illness is more prevalent. Meanwhile, a new lawsuit alleges that the state knew inmates were at risk for the illness and did not take steps to prevent it. AP/Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Bee.
Report: 4.4M Kaiser Permanente Members Used Online Health Management Tool in 2013
About 4.4 million Kaiser Permanente members used the organization’s online health management platform My Health Manager in 2013, according to Kaiser’s latest annual report. Specifically, the report shows that members used the platform to make 3.6 million appointment requests, refill 14.8 million prescriptions, send 14.7 million secure emails to caregivers and view 34.4 million lab results.
A study by researchers at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics finds that states where Medicaid policies require prior authorization for certain treatments, such as the prescribing of certain antipsychotic drugs, have higher rates of inmates with psychotic symptoms. Such policies often are adopted in order to reduce costs related to some medications, such as those used to treat schizophrenia. Imperial Valley News.
More Than 6,100 Whooping Cough Cases Reported in Calif.
Between July 9 and July 21, 777 new cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, were reported in California, bringing the total number of cases in the state this year to about 6,170. Of those, more than 3,300 cases were among children ages seven to 16. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
UCLA Researchers Receive Grant Funding for Development of Health Care Technology
The National Science Foundation and Intel have awarded a $3 million grant to UCLA researchers for the development of health care technology. Specifically, the researchers will focus on creating tools for medical imaging and customized cancer treatments. Health Data Management.
Most U.S. Residents’ Lives Improved by ACA Implementation, CNN Poll Finds
More than 50% of U.S. residents believe their lives or the lives of people they know have been improved by the Affordable Care Act, according to a CNN poll released Wednesday. The poll found that 18% of respondents said that their lives or the lives of their family members improved under the ACA, and 35% said that while their lives or the lives of their family members might not have been affected, the lives of other people they knew had improved under the law. Politico.
IRS Issues Updates on Individual and Employer Mandate Compliance
The Internal Revenue Service has announced that it will cap financial penalties for U.S. residents who do not comply with and are not exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate in 2014 at $2,448 for individuals and $12,240 for families with five or more members. IRS also has released draft forms for the ACA’s employer mandate. The Hill et al.
FDA Begins Approval Process for Biosimilar Drugs
FDA for the first time has agreed to consider an application for a biosimilar medication — a proposal from Sandoz for a version of a treatment for low white blood cell counts. Biosimilars, not currently available on the U.S. market, are copycat versions of complex biologic drugs made from living cells. Reuters, Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”
Most Calif. Children With Mental Illnesses Do Not Receive Treatment
A new UCLA Center for Health Policy Research brief finds that more than 70% of California children ages four to 11 who have mental health needs have not received treatment for those issues, even though most had health insurance and a usual source of care. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” UCLA Center for Health Policy Research brief.
Former Foster Care Youths Struggle To Enroll in Medi-Cal
Many young adults in California who formerly were in the foster care system have faced challenges when trying to sign up for Medicaid, even though they are eligible for the program under the Affordable Care Act. As a result of such issues, some have been misinformed about their eligibility status or improperly placed on wait lists. KQED’s “State of Health.”