Latest California Healthline Stories
L.A. Unified School District To Cut Budget for Mental Health Social Workers
The Los Angeles Unified School District plans to reduce next year’s budget for special education psychiatric social workers by 15%, from $7.8 million in the 2013-2014 school year to $6.64 million for the 2014-2015 school year. Special education social workers say the budget cuts could lead to larger caseloads, which could hurt the quality of care provided. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Anthem, Dignity Health Working To Reach Contract Agreement After Deadline Extensions
Contract negotiations between Anthem Blue Cross and San Francisco-based Dignity Health are ongoing, but both sides have indicated that a resolution is likely. Darrel Ng, a spokesperson for Anthem, said that both entities have agreed to extend the deadline for negotiations on a daily basis. Sacramento Bee.
Pay for California Doctors, Dentists Far Exceeds Next Highest-Paid Worker Group
The average and median salaries for doctors and dentists in California were more than double that of state attorneys and administrative law judges — the next highest-paid worker group. Last year, California doctors and dentists had an average base pay of $204,764 and a median pay of about $234,000. Sacramento Bee.
Los Angeles TB Cases Jumped 7% in 2013
On Tuesday, health officials said rates of tuberculosis in Los Angeles County increased 7% from 2012 to 2013, reaching 664 reported cases last year. Jonathan Fielding, the county’s public health director, said the increase could have been caused in part by “intensified outreach” among the homeless population. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
GAO Investigators Obtain ACA Health Insurance Subsidies With Fake IDs, Documents
Undercover federal investigators with fake identities and documents were able to obtain subsidized health coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges, according to GAO testimony that will be provided to a House Ways and Means subcommittee Wednesday. The GAO investigation was requested before the exchange’s initial open enrollment period by Reps. Charles Boustany (R-La.) and Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Washington Post.
Appeals Courts Issue Conflicting Rulings on ACA Subsidies
Two federal appeals courts have issued conflicting rulings on whether the federal government can provide subsidies to U.S. residents who purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s federal insurance exchanges. While the rulings will not immediately affect consumers, the issue ultimately could end up before the Supreme Court. New York Times et al.
Three Health Care Bills on Agenda When Calif. Lawmakers Reconvene
Three health care-related bills are slated for consideration when California legislators return to session the first week of August. The bills would require insurers to reimburse members for some out-of-pocket expenses and cover out-of-network providers in some cases, as well as make specialty drugs more affordable for patients. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News,” KPBS.
Latinos Often Have Highest Vaccination Rates in Calif., Experts Say
Experts say that California’s Latino population tends to have higher rates of vaccinations than other ethnic groups. As a result, high vaccination rates among Latinos have led to significantly lower rates of whooping cough amid a statewide outbreak of the disease. San Jose Mercury News.
Senate Committee Shows Early Support for VA Secretary Nominee
Lawmakers on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee today are scheduled to vote on Robert McDonald’s nomination to the Department of Veterans Affairs secretary position, after voicing bipartisan support for his confirmation at a hearing. Meanwhile, acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson has pledged to crack down on whistleblower retaliation within the department. New York Times et al.
Hospitals in Calif., Other States Make Progress on Safety, Care Quality
A recently released Leapfrog Group survey of hospitals in California and other states finds that 71% have met early elective delivery standards, 43% have adopted approved computerized physician order entry systems and 41% of intensive care units complied with the group’s standards for decreasing mortality. FierceHealthcare, Leapfrog survey.