Latest California Healthline Stories
A new study by University of California researchers examined teenagers from low-income Los Angeles neighborhoods and found that those who were admitted to public charter schools were less likely to engage in risky behavior, such as binge-drinking or tobacco use. Most of the study participants were Latino students who applied to one of the area’s three top-performing public charter schools between 2007 and 2010. AP/ABC News.
Brown Signs Bill Removing Outdated Mental Health Language From California Laws
On Friday, Gov. Brown signed a bill that removes outdated mental health terms — such as insane, mentally disordered or defective persons — from state laws and replaces them with references to developmental and intellectual disabilities and mental health disorders. Assembly member Wesley Chesbro said such outdated language increases the stigma that individuals with mental health issues face. AP/Sacramento Bee.
University of Southern California’s Keck Medical Center doctors are the first in California to use a new FDA-approved robotic technology to perform surgery on a patient with advanced prostate cancer. The technology is called the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
CMS Exempts Five U.S. Territories From Some ACA Rules
In a letter sent this week to officials in the five U.S. territories, CMS said it is exempting the territories from a number of requirements in the Affordable Care Act because the requirements are designed specifically for defined “states.” The five territories are American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Hill.
Many Consumers Confused About New Plans Under ACA
Many consumers who recently gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act are struggling to understand their plans, which could affect their ability to access benefits or keep their coverage, observers say. A federal program to help consumers understand their health insurance has run out of money, and community organizations are struggling to meet the high demand for similar services. Washington Post.
Looming Appeals Court Ruling Could Have Large Effect on Premiums
An Avalere Health report suggests that if federal courts rule that subsidies are not permitted in the Affordable Care Act’s federal exchange, premiums for about 5 million of U.S. residents could increase significantly. A separate analysis finds that such a ruling could cause as many as 7.3 million people to lose out on about $31.6 billion in subsidies in 2016. Washington Times et al.
Most Doctors Not Experiencing Uptick in New Patients, Study Finds
A report finds that the proportion of new patient visits in primary care, ob-gyn, surgery and other specialties declined in the first five months of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. The report notes that the only exception was pediatric new patient visits which increased by 0.6% during the timeframe. Modern Healthcare et al.
Hospital Asks Calif. Supreme Court To Review Insurer Payment Ruling
Yesterday, Children’s Hospital Central California attorneys filed a petition for the state Supreme Court to review a June appeals court ruling that limited what insurers are required to reimburse hospitals for services, saying the decision “will have a profound and fundamental impact on the way in which health care is delivered to patients in California.” Sacramento Business Journal.
Calif. Officials Overstated Number of Medi-Cal Providers in 2013
The California Department of Health Care Services has said that about 109,000 providers in the state participated in Medicaid during 2013, but the California Medical Association says there were only about 104,000 doctors licensed to practice in the state that year. DHCS said the list could have included deceased doctors, duplicated names and retired physicians. HealthyCal.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 18, 2014
Stanford Hospital & Clinics has announced that it is changing its name to Stanford Health Care. Meanwhile, Scripps Research Institute and the University of Southern California have canceled discussions about a possible affiliation between the two entities.