Latest California Healthline Stories
A 20-year study finds that a national nurse home visiting program aimed at helping low-income, first-time mothers have healthier pregnancies significantly reduced preventable deaths among mothers and their newborns. The program, called Nurse-Family Partnership, currently serves 21 counties in California and pairs eligible women with a registered nurse who makes home visitations throughout the pregnancy and for two years following the birth. Merced Sun-Star.
Researchers at California Lutheran University are studying whether pesticide exposure is linked to decreased brain health among farmworkers in the state. Experts say that exposure to certain pesticides is associated with short- and long-term health risks, such as cancer, impaired attention span and slow motor skills. HealthyCal.
Covered California Names Two New Executives
Covered California has named James Lombard, former chief administrative officer at the State Controller’s Office, as its new CFO. In addition, Anne Price, former director of finance and strategic partnerships with CalPERS at Blue Shield of California, has been named director of plan management at the state insurance exchange. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area BizTalk.”
Lawmakers Mention ‘Obamacare’ Less After ACA Rollout
Since October 2013, lawmakers’ references to the Affordable Care Act as “Obamacare” in their floor speeches have decreased, according to an analysis from the Sunlight Foundation. For the analysis, researchers monitored floor speeches and found that mentions of Obamacare declined from a high of 2,753 in September 2013, just before the launch of the ACA’s insurance exchanges, to 171 times in June 2014. The Hill.
Adventist Health Pushes Back HMO Launch by One Year
Adventist Health CEO Scott Reiner has announced that the insurer will delay until 2016 the launch of its Medicare Advantage health maintenance organization for Tuolumne, Mendocino and Kings counties. Reiner said, “We’ve made a strategic decision to wait a year.” Sacramento Business Journal.
CDC Mistakenly Sent Dangerous Pathogens in Five Different Incidents
CDC on Friday reported that agency laboratories on five separate occasions potentially sent deadly pathogens to outside facilities. CDC Director Thomas Frieden said the incidents were the result of employees not adhering to safety protocols. Meanwhile, a House subcommittee announced it will hold a hearing on the incidents later this week. Washington Post et al.
Increased Neuroscience Funding Puts Calif. at ‘Epicenter’ of Research
Several recent initiatives to increase neuroscience funding in California have put the state “at the epicenter” of brain research, observers say. For example, Gov. Brown has allocated $2 million for neuroscience research grants and several California organizations have received a $26 million grant through President Obama’s BRAIN initiative. San Francisco Business Times‘ “BiotechSF.”
Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment Up 11.4% Since September 2013
A CMS report finds that about 6.7 million U.S. residents signed up for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program under the Affordable Care Act between September 2013 and May. CMS officials note that states that expanded Medicaid under the law saw enrollment increase by 17% since Oct. 1, 2013, while non-expansion states saw enrollment increase by 3%. The Hill et al.
California Medical Prison Nearly Ready for New Admissions
The problem-plagued California Health Care Facility in Stockton soon will begin accepting new patients after a court-appointed overseer in February stopped admissions when an inspection found unsanitary conditions and inadequate medical care for inmates. Stockton Record.
CNA Prepares for Kaiser Contract, Challenges Sutter Union Vote
The California Nurses Association is preparing for negotiations on new four-year contracts for Kaiser Permanente nurses in Northern California. Meanwhile, the group has filed formal objections about a vote against unionizing at Sutter Health’s Memorial Medical Center. KQED’s “State of Health,” Sacramento Business Journal.