Latest California Healthline Stories
Rehab Clinics Struggle To Provide Care Amid Fraud Crackdown
California clinics that provide drug and alcohol treatment find the state’s “new, more stringent” certification process slow and challenging. The certification changes come amid an increased demand for such treatment as more state residents gain health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. HealthyCal.
Report: Mental Health Care in California Prisons Is Inadequate
A new report by a federal court official finds that psychiatric treatment programs for mentally ill inmates in California are inadequate and need further reforms. Meanwhile, Sutter County has agreed to pay $1.6 million in two lawsuits over county jail inmates who died because of inadequate medical care. AP/Sacramento Bee et al.
CHCF Design Challenge Aims To Boost Patient, Provider Understanding of Diseases
The California HealthCare Foundation has launched a design challenge for technology developers to create innovative ways to help patients and health care provider organizations better understand the environmental, social and economic complexities surrounding various illnesses. Prizes for the design challenge, which is also sponsored by user-centered design agency Mad Pow and Health 2.0, range from $2,000 to $5,000. The deadline to submit entries is June 27.
California Health Care Personnel News Roundup for May 2014
El Centro Regional Medical Center CEO David Green has announced he will retire in July. City of Pasadena Public Health Director Eric Walsh has resigned. Gov. Brown has made 12 appointments to the California Council on Developmental Disabilities.
A study based on the health records of nearly two million Kaiser Permanente Northern California adult patients finds that impaired kidney function is linked to a higher risk for renal and urothelial cancers. According to the study, when glomerular filtration rates dropped below a certain level, the rate of urothelial cancer increased 48%. Medscape.
Patients With Chronic Illnesses Paying More for Specialty Drugs, Advocacy Group Says
The California Chronic Care Coalition — which represents patients with complex medical conditions such as epilepsy, lupus and multiple sclerosis — says that chronic disease patients are being discriminated against because they are having to pay a higher percentage of the overall cost for specialty prescription drugs. However, officials with the California Association of Health Plans say the higher cost-sharing is an effort to keep health insurance premiums down, adding that the Affordable Care Act caps patients’ out-of-pocket spending. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Shinseki Resigns Amid VA Health System Scandal
On Friday, President Obama announced that Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has stepped down in light of a waitlist scandal in the VA health system that prompted more than 100 members of Congress to call for his resignation. Obama said the White House will begin looking for Shinseki’s replacement soon, and he has named Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson to lead the agency during that search. AP/Modern Healthcare, Reuters.
Health Net Income Down 41% Since Last Year, Despite Enrollment Boost From ACA
Woodland Hills-based Health Net has reported a 41% drop in net income, falling to $28.8 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $50 million in Q1 2013. Despite an rise in enrollment through the Affordable Care Act, the insurer faced higher costs for some prescription drugs, such as those used to treat hepatitis, and other issues that increased expenses. Payers & Providers.
Measles Cases Reach Highest Level in 14 Years, CDC Says
As of May 23, CDC officials have confirmed 288 measles cases in the U.S. in 2014, the largest number since the disease was considered eradicated in 1994. Officials say nearly all of the cases are connected to unvaccinated individuals traveling to foreign countries. California has the second-highest number of cases nationwide, with 60 confirmed cases. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Insurers Discriminating Against HIV/AIDS Patients, Groups Allege
In a complaint filed with HHS’ Office for Civil Rights, two patient advocacy groups allege that four health insurers are discriminating against beneficiaries with HIV/AIDS by requiring them to pay higher out-of-pocket costs for HIV/AIDS drugs. The four insurers — CoventryOne, Cigna, Humana and Preferred Medical Plan — deny the allegations. New York Times et al.