Latest California Healthline Stories
Anthem Launches Pharmacy Network in 10 Calif. Counties To Increase Access for Medi-Cal Beneficiaries
Anthem Blue Cross has launched a network of pharmacies in Sacramento and nine other California counties to provide its Medi-Cal beneficiaries with a pharmacy within one mile of their homes. The network was piloted in 19 rural counties in the state beginning in November 2013. Sacramento Business Journal.
Calif. Supreme Court Upholds San Diego Plan To Cut Retiree Health Care Benefits
On Monday, the California Supreme Court upheld San Diego’s plan to cut retiree health care benefits by about $700 million over 25 years, stating that the benefits are not constitutionally protected. A U-T San Diego editorial states that the court’s decision “means local governments in California have a court-blessed way to ameliorate the crushing cost of hugely underfunded retiree health benefits, depending on how the benefits were contractually established.” U-T San Diego.
Few Calif. Police Have Undergone State Mental Health Training
Few police officers in California have undergone a state-certified Crisis Intervention Training program for dealing with individuals who have diagnosed or suspected mental illnesses or other disorders. About 40% of police-involved shootings in the state include an individual with such problems. San Jose Mercury News.
26 Firms To Stop Selling Products With Cancer-Causing Chemical
Under settlements with the Oakland-Based Center for Environmental Health, more than two dozen companies — including Colgate-Palmolive and Walgreen — have agreed to stop using a chemical that is known to cause cancer or to stop selling products that contain the chemical. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” CEH release.
Drug Take-Back Bill Amended To Make Requirements Voluntary
A bill that would have mandated the implementation of drug take-back sites across California has been amended to make such requirements voluntary in response to opposition from the pharmaceutical industry. The bill’s sponsor plans to reintroduce mandatory requirements during the next legislative session. San Francisco Business Times‘ “BiotechSF.”
On Monday, officials at Stanford University and UC-San Francisco announced the creation of the Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation. The center, which is funded by an initial $3.3 million FDA grant, will focus on research to boost testing for preclinical safety and efficacy, improve clinical trials and their evaluation and accelerate and better focus new drug development by pulling together various data sets. San Francisco Business Times‘ “BiotechSF.”
San Francisco-Based Website Uses Crowdsourcing To Diagnose Patients’ Illnesses
A San Francisco-based company has launched a website called CrowdMed that aims to help people diagnose their medical conditions by “crowdsourcing” health care knowledge. However, a spokesperson from the California Medical Association said that the group’s members believe physicians “with the appropriate education, training, access to medical records and a physician-patient relationship are in the best position to diagnose medical conditions.” San Jose Mercury News.
Immigrants Insured Through ACA Often Still Travel to Mexico for Less-Expensive, Faster Care
Immigrants from Mexico who live in California and other states often travel south of the U.S. border for medical care, even after they have obtained health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. In Mexico, check-ups, minor surgeries and dental care are less expensive, most doctors speak Spanish fluently and there often are shorter waits for appointments. Kaiser Health News.
Studies Examine ACA Enrollment Goals, Premium Rates
An Avalere Health study finds that 44% of states — including California — met or surpassed their insurance exchange enrollment goals during the first open enrollment period. Meanwhile, an Urban Institute study shows that as of April 19 total enrollment in the exchanges reached 115% of the Obama administration’s projection. Washington Times et al.
White House Issues New COBRA Guidelines, Clarifies ACA Exemptions
The White House has issued new guidelines that require employers to inform individuals who leave or are dismissed from their jobs about their coverage options through the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges. Meanwhile, CMS expanded the number of people who can enroll in coverage through the exchanges outside of the open enrollment periods. Wall Street Journal et al.