- California Healthline Original Stories 2
- Health Care Revamp At The L.A. County Jails
- Cartoon Mascot Masks Nasty Health Care Feud
- Sacramento Watch 1
- Paltry First Stem Cell Royalty Check A 'Mile Marker’ And Not The Destination, Officials Say
- Around California 1
- More Than A Quarter Of Child Deaths In Contra Costa Were 'Probably Preventable,' Report Finds
Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
Health Care Revamp At The L.A. County Jails
The effort, overseen by the county’s health services department, aims to improve care for a population with high rates of chronic disease, mental illness and drug addiction. (Anna Gorman, )
Cartoon Mascot Masks Nasty Health Care Feud
California’s health insurers trotted out a heart-healthy character with an ulterior motive — taking a dig at drugmakers. (Pauline Bartolone, )
More News From Across The State
Paltry First Stem Cell Royalty Check A 'Mile Marker’ And Not The Destination, Officials Say
Taxpayers voted to fund the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to the tune of $3 billion. Years later, the first royalty check is in, and it's not exactly impressing critics.
Sacramento Bee:
California Collects First Royalty Check From $3 Billion In Stem Cell Spending
Back in 2004, when California's stem cell agency was little more than an idea in the minds of researchers, its backers predicted a gold rush of royalties that could inject $1.1 billion into state coffers. This month, after more than 13 years, the first stem cell royalty check has finally found its way to the state. The sum: $190,345.87. The stem cell agency has hailed the $190,345.87 payment as historic, but has also declared it is “only a piece of the intended return.” Others described the payment as a “less than a drop in the bucket” and warned of excessive exuberance. (Jensen, 2/27)
More Than A Quarter Of Child Deaths In Contra Costa Were 'Probably Preventable,' Report Finds
According to the report, infants accounted for roughly 65 percent of the county’s 78 child deaths in 2013, the last year of the study.
East Bay Times:
Report: Infants Account For Majority Of Contra Costa Child Deaths
County health officials are trying to raise awareness about safe infant sleeping habits, safe driving, and preventing kids from unsupervised access to guns, after a recently released report found more than a quarter of the deaths in 2013 were “probably preventable.” The 51-page report, compiled by a group of county officials and medical professionals, reached an unexpected finding: of the 21 preventable child deaths in 2013, 17 were females. The report’s authors, who found no explanation for the finding, wrote this was “aberrant” compared with their review of child deaths in the five previous years, “where there has been a preponderance of males.” (Gartrell, 2/28)
In other news from across the state —
Capital Public Radio:
Tech Helps Northern California's Vision-Impaired Gain Independence
An entire wall of the Society for the Blind store in Sacramento is stocked with the basics for vision assistance: oversized clocks, talking calculators and specially designed wallets, just to name a few. On the other side is a lineup of voice-controlled desktops and portable devices that can magnify text or say it aloud. Some have cameras that can photograph text and read it.Shari Roeseler, executive director for the Society for the Blind, said these all-in-one machines save people with vision problems from having to use a combination of iPads, Kindles and other devices that weren’t developed explicitly for this population. Earlier this month, the society teamed up with NorthState Assistive Technology in Chico to stock more “smart” items. (Caiola, 2/27)
Los Angeles Times:
Two Weight-Loss Surgeons Falsified Records, Defrauded Patients, Insurers Out Of $250 Million, Prosecutors Allege
For years, it was hard to miss the billboards and radio jingles for a weight-loss surgery center that promised, "Let your new life begin, call 1-800-GET-THIN. "But on Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged that the Lap-Band surgery operation was at the center of a massive fraud scheme that forced patients to undergo unnecessary tests, falsified medical tests to justify surgeries and cheated insurers and patients out of $250 million. (Winton, 2/28)
Officials Defend Vision Zero Initiative Even As Pedestrian Deaths Surge In LA
The initiative called for a 20 percent reduction in deaths by 2017, and overall Los Angeles only lowered traffic deaths by 3 percent last year. More starkly, the number of pedestrians killed on city streets rose 17 percent over the previous year, and 82 percent since 2015.
Los Angeles Times:
Pedestrian Deaths In L.A. Rise Sharply But Officials Remain Committed To Traffic Safety Program
Pedestrian deaths rose sharply in Los Angeles in 2017, but the disappointing figures do not mean the city should change course on an ambitious program to eliminate traffic fatalities, transportation officials said Wednesday. During the second full year of the Vision Zero initiative, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths on city streets by 2025, the number of pedestrians killed on city streets rose 17% over the previous year, and 82% since 2015. (Nelson, 2/28)
In other news —
San Jose Mercury News:
California Has The Worst Quality Of Life, New Study Says
California dreamin’? Flying in the face of traditional wisdom that we live on the best coast comes a stinging new U.S. News & World Report study that says we have the worst quality of life in the nation. The coveted Best States ranking is part of an annual study that scores all 50 states on eight categories — health care, education, economy, opportunity, infrastructure, crime and corrections, fiscal stability and the most important of all for most of us, quality of life. (D'Souza, 2/28)
The vote came nearly six months after at least five government agencies failed to notify the public when E.coli levels spiked to 100 times the federal safety limit.
KPCC:
New Plan Looks To Close The LA River When Bacteria Spikes
Ever since kayakers began paddling down the Los Angeles River in 2010, public officials have faced a problem: how to encourage the revitalization of the river while also protecting the health of people who boat and fish in its waters? On Wednesday, an L.A. city council committee got closer to finding a solution when it voted to adopt a protocol of how to close the river and notify the public when when fecal bacteria levels exceed safety standards. (Guerin, 2/28)
In other environmental and health related news —
Los Angeles Times:
Air-Quality Consultant Says Estancia High Science Wing Plagued By Odors Now Is Safe For Use
The report, which includes a timeline of hydrogen sulfide testing, the number of repairs and before-and-after photos, will be available on the district website, nmusd.us, officials said. The testing came after teachers and others voiced health concerns about sewer-like odors coming from the walls and sinks of classrooms in the science wing following a modernization project completed in 2008. Inspections revealed several uncapped sewer lines. (Vega, 2/28)
Los Angeles Times:
Costa Mesa Sanitary District Is Committed To A Healthy Outcome On The Public-Restroom Issue
As the public agency responsible for providing sanitary sewer and waste collection services to roughly 117,000 local residents and scores of businesses, the Costa Mesa Sanitary District has a profound appreciation for the public health risks presented by untreated human waste. The district routinely spends more than $7 million per year on the prevention of sanitary sewer overflows and associated diseases, which can be as serious as cholera, dysentery, infectious hepatitis and severe gastroenteritis. (Scheafer, 2/22)
In a televised session on Wednesday, President Donald Trump signaled support on everything from expanded background checks, increased school security and mental health resources, and age limits. Trump also suggested that law enforcement officials should be able to confiscate people's firearms without a court order.
The New York Times:
Trump Stuns Lawmakers With Seeming Embrace Of Gun Control
President Trump stunned Republicans on live television Wednesday by embracing gun control and urging a group of lawmakers at the White House to resurrect gun safety legislation that has been opposed for years by the powerful National Rifle Association and the vast majority of his party. In a remarkable meeting, the president veered wildly from the N.R.A. playbook in front of giddy Democrats and stone-faced Republicans. He called for comprehensive gun control legislation that would expand background checks to weapons purchased at gun shows and on the internet, keep guns from mentally ill people, secure schools and restrict gun sales for some young adults. He even suggested a conversation on an assault weapons ban. (Shear, 2/28)
The Associated Press:
Trump Says Some Lawmakers Too Fearful Of NRA To Take Action
"We can't wait and play games and nothing gets done," Trump said as he opened the session with 17 House and Senate lawmakers. "We want to stop the problems." Trump also raised eyebrows by suggesting that law enforcement officials should be able to confiscate people's firearms without a court order to prevent potential tragedies. (3/1)
The Washington Post:
Trump Surprises Lawmakers In Backing Some Tougher Gun Controls
Most striking were Trump’s remarks decrying what he called excessive “checks and balances” that limit what can be done to prevent mentally unfit people from buying or keeping guns. “Take the firearms first, and then go to court,” Trump said, cutting off Vice President Pence as Pence articulated a version of the due-process arguments that the NRA and other gun-rights advocates have used to derail past gun-control measures. “You could do exactly what you’re saying, but take the guns first, go through due process second.” (Gearan, DeBonis and Kim, 2/28)
The Wall Street Journal:
Trump Urges Congress To Take Action On Guns
“If this meeting ends up with just sort of vague notions of future compromise, then nothing will happen,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.). “Mr. President, it’s going to have to be you that brings the Republicans to the table on this.” “I like that responsibility,” Mr. Trump replied. (Radnofsky, Peterson and Andrews, 2/28)
The Wall Street Journal:
School Killings Spur Effort To Renew Government Gun-Violence Research
For more than 20 years, federal law has effectively halted the government’s ability to research gun violence. Now, the shooting that killed 17 at a Florida high school in February has prompted a bipartisan group of lawmakers to take another look at the restrictions. As lawmakers tangle over other gun-violence prevention measures, Democrats and some centrist Republicans are pushing to eliminate a provision tucked into spending bills that has restricted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ability to conduct research on the topic. (Peterson, McKay and Armour, 2/28)
The New York Times:
Walmart And Dick’s Raise Minimum Age For Gun Buyers To 21
Two of the nation’s leading gun sellers, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, took steps on Wednesday to limit their sales of firearms, thrusting themselves into the middle of the polarizing national debate over gun control. Walmart, the biggest gun seller, announced late in the afternoon that it would not sell any gun to anyone under 21 years of age. It also said it would no longer sell items resembling assault-style rifles, including toys and air guns. (Creswell and Corkery, 2/28)
The Washington Post:
Walmart To Raise The Age For Customers Buying Guns And Ammunition
The world’s largest retailer, Walmart, announced a change to its policies Wednesday, saying it would raise the minimum age required to buy a firearm and ammunition and remove any items that resemble assault rifles from its shelves. In a statement, the company said it would raise its age requirement to 21 from 18, a decision it made “in light of recent events” — most notable the national discussion about gun control since the Feb. 14 shooting at a high school in Florida that left 17 people dead. (Rosenberg, 2/28)
The Wall Street Journal:
Walmart, Dick’s Say They Will Stop Selling Guns To Those Under 21
Dick’s disclosed Wednesday that it had sold a shotgun to accused Parkland, Fla., killer Nikolas Cruz in November, though it wasn’t used in the shooting. The gunman used an AR-15 model rifle, which is a semiautomatic rifle that allows the user to fire rapidly and use high-capacity magazines. Earlier in February, police in Vermont also arrested and charged an 18-year-old who had allegedly bought a shotgun at Dick’s and planned to attack a school. (Nassauer, Hufford and Elinson, 2/28)
The Hill:
Mental Groups Push For Policy Changes After Shooting
Mental health advocates are seizing on the new spotlight on their issue after the Florida shooting, as President Trump and congressional Republicans focus on mental health as a solution to gun violence. Some mental health groups want to use the renewed attention on mental illness to push for more resources to address what they see as major gaps in the country’s mental health system. (Weixel, 3/1)
Los Angeles Times:
When NRA Members Attend Their Convention, ER Doctors See Fewer Patients With Gun Injuries, Study Says
For all the fiery rhetoric issued during annual meetings of the National Rifle Assn., new research suggests that life gets a bit more peaceful in hospital emergency departments when the country's most ardent gun-rights advocates attend their yearly confab. The rate at which Americans head to ERs seeking treatment for gun injuries dips during the days that the NRA typically holds its annual convention compared with three- and four-day periods just before and after the meeting, a new study shows. (Healy, 2/28)
This Patent Lawyer May Be Most Powerful Man In Washington When It Comes To Curbing Drug Costs
Newly installed Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu holds substantial sway over an intellectual property system that, critics say, has allowed drug makers to extend their monopolies through legal but questionable tactics.
Stat:
Pharma And The Patent System: Will Trump's Appointee Bring Change?
The newly installed director of the Patent and Trademark Office, the soft-spoken Andrei Iancu, could rein in drug makers in more direct fashion than perhaps any other individual in Washington. Unlike the others, he holds substantial sway over an intellectual property system that, critics say, has allowed drug makers to extend their monopolies through legal but questionable tactics — by making slight modifications to products and then filing for new patents, for example, or by working to curtail quicker challenges to their patent in favor of longer, drawn-out litigation in the courts. (Mershon, 3/1)
In other national health care news —
Stat:
Under Trump, The Pace Of FDA Regulations Slowed To A Trickle
As the Trump administration settled in last year, the White House insisted on fewer regulations — and the Food and Drug Administration delivered, according to a new analysis. Last year, regulatory actions taken by the agency were only a fraction of the number of actions taken during the Obama administration and in fact dropped to the lowest level of any time in the past 20 years, according to the Health Research Institute at PricewaterhouseCoopers, the consulting firm. (Silverman, 2/28)
The Hill:
GOP Eyes Budget Maneuver To Pay For ObamaCare Funds
Republicans are weighing whether to use a complicated budget maneuver to help pay for additional ObamaCare funding, sources say. The idea being considered by House Republican leaders is controversial because it would help fund key ObamaCare payments, something that many conservatives decry as a "bailout" of the law. Under the possible plan, the Budget Committee would direct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to take ObamaCare payments known as cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) out of its “baseline” for projecting federal spending. Essentially, the agency would stop assuming that the ObamaCare payments would be made. (Sullivan, 3/1)
The Washington Post:
Transgender Surgeries Are On The Rise, Says First Study Of Its Kind
In the first broad demographic study of trends in gender-affirming surgeries in the United States, researchers found that the number of operations increased fourfold from 2000 to 2014. Some of the significant rise, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Surgery, may be related to an increase in insurance coverage for the procedures. “Early on we recognized there’s been a lot of work on health disparities having to do with age, race and so on that get collected in health-care settings,” said Brandyn Lau, an assistant professor of surgery and health sciences informatics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “One of the things we need to know is whether [lesbian, gay and transgender] patients are getting the same care.” (Nutt, 2/28)
Politico:
Trump's Abortion Policy Sheds Light On Ad Hoc Decision-Making
The Trump administration’s policy of halting abortions among undocumented minors was established by email through an ad hoc process without formal legal vetting, according to new documents released Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU, which is suing the administration over the policy, made public the December depositions of the director and the deputy director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the HHS office responsible for the care of undocumented minors who enter the country without their parents. (Rayasam, 2/28)