- California Healthline Original Stories 1
- As Billions In Tax Dollars Flow To Private Medicaid Plans, Who’s Minding The Store?
- Women's Health 1
- Report That Nearly Half Of All Asian And Pacific Islander Mothers On Medi-Cal Give Birth By C-Section Raises Concerns
- Around California 1
- Severe Staffing Shortage At Sonoma County’s Child Protection Services Agency Endangering Kids, Workers Claim
- Public Health and Education 3
- About Two Decades Ago, Congenital Syphilis Was All But Eradicated In California. Now Cases Are Skyrocketing.
- Here's What We Know About The Polio-Like Illness In Children That Has Health Experts Baffled
- Lessons From The Civil War: Long Shadow Cast By Trauma Stretches Far Beyond A Single Generation
- National Roundup 3
- GOP's Talk About Medicare Cuts Provides Democrats With Tried-And-True Talking Point Weeks Before Midterms
- Health Law Repeal Back On The Table? McConnell Says If GOP Wins Enough Senate Seats It Could Be An Option
- Drug Prices In Ads Could Cause Sticker Shock For Consumers, Forcing Pharma To Tinker With Marketing Strategies
Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
As Billions In Tax Dollars Flow To Private Medicaid Plans, Who’s Minding The Store?
Insurance companies profit from government contracts but are subject to little oversight of how they spend the money or care for patients. The expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act has only exacerbated the problem. (Chad Terhune, )
More News From Across The State
Newport Beach Surgeon Charged With Drugging, Raping Five Additional Victims
Prosecutors also added felony kidnapping counts and increased bail to $1 million for Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 38. Robicheaux's girlfriend also faces new charges.
The Associated Press:
California Surgeon, Girlfriend Face New Rape, Other Charges
A California surgeon and his girlfriend were charged Wednesday with crimes against five additional victims in addition to two women they were previously charged with drugging and sexually assaulting. Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 38, and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, 31, were charged with rape by use of drugs, kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual offense and other crimes. The pair pleaded not guilty to all counts in court and a judge ordered their bail raised to $1 million each. (Taxin, 10/17)
Los Angeles Times:
Newport Beach Surgeon Charged With Drugging And Raping 5 More Women
The accusations against the surgeon date to 2009. A woman, who was in her mid-20s at the time, told authorities she began dating Robicheaux after they met at a bar in Newport Beach in September that year. Prosecutors say the doctor raped her at his home after she told him she didn’t want to have sex. She told authorities that she knew Robicheaux had weapons and that she was afraid of him. The surgeon is accused of three felony counts of kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offense, four counts of rape by use of drugs, two counts of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, a count of forcible rape, a count of oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale and two counts of possession of an assault weapon. Those charges could carry a sentence of more than 82 years in prison. (Winton and Sclafani, 10/17)
One of the reasons for the high rate could be poor communication between patient and provider — whether because of language or cultural barriers, discrimination or patients feeling like they don’t have a voice, advocates say.
The California Health Report:
Report Reveals High C-Section Rates For Asian And Pacific Islanders With Medi-Cal
Nearly half of all Asian and Pacific Islander mothers on Medi-Cal give birth by way of Cesarean section, a recent report found, a rate well above California’s statewide average. “Listening to Mothers in California,” a study released in September by the National Partnership for Women and Families, showed that 45 percent of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Medi-Cal patients delivered through C-section, compared to 33 percent of white women on Medi-Cal, and 27 percent of white women with private insurance. The C-section rates for API women on Medi-Cal are similar to that of African-American women throughout the state — 43 percent of African-American Medi-Cal patients and 46 percent of African-American women with private insurance had C-sections instead of a vaginal delivery. (Kandil, 10/17)
Social workers say that they're not able to give full attention to their cases anymore and have to prioritize which children need to be helped first. County officials have acknowledged the problem, but also say they've taken steps to ensure vulnerable children are protected during this staffing crisis.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Sonoma County Social Workers Decry Tight Staffing They Say Puts Children At Risk
Sonoma County’s Child Protection Services agency is grappling with a severe staff shortage that has social workers claiming children’s lives could be in danger. They have been going before the county supervisors in recent weeks to call out the agency’s unsafe practices and raise public awareness of the problems resulting from not having enough people to handle the workload. ...Officials said the county has had difficulty recruiting and retaining social workers for a number of reasons, including the area’s housing shortage and high cost of living. Last year’s wildfires have caused additional strain on social services and the community, leading to more cases of alleged domestic abuse, county supervisor Shirlee Zane said. (Espinoza, 10/17)
In other news from across the state —
Fresno Bee:
MS-13 Street Gang Brings Violence And Murder To Mendota CA
MS-13 carved out a reign of terror resulting in at least 14 brutal murders in and around Mendota from 2015 to 2017. There was little or no media coverage on some of the murders, some of which had been initially labeled as suspicious deaths. (Amaro, 10/17)
California owns the dubious distinction of having about a third of the nation’s congenital syphilis cases. The answer to why there's been an increase, though, is complicated.
CALmatters:
Why Do California Babies Have Syphilis In Numbers Rivaling Those Of Poor Nations?
About two decades ago, congenital syphilis was all but eradicated in California, the most populous state. But in the past six years, the number of cases has jumped from 33 to 283—almost a tenfold increase. It’s the highest number of cases in any state and accounts for the third-highest rate per live birth, behind Louisiana and Nevada. (Gorn, 10/16)
California Healthline:
Family Doctors ‘Not Doing Enough’ To Curb STDs
Julie Lopez, 21, has been tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases since she was a teenager. But when Lopez first asked her primary care doctor about screening, he reacted with surprise, she said.“He said people don’t usually ask. But I did,” said Lopez, a college student in Pasadena, Calif. “It’s really important.” (Gorman, 10/17)
Here's What We Know About The Polio-Like Illness In Children That Has Health Experts Baffled
This year, 62 confirmed cases of the illness exist among children and others are under investigation, according to federal health authorities. Scientists don't know what causes acute flaccid myelitis, but they are urging people to avoid getting mosquito bites. Paralysis comes on suddenly and can be permanent.
Los Angeles Times:
What Is AFM? Everything You Need To Know About The Polio-Like Virus Suddenly Affecting Children Across The U.S.
It’s mysterious, it’s dangerous and it’s got parents on edge from coast to coast.It’s a medical condition called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. The disease causes sudden, unexplained paralysis, usually in children. Its resemblance to polio has caused the public to take notice. Federal health officials have confirmed 62 cases of AFM in the U.S. this year, and 65 more are under investigation. There are four suspected cases in California, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. (Karlamangla, 10/17)
Lessons From The Civil War: Long Shadow Cast By Trauma Stretches Far Beyond A Single Generation
There's evidence that a father's extreme hardship can alter the function of his genes in ways that can be passed on to his sons and shorten their lives.
Los Angeles Times:
What Civil War Soldiers Can Teach Us About How Trauma Is Passed From Generation To Generation
An experience of life-threatening horrors surely scars the person who survives it. It also may have a corrosive effect on the longevity and health of that person’s children and, in some cases, on the well-being of generations beyond. The latest evidence of trauma’s long shadow comes from the families of American Civil War veterans. Focused on the children of Union soldiers who were held in Confederate prisoner of war camps, it offers tantalizing clues about the means by which a legacy of misery is transmitted from parent to child — as well as a way to disrupt that inheritance. (Healy, 10/17)
The widening budget deficit announced in recent days has sparked conversation among Republicans of cutting budgets and look for trims to entitlement programs. The Democrats are seizing on the tone shift, and using the potential changes to Medicare, Medicaid and other safety net programs as talking points on the campaign trail.
The Associated Press:
Dems Shift Line Of Attack, Warning Of GOP Threat To Medicare
With the GOP tax plan contributing to rising federal deficits, Democrats are warning that Republicans will seek cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security to balance budgets if they keep control of Congress in the November election. It's a familiar message for Democrats, who have for years campaigned on the idea that Republicans want to gut the "entitlement" programs. Republicans say they want to put those benefit programs on better financial footing and tame the deficit. (10/17)
The Washington Post:
As Midterms Near, Democrats Accuse GOP Of Plotting To Cut Medicare, Social Security
“A vote for Republican candidates in this election is a vote to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,” argued Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). Van Hollen and other Democrats pounced on comments from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in which the top Senate Republican blamed social programs for the growing deficit and said he hoped Congress would tackle spending on them “at some point here.” The Democrats’ alarm bells about deficits, which are reaching $1 trillion annually, came three weeks ahead of midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. President Trump himself expressed new concern about government spending Wednesday, telling members of his Cabinet that they should plan to cut 5 percent from their agencies’ budgets while offering few details except to say the Pentagon budget would largely be spared. As reporters looked on, Trump promised the cuts will “have a huge impact.” (Werner, Paletta and Weigel, 10/17)
The Washington Post:
Trump Calls For 5 Percent Spending Cut In Some Programs
President Trump on Wednesday asked every major cabinet agency to draw up proposals to cut its budget by 5 percent next year, adding he could grant some exemptions to his request and suggesting he would not ask the Pentagon to cut the full 5 percent. “Get rid of the fat, get rid of the waste,” Trump said at a meeting with cabinet members. “I’m sure everybody at this table can do it.” ... Trump’s comments came one day after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said a much different approach was needed to address the deficit. McConnell blamed programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security for driving the deficit, but he said changes to those programs can’t happen unless Democrats took control of either the House or the Senate, because it would take leadership from both parties. (Paletta and Kim, 10/17)
The Wall Street Journal:
Trump Seeks 5% Budget Cuts From Cabinet Agencies
“There’s been a bipartisan reluctance to tackle entitlement changes because of the popularity of those programs,” Mr. McConnell told Bloomberg News. “Hopefully at some point here we’ll get serious about this. We haven’t been yet.” (Hughes and Rubin, 10/17)
In other elections news —
The Associated Press:
GOP On Defense To Explain Pre-Existing Condition Protections
In ads and speeches, Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill is pounding Missouri voters with a single message: Her Republican challenger wants to end health insurance protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The Republican, Attorney General Josh Hawley, says it's not true and has been forced to defend himself. (10/17)
The Hill:
Cruz Softens ObamaCare Attacks, Underscoring GOP Shift
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pledged to protect people with pre-existing conditions at a debate Tuesday night, illustrating just how dramatically Republicans have changed their stance on the issue. Cruz is perhaps most well known for tenaciously opposing ObamaCare at every turn. But now, facing a surprisingly tough reelection race against Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D), he is speaking up in favor of one of ObamaCare’s core provisions: protections for those with pre-existing conditions. (Sullivan, 10/18)
The Washington Post:
Growing Number Of Republicans Sounding A Lot Like Democrats Ahead Of Elections
A growing number of Republican candidates are sounding a lot like Democrats as they face midterm elections, co-opting Democratic talking points on issues such as health care, education funding and the #MeToo movement. Republicans around the country have begun campaigning on safeguarding insurance protections for people with preexisting medical conditions, a pillar of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act — even though the GOP spent years trying to repeal the law. (Werner and Weigel, 10/17)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the failure to repeal the health law "the one disappointment of this Congress," and suggested he would consider it in the future if the support was there from members.
Reuters:
McConnell Says Senate Republicans Might Revisit Obamacare Repeal
Republicans could try again to repeal Obamacare if they win enough seats in U.S. elections next month, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday, calling a failed 2017 push to repeal the healthcare law a "disappointment." In a forecast of 2019 policy goals tempered by uncertainty about who would win the congressional elections, McConnell blamed social programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, for the fast-rising national debt. (10/17)
The Washington Post:
McConnell: GOP May Take Another Shot At Repealing Obamacare After The Midterms
“If we had the votes to completely start over, we’d do it. But that depends on what happens in a couple weeks. . . . We’re not satisfied with the way Obamacare is working,” McConnell said. Republicans are optimistic about their chances of maintaining control of the Senate next month, while polls suggest that a Democratic takeover of the House is increasingly likely. (Sonmez, 10/17)
Experts don't predict the proposed requirement would cause a broad pullback of ad campaigns, but companies will have to make some tough, and possibly expensive, choices. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump hints at a big win for drugmakers with a big change to Medicaid's rebate rule.
The Wall Street Journal:
Proposed Rule Requiring Drug Prices In TV Ads Could Impact Marketing Strategies
Pharmaceutical marketers already follow a stack of rules when they advertise, which includes listing dangerous possible side effects to a sometimes unnerving length. Now a newly proposed requirement to disclose list prices for drugs on-screen during television commercials could add yet another headache for one of Madison Avenue’s most important categories. Health-care ad executives don’t expect a broad pullback in pharmaceutical advertising on TV, but they said the rule could create sticker shock among consumers and push drugmakers to rethink their marketing strategies. (Bruell, 10/17)
Stat:
The Trump Administration Hints At New Drug Pricing Regulations
The White House on Wednesday provided the clearest evidence yet that, eventually, some drug makers might not have to cut Medicaid the best deal on prescription drugs. It would be a big win for drug makers, who say the current rules — which require every drug company to give Medicaid programs the lowest possible price, or “best price,” for any drug they sell — don’t give them the flexibility to test new payment ideas, like paying for drugs based on how well they work. (Florko, 10/17)