Rx Drug Donation System Hopes To Grow
SIRUM — a Stanford-bred program that allows unused medications at hospitals and nursing homes to be donated to safety-net clinics — hopes to expand within California and serve as a model for other states.
California Hospital Group Proposes Ballot Initiative for Medi-Cal Provider Fee
The California Hospital Association wants a formula in place to assure that fees levied on hospitals will be used to fund children’s health care and access to care for low-income residents.
What Covered California Did Right in Week One — and What Other States Did Better
It was a bumpy debut for Covered California, as the state’s health insurance exchange launched last week with long wait times and a glitch-filled website. How did the Golden State grade out?
Governor Signs Physical Therapy Bill
A bill allowing California patients to seek treatment from a physical therapist without a physician’s referral was signed into law Monday.
Governor Agrees To Finish State Makeover of Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s Office
A new law will increase penalties on providers who interfere with investigations by the state’s long-term care ombudsman.
Health 2.0 Conference: Finding a Way Into Workflow and Life Flow
At the seventh annual Health 2.0 conference last week, technology developers showed off new products that are designed to easily fit into people’s lives. A common sticking point for developers is getting their applications, dashboards, platforms and devices to fit within the workflow of the U.S. health care system.
Mental Health Program Shows Success
Californians with mental illnesses who participate in county-run Full Service Partnership programs are more likely to move into independent living situations, according to a study published last week.
Some Exchange Provider Rates Up in Air
Covered California and other exchanges across the country opened their initial enrollment seasons this week — but an important detail of provider pay is still pending in some of them.
Pharmacist Scope-of-Practice Bill Now Law
Gov. Brown has signed SB 493 into law, giving pharmacists expanded responsibilities. The measure aims to address the growing burden on primary care providers.
Stanislaus County ACO Shows Remarkable Results in Four Key Benchmark Metrics
From emergency department visits to length of hospital stays, a number of higher-quality, lower-cost metrics have borne fruit in a new patient-centered accountable care program in the Central Valley.