Latest California Healthline Stories
Will Mexico’s Soda Tax Spur California?
A new tax on sugary drinks and high-calorie foods in Mexico is sparking optimism among health advocates who hope California is ready to follow suit.
San Diego County’s 10-Year Public Health Initiative Shows Early Progress
Live Well, San Diego! is a 10-year public health project that calls on a wide range of community stakeholders to make changes both within and outside of the health care delivery system to reduce the burden of chronic disease. Three years in, county health officials are preparing to demonstrate the program’s effectiveness.
Autism Advocates Praise Covered California’s Expected Policy Change
The California health benefit exchange board’s meeting today is expected to include a policy change that autism advocates say could help many children who need applied behavior analysis therapy.
Ruling’s Effect on Autism Coverage
An appeals court recently decided that the state cannot deny autism coverage to state employees based on licensure, and that ruling could hold an important precedent for autism advocates.
Experts: ACA May Interrupt Short-Term HIV Care, but Long-Term Changes Worth It
The Affordable Care Act will bring changes for thousands of Californians with HIV/AIDS, including possible interruptions in care. But the long-term benefits of reform will outweigh short-term hiccups, according to experts.
Central Valley Tries Anti-Obesity Tactics
The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Project partners with community organizations and residents to challenge policies and environments that don’t support a healthy lifestyle.
Treatment Trends Pushing Diabetic Amputations Down List of Options
Thousands of Californians undergo diabetes-related leg and foot amputations every year, but the number may be declining as new, aggressive treatments aimed at saving limbs are spreading and showing results.
S.F. Alzheimer’s Pilot Results Released
San Francisco’s coordinated care pilot project results for dementia patients released at a national Alzheimer’s conference yesterday showed a dramatic 40% reduction in emergency department utilization rates.
Palliative Care Key Part of Berkeley Forum’s Prescription
Heath care organizations in Northern California are in step with a recent report from the Berkeley Forum suggesting that improvements in palliative care could help California save $110 billion over the next decade.
First Step in Reform: Primary Care
The heart of a successful reform effort under the Affordable Care Act will be the creation and implementation of the patient-centered medical home model of care, according to testimony at an Assembly Committee on Health hearing in the Capitol Tuesday.
“We need to look at better management of chronic conditions,” said Assembly member Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), chair of the Committee on Health. “It’s one of the greatest cost factors in our health care system.”
How much cost?