CHCF Shares Resources to Support Palliative Care in Public Hospitals For people with serious illness, palliative care programs provide essential services to address the complex physical and emotional burdens that come with such illnesses. These programs are available in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Yet even with ample evidence about the positive impact of these services, leaders in palliative care programs often have to make the case about the value of these services. California Health Care Foundation's (CHCF) collection Resources to Support Palliative Care in Public Hospitals includes information and tools to help leaders of palliative care programs at public health ... April 11, 2023 General, Health Net, Healthcare, Patient Care, Public Health Hospitals, Palliative Care 0 0 Comment Read More »
DEA publishes guidance on new training requirements for prescribers of controlled substances On March 28, 2023, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released recommendations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued specific guidance on how practitioners can meet the new training requirements for DEA-registered prescribers of controlled substances. The new law requires all prescribers of schedule II – V controlled substances to meet a one-time eight-hour training requirement on identifying, treating, and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. Many California-licensed physicians may have already met the new DEA requirements because California requires similar education. While the California Medical Association (CMA) did not ... April 6, 2023 DEA, Drug Prescribing/Dispensing, General, Healthcare, Mental Health, Patient Care SAMHSA, TRAINING 0 0 Comment Read More »
Insulin to Cost $30 as California Secures Contract to Combat Diabetes California will cut patients’ cost for insulin by 90% to $30, regardless of their insurance plan, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Saturday. The state has a contract with non-profit generic-drug company Civica to obtain insulin, a hormone used for treating diabetes. When the new, cheaper drug will become available is not clear: Civica and the state Health and Human Services Agency are working to identify a manufacturing facility in California, according to the governor’s announcement. Patients who pay cash for insulin will save $2,000 and $4,000 a year, Newsom’s office said, citing “egregious ... March 20, 2023 Healthcare, Insurance, legislation, Patient Care Insulin 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Senate’s New Health Chair to Prioritize Mental Health and Homelessness Article by Rachel Bluth of California Healthline California state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, a Stockton Democrat who was instrumental in passing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature mental health care legislation last year, has been appointed to lead the Senate’s influential health committee, a change that promises a more urgent focus on expanding mental health services and moving homeless people into housing and treatment. Eggman, a licensed social worker, co-authored the novel law that allows families, clinicians, first responders, and others to petition a judge to mandate government-funded treatment and services for people ... January 9, 2023 General, legislation, Medi-Cal, Mental Health, Patient Care, Public Health Health Care Reform, Homelessness 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDPH HEALTH ADVISORY: Reminder to Lower Barriers to Prescribing COVID-19 Therapeutics to Mitigate Impact of COVID-19 December 2, 2022 California Department of Public Health Link California Medical Association Link Background Currently, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing in California. Importantly, other viruses such as influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are also circulating, affecting vulnerable populations including children and the elderly, and straining the state's healthcare systems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommend that everyone 6 months of age or older has an annual influenza vaccine and stays up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including the bivalent booster that is ... December 12, 2022 COVID19, Patient Care, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
