05/22/2012
DaVita, the second-largest provider of dialysis services in the U.S., has confirmed a $4.42 billion deal to acquire Torrance, Calif.-based physician group HealthCare Partners. The deal is the latest in a string of similar acquisitions by large health care companies as a strategy to rein in rising health costs. HealthCare Partners has more than 50 medical offices that serve 550,000 patients across Southern California. Los Angeles Times.
05/22/2012
A growing number of U.S. medical students are pursuing dual degrees in public health, academic medicine and other fields, such as law and business. According to educators, the students seek to develop interdisciplinary skills for working under health care reform and global health care initiatives. Recent data from the Association of American Medical Colleges show that the combined enrollment in dual programs in medicine and academic medicine; medicine and law; and medicine and business increased by 36% between 2002 and 2011. San Francisco Chronicle.
05/18/2012
The state Board of Registered Nursing is seeking to revoke the licenses of nurses who operated a training school that was not approved by the board or accredited. Pending legislation would allow the board to order such schools to cease operations. California Watch.
05/11/2012
Yesterday, HHS released two final rules designed to eliminate unnecessary, outdated and duplicative regulations on health care providers. Federal officials estimate that the changes would generate more than $5 billion in savings over five years. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.
05/10/2012
Yesterday, HHS released a proposed rule that would increase Medicaid reimbursements for primary care physicians over two years. Under the proposal, which stems from the health reform law, the federal government would cover the entire cost of the increase. Washington Post et al.
05/08/2012
U.S. medical school enrollment is on track to reach 21,376 first-year students by 2016, according to a survey of 129 medical schools by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The survey found that first-year medical school enrollment will increase by 29.6% from the 2002-03 school year to the 2016-17 school year, which nearly meets AAMC's goal of a 30% increase by 2015. Modern Healthcare.
05/07/2012
The Board of Chiropractic Examiners has passed a regulation barring chiropractors from using laser therapy to treat allergy symptoms. Some say the move is an attempt to convince lawmakers to drop a bill that would stop chiropractors from performing any allergy treatments. Sacramento Bee.
05/07/2012
After failing to secure a tie-breaking vote in the Senate Business Professional and Economic Development Committee, Sen. Christine Kehoe on Friday shelved legislation that would have allowed a limited number of non-physicians to perform an early-term abortion procedure. Kehoe indicated that she might pursue the issue through other avenues. U-T San Diego.
05/04/2012
On Thursday, the California Assembly passed legislation, by Assembly member Wes Chesbro, that would allow health care providers licensed in other states to practice on American Indian reservations without a California medical license. The bill was developed to address a shortage of medical professionals in California's 31 tribal health programs. The legislation now moves to the Senate. AP/Sacramento Bee.
05/01/2012
Massachusetts lawmakers soon are expected to consider legislation that would overhaul the way health care providers are paid. For example, a legislative committee is advancing a bill that would move all state health care providers to a value-based payment model. Washington Post.
04/30/2012
A Senate committee approved a bill to require health care workers to receive an influenza vaccination or wear a mask. Meanwhile, an Assembly panel is considering a bill on personal belief exemptions to the state's immunization requirement. Woodland Daily Democrat et al.
04/27/2012
On Thursday, a scaled-back version of Sen. Christine Kehoe's bill to allow a limited number of non-physicians to perform an early-term abortion procedure stalled in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee on a 4-4 vote. The bill is set to be reconsidered on May 7. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" et al.
04/27/2012
A California Institute for Nursing and Health Care survey finds that nearly half of nursing graduates were unable to secure a job in their field 18 months after graduating. Nursing graduates cited lack of experience as the top reason for not getting a job. Payers & Providers.
04/25/2012
On Tuesday, the California Senate Public Safety Committee approved a scaled-back version of a bill, by Sen. Christine Kehoe, that would allow only a limited number of non-physicians to perform an early-term abortion procedure. Under the original bill, up to 24,000 trained nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified midwives would have been permitted to conduct aspiration abortions, but the revised version allows just 41 professionals who have been trained as part of a UC-San Francisco pilot program to perform the procedure. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" et al.
04/23/2012
Hospital employment is growing twice as fast as overall employment in the Sacramento area, with the industry generating more than 84,000 jobs annually, according to a Hospital Council of Northern and Central California report. Meanwhile, Sacramento health care employers posted the most online job advertisements in March, with registered nurses being the most sought after position, according to a new state Employment Development Department report. Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento Bee.