State Highlights: N.Y. Legislators Debate Tighter Oversight Of Nurses; Sutter Plans To Shutter Berkeley Emergency Services
News outlets report on health issues in New York, California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New York, Tennessee, Georgia, Connecticut and Missouri.
ProPublica:
NY Lawmakers Discuss Tougher Oversight For Nurses
New York legislators say they are discussing how to tighten regulation of nurses after a recent ProPublica investigation found dangerous gaps in the state’s oversight of the profession. Deborah Glick, who chairs the Committee on Higher Education in the state assembly, said she has asked the education department to determine what powers it needs to better oversee the profession. Nurses are regulated by the Office of the Professions, which is part of the state’s education department. (Adams, Huseman and Porat, 4/26)
The San Jose Mercury News:
Sutter Plans Future Closing Of Berkeley Emergency Services
By 2030, or possibly sooner, there may be no emergency medical services in Berkeley. Alta Bates Summit Hospital will close its acute care facility and emergency department in south Berkeley sometime between 2018 and 2030, hospital officials said, confirming rumors swirling around the city for years. (Scherr, 4/25)
ProPublica:
FDA To Massachusetts Group Home: Stop Shocking Disabled Residents
Federal officials have moved to ban the controversial electric shock device a Boston-area group home and school has used for decades on its disabled clients. In a 124-page document proposing the ban, the Food and Drug Administration accused The Judge Rotenberg Center of underreporting adverse effects from the device, using flawed studies to defend its approach, and misleading families about alternative treatments. (Vogell, 4/26)
The Associated Press:
Hawaii Bill Bans Discrimination Against Transgender Patients
Insurance companies would not be allowed to discriminate against transgender patients under a bill passed by the Hawaii Legislature. The bill passed Tuesday by the House of Representatives prohibits denying, canceling or limiting coverage based on a person’s gender identity. “That’s something that’s really critical, especially now when you have states around the country moving the other direction, explicitly placing into law the ability to discriminate based on who people perceive themselves to be,” said Democratic Rep. Chris Lee, who introduced the bill. (Bussewitz, 4/26)
The Associated Press:
NYC Will Triple Intensive-Care Mental Health Units At Rikers
Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York City will triple the number of intensive-care mental health units at its Rikers Island jail complex. The move announced Tuesday is part of the city's overhaul of mental health care for inmates. Correction Commissioner Joseph Ponte says the specialized units can improve safety by reducing jail violence. (4/26)
The San Jose Mercury News:
$185 Million Gift Launches UCSF Weill Institute For Neurosciences
In the largest-ever gift to UC San Francisco, philanthropists Joan and Sandy Weill have donated $185 million to establish a new institute to speed the development of new therapies for diseases affecting the brain and nervous system, including psychiatric disorders. (Seipel, 4/26)
Reuters:
Google Glass-Based Startup Raises $17 Million In Funding
Augmedix Inc, a startup that uses Alphabet Inc's Google Glass to provide documentation services to doctors and other healthcare workers, said on Monday it had closed a $17 million funding round led by investment firm Redmile Group.
Augmedix's employees transcribe doctors' notes and update patients' electronic medical record through Google Glass. (4/25)
The Associated Press:
Speaker Harwell's Health Care Task Force Holds First Meeting
Members of a health care task force assigned with proposing alternatives to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's Insure Tennessee plan on Tuesday stressed their desire to include "circuit breakers" to prevent out-of-control costs. (Schelzig, 4/26)
The Associated Press:
Georgia Governor OKs State Funds For Anti-Abortion Centers
Georgia can give state money to "pregnancy resource centers" that offer medical and other services to pregnant women while discouraging them from getting abortions, under legislation signed Tuesday by Republcan Gov. Nathan Deal. (4/26)
The Associated Press:
Police: Former UConn Health Official Forged Prescriptions
The former pharmacy supervisor of the University of Connecticut's Student Health Services faces 173 charges for allegedly forging prescriptions and ordering items through the pharmacy for his personal use. Michael Olzinski was charged last week and is free on $30,000 bond pending a May 2 court appearance. No defense lawyer was listed in online state records. (4/26)
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Granite City Chiropractor Accused Of Submitting $500,000 In False Claims
A Granite City chiropractor is accused of submitting about $500,000 in false benefit reimbursements and then depositing some of the money into her bank account. Bridget Brasfield was charged Tuesday with health care fraud and money laundering in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. (Schremp Hahn, 4/26)
