Viewpoints: There’s Plenty Of Reasons To Believe The Health Law Will Emerge From Court Battle Intact
A selection of opinions on health care developments from around the state.
San Francisco Chronicle:
The Affordable Care Act Is Still Alive, Despite Latest Court Decision
A federal judge in Texas struck down the Affordable Care Act on Friday, but it’s not the end of the line for the crucial, long-beleaguered health insurance program. The judge, Reed O’Connor, did not rule that the law must be enjoined immediately. (12/17)
Los Angeles Times:
Obamacare May Have Popular Features, But It's Not Constitutional
The finesse built into Obamacare in 2010 allowed Congress to avoid some difficult issues, but it relied on an unconstitutional step. Now our elected representatives will finally have to answer the two questions they dodged in passing the Affordable Care Act: How much health insurance do we want, and how much are we willing to pay for it in taxes? (Tom Campbell, 12/21)
Los Angeles Times:
7-Year-Old Jakelin Caal Maquin Died At The Border. What Happened To Her Is Not An Aberration
A Customs and Border Protection spokesman insisted to the Washington Post that “Border Patrol agents took every possible step to save the child’s life under the most trying of circumstances.” That may well be technically true. But even if individual Lordsburg agents rushed to save Jakelin’s life, it won’t erase another truth: The institutional culture of the Border Patrol regularly dismisses even the most basic needs of detained migrants. (Francisco Cantu, 12/18)
Sacramento Bee:
Fighting Wildfire From The Inside Out
In the wake of the Camp Fire, I’ve been reading about the work of wildfire scientist Jack Cohen. During his many years with the U.S. Forest Service, Cohen studied which houses in fire-prone areas tend to burn and which survive. His work is deeply respected and several of his videos are on YouTube. They should be required viewing for anyone living in a wildfire zone. To his surprise, Cohen found that the houses closest to catastrophic blazes often withstood the fires even when those farther away burned. It often wasn’t the approaching flames that threatened houses the most. The bigger danger, it turns out, were the thousands of small embers, called firestarters, that blew off of fires and traveled for miles on the wind. (Karin Klein, 12/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
To Help The Homeless, Offer Shelter That Allows Deep Sleep
Shelters aren’t providing the needed respite — 70 percent of homeless individuals who had experienced shelter stays reported that they sometimes felt so tired that they could not function normally during the day, according to a 2011 study conducted by the House the Homeless in Austin, Texas. Yet the simplest way for people to drastically improve the quality of their lives, [Bobby Watts, chief executive officer of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council] notes, is: “Get more sleep.” (Lori Teresa Yearwood, 12/19)
San Jose Mercury News:
Good And Bad In Much-Needed Bay Area Housing Plan
A coalition of divergent Bay Area interests has come together on a plan to confront the region’s housing crisis. The group’s so-called CASA Compact, unveiled last week and up for its first public review at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on Wednesday, provides a serious foundation for a much-needed discussion. It hits the target on several fronts but misses the mark on others. (12/19)
San Jose Mercury News:
Food Banks Need Your Help During Holiday Season
Nutritious food is the foundation for a healthy, productive life. It literally fuels our community. That’s why I’m asking you to please give to local food-assistance organizations by donating or volunteering your time. Your support will ensure that we all have access to the nutritious food we need to thrive, no matter who we are or what table we sit at this holiday season. (Bruno Pillet, 12/16)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Alta Bates’ Closure May Be An Economic Necessity For Sutter, But It Will Come At A High Cost To The East Bay
Hospital closures displace patients, overburden the hospitals that remain open and adversely affect regional mortality. Patients also struggle with longer travel times, which can be fatal in emergency situations. Residents in northwest Alameda County and West Contra Costa County are still struggling to absorb the 2015 closure of Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo. (12/20)
Los Angeles Times:
Molina Healthcare Goes To War With Its Founding Family, Affecting Coverage For 79,000 Patients
In the Medi-Cal system, the state contracts with health plans, which in turn contract with physician groups and hospitals to provide services, paying them a portion of Medi-Cal fees as reimbursements. ... With negotiations on a renewal for 2019 having reached an impasse, Molina Healthcare apparently has decided to let the contract lapse entirely as of Feb. 1. According to documents Molina Healthcare filed with the state Department of Managed Health Care, that means the vast majority of the clinics’ nearly 79,000 Medi-Cal patients must be assigned new doctors or find replacements on their own. (Michael Hiltzik, 12/14)