Latest California Healthline Stories
Inmate Advocates, Calif. Officials Disagree on Population Cap Strategy
Advocates for California inmates say that the state easily could reach a court-ordered prison population target by releasing low-risk offenders. However, Gov. Brown’s administration argues that no additional prisoners should be released to meet the population cap. Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal.”
Investigation Uncovers Fatal Care Issues at Assisted Living Facilities
An investigation by U-T San Diego and the California HealthCare Foundation’s Center for Health Reporting finds that deaths resulting from poor care at assisted living facilities often go unreported and undisciplined. According to findings, 27 elderly residents in San Diego County assisted living facilities have died from injuries and neglect since 2008. U-T San Diego.
UC-San Diego Bans Tobacco Use Everywhere on Campus
On Sept. 1, UC-San Diego enacted a ban on the use of all tobacco and unregulated nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes. The regulation affects all areas of campus, including residence halls and outdoor spaces. It also bans the sale and advertising of tobacco merchandise on campus. U-T San Diego.
CBO: Delaying Individual Mandate Would Save $35B Over 10 Years
A new Congressional Budget Office report finds that a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate would reduce the federal deficit by $35 billion over the next decade. However, a delay would increase the number of uninsured Americans from about 44 million to 55 million, according to the report. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Washington Times.
Riverside To Review Non-Emergency Ambulance Policy
Last week, Riverside Mayor William Bailey said that city officials will hold a workshop later this month to review the city’s non-emergency ambulance policy. Bailey called for such a workshop two years ago after the California Emergency Medical Services Authority said Riverside did not have the authority to stop qualified companies from picking up patients in the city. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Last Friday, the California Senate in a 25-11 concurrence vote approved a bill to expand the state’s paid family leave program. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 34-2 to approve a bill to limit workers’ compensation claims by out-of-state professional athletes. AB 1309 now goes back to the Assembly for a final vote. Sacramento Bee.
House GOP Lawmakers Ask Federal Agencies To Give Cost Estimate for Changing ACA Provision
On Thursday, Reps. Dave Camp and John Kline asked the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to provide a cost estimate for altering an Affordable Care Act regulation to allow labor unions to continue offering members not-for-profit multi-employer health plans known as “Taft-Hartley” health plans. The unions have expressed concern that the ACA does not consider Taft-Hartley health plans as qualified health plans, which would make such plans ineligible for federal tax subsidies. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Editorial Says Brown Should Fight To Ensure Transit Workers Are Subject to Pension Reforms
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that Gov. Brown “had no choice but to cave and exempt transit workers” from pension reforms implemented in the state this year because the U.S. Department of Labor “was poised to cut off billions in federal grants to local transit districts if California did not back off.” However, the editorial continues, “pension reform is too important to allow federal blackmail to upset it.” It concludes, “The governor needs to fight this battle all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if need be.” Sacramento Bee.
California Health Care Personnel News Update for August 2013
Terri Delgadillo has resigned as director of the state Department of Developmental Services because of health problems. Vernon Giang has been named chief medical officer of California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. The San Francisco Department of Public Health has announced that Bill Kim has been named CIO.
Study Finds Coverage Issues in States That Do Not Expand Medicaid
A Commonwealth Fund study finds that as many as 40% of low-income individuals living in states that opt not to expand their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act will be left with no new coverage options. The researchers say lawmakers should ensure subsidized coverage is available to individuals living below the poverty line in states that do not expand their Medicaid programs. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.