Latest California Healthline Stories
Los Angeles Pursues Criminal Probe of Nev. Mental Health Hospital
Los Angeles is the only city pursuing a criminal investigation of patient discharge practices at Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas. The hospital has been accused of busing patients with mental illnesses to several states, including California. Sacramento Bee.
Editorial: UC, Medical Center Workers Should Avoid Strike
A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that the University of California and patient-care technical workers should return to the bargaining table to avoid a “needless strike.” About 13,000 technical workers are planning a two-day strike this week at five UC medical centers after negotiations over a labor contract that expired September 2012 stalled, “primarily over changes to the UC retirement plan,” the editorial states. It adds, “A strike would hurt patients who will have to be rescheduled or transported across town to other hospitals.” Sacramento Bee.
Brown’s Budget Underestimates Extra Revenue by $3B, LAO Says
A Legislative Analyst’s Office report finds that California will collect $3.2 billion more in extra revenue than Gov. Brown forecasted in his budget plan. Some lawmakers want to use the extra funding to restore safety-net programs. Los Angeles Times et al.
Republicans Query Sebelius About Exchange Navigators
In a letter sent to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius last week, two GOP lawmakers expressed concern that workers hired for the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchange navigators program might have access to “sensitive taxpayer information.” Reps. Kevin Brady and Charles Boustany asked Sebelius to provide information about the types of personal data to which navigators would have access. Modern Healthcare.
S.F., Labor Unions Urge Kaiser To Revise Planned 2014 Premium Rate Hike
A coalition of San Francisco city officials and several labor unions are demanding that Kaiser Permanente justify its planned 2014 premium rate hike of 5.5% and develop an alternate rate proposal. Kaiser says the planned rate hike is “fair and competitive.” Los Angeles Times.
Lawmakers, Hospital Leaders Push To Repeal Medi-Cal Cuts
At a news conference last week, two Assembly members — Henry Perea and Jim Patterson — and hospital administrators called on Gov. Brown and state lawmakers to stop a retroactive 10% cut to Medi-Cal reimbursements for hospital-based skilled nursing services. Patterson said two bills in the Legislature would allow lawmakers to reverse the “disastrous” cuts approved in 2011. Fresno Bee.
Republican Lawmakers Introduce Bills To Block IRS From Enforcing ACA
Two Republican lawmakers have unveiled bills that would prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from enforcing the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, lawmakers questioned whether the head of the IRS’ health care reform division was aware of the agency’s targeting of conservative groups. The Hill‘s “Floor Action Blog” et al.
CDC Finds Up to 20% of U.S. Children Have Mental Health Disorders
A new CDC report finds that as many as one in five individuals in the U.S. under age 18 experience a mental health disorder each year and that the rate of mental health disorders among children is climbing. The report marks the first comprehensive examination of the mental health of U.S. children. Washington Post et al.
Vehicle Emissions Pose Health Risks at Border Crossings
Toxic vehicle emissions pose a significant health risk at border crossings between the U.S. and Mexico, according to a report prepared by scholars from San Diego State University and a team of Mexican researchers. The report recommended that U.S. and Mexico officials devise a strategy to reduce vehicle wait times at border crossings. U-T San Diego.
UC Medical Centers To Delay Elective Surgeries Amid Scheduled Strike
Five University of California medical centers are starting to postpone elective surgeries because of an expected strike. Meanwhile, the California Nurses Association-National Nurses United is planning a seven-day strike at Sutter Health facilities. Los Angeles Times et al.