Latest California Healthline Stories
Steinberg Releases Plan To Boost Mental Health Care in California
California Senate Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg has released a proposal to improve mental health services in the state and reduce the number of patients with mental illnesses in California’s prisons and emergency departments. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
Debate Grows Over Bill Aiming To Remove Junk Food From State Offices
Debate continues over a bill that would remove unhealthy food from vending machines in state facilities. Proponents say the state should not contribute to rising health costs, while opponents argue that elected officials should not govern what people eat. Los Angeles Times.
San Leandro City Council Supports Charity Care Bill
On Monday, the San Leandro City Council passed a resolution in support of a bill, by Assembly member Bob Wieckowski, that aims to increase accountability and charity care provided by the state’s not-for-profit hospitals. The measure would require not-for-profit hospitals to justify their tax-exempt status when operating revenues are more than 10% higher than expenses and would prohibit hospitals from classifying certain activities as charity care. Hayward Daily Review/San Jose Mercury News.
Opinion: Extend Fair Pay Rules to Home Care Workers
In a HealthyCal opinion piece, Dorie Seavey — policy research director for the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute — and Eileen Boris — chair of the Department of Feminist Studies at UC- Santa Barbara — argue in favor of a proposed rule by the Obama administration to extend federal minimum wage and overtime rules to about 500,000 California home care works and nearly two million workers nationwide. They conclude that providing such protections “under the Fair Labor Standards Act would help make home care a respected occupation — and ensure the stable, skilled home care workforce necessary to support growing numbers of Californians who, despite functional limitations, wish to live in their own homes and communities.” HealthyCal.
Brown Unveils Proposal for California EPA To Reform Proposition 65
Gov. Brown has proposed a plan to reform Proposition 65, which aims to block businesses from exposing residents to harmful chemicals. Critics say the law allows unscrupulous lawyers to file claims against businesses that have done nothing wrong. KPCC’s ‘KPCC News” et al.
Editorial Says ACA Claims Ignore ‘Perverse Incentives’
A U-T San Diego editorial argues that President Obama’s claim that “more Americans will have health coverage” under the Affordable Care Act “ignores the [law’s] perverse incentives” and “assumes the law will be competently implemented by the states and embraced by the uninsured.” However, if the Obama administration “can fix the disincentives that encourage individuals to go without insurance and get people to believe it’s in their interest to sign up,” there is “a chance that more Americans will have coverage,” it states. U-T San Diego.
Harkin To Lift Hold on Tavenner’s Nomination as CMS Administrator
Although the White House did not address Sen. Tom Harkin’s concerns about Affordable Care Act funding, the senator plans to lift his hold on Marilyn Tavenner’s nomination as CMS administrator. The Senate is expected to confirm Tavenner. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules” et al.
Health Issues, Costs Biggest Concerns for Near-Retirees
Health issues and health care costs are the most pressing concerns for U.S. residents near retirement age, according to a new survey by Merrill Lynch. Most survey respondents cited serious health problems as their most significant concern about living a long life. In addition, respondents listed concerns about the sustainability of federal health programs and unexpected medical expenses as their primary concerns about health care costs. Reuters.
Study Questions Insurance ‘Cost-Shifting’ Theory
Contrary to the popular health insurance “cost-shifting” theory, reducing Medicare payment rates for hospital inpatient care does not accelerate growth in private insurers’ costs, according to a study published in the journal Health Affairs. Researchers found that when Medicare payment rates were reduced by 10% from 1995 to 2009, private insurance payment rates dropped by 3% to 8% during that time. Politico.
CalPERS Seeks To Drop Health Benefits for Ineligible Individuals
CalPERS has launched an initiative to discontinue health care benefits for individuals mistakenly or fraudulently receiving coverage. A CalPERS official says original estimates that the effort would save about $40 million annually might prove to be conservative. Sacramento Bee.