Latest California Healthline Stories
California Health Care Personnel News Update for April 2013
The California Autism Foundation has named John Rockefeller as CEO. Karen Ruiz, who previously led an overhaul of CalPERS’ computer system, has been named program director for the system that will handle eligibility, enrollment and retention for Covered California.
Cantor Seeks Another Vote on Full Repeal of Affordable Care Act
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s legislative agenda for May includes holding a vote to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act. Cantor’s agenda also outlines a GOP priority to boost federal funding for pediatric disease prevention research. The Hill‘s “Floor Action Blog” et al.
UCLA Nabs Grant To Study Strokes Among Minorities
UCLA’s Los Angeles Stroke Prevention/Intervention Research Program in Health Disparities has received a five-year, $11 million grant from NIH. The group plans to use the grant to conduct three studies on strategies to reduce the high rate of stroke among low-income minorities. KPCC’s “On Central.”
Lawmakers Criticize Brown’s Plan To Reduce Prison Population
State lawmakers are saying that a plan by Gov. Brown to reduce California’s prison population could compromise public safety. The plan was filed to comply with a federal court order to curb overcrowding and boost inmate health care. Sacramento Bee et al.
Calif. Democrats Seek To Use Revenue To Restore Safety-Net Programs
Democrats in the Legislature say that California should use higher-than-expected revenue to restore cuts to safety-net programs. For example, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg wants to restore Denti-Cal benefits and expand mental health programs. Sacramento Bee.
UC System To End Lifetime Coverage Limits for Students
Acting on a recommendation from the UC Student Health Insurance Program Advisory Board, all 10 UC campuses will abolish lifetime coverage limits and other restrictions on essential health benefits in students’ health insurance plans. The change will take effect in the 2013-2014 academic year. Sacramento Business Journal.
Bill Limiting Athletes’ Access to Workers’ Comp Advances
On Thursday, the state Assembly voted 57-1 to approve a bill that would limit the ability of out-of-state professional athletes to file for workers’ compensation in California. Under the bill, athletes could seek workers’ compensation only if they spent at least 80% of their career with a California-based team. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Calif. Community Clinics Aim To Prevent Hospitalizations
Community clinics in California are working to help patients with multiple chronic conditions stay out of the hospital. Such clinics are expanding weekend and evening hours and adding pharmacies. Researchers have found that patients at community health clinics are less likely to be hospitalized than those who receive treatment elsewhere. Los Angeles Times.
Editorial: Proposed Soda Tax a ‘Multidimensional Mess’
A U-T San Diego editorial argues that a proposed bill that would impose a one-cent-per-ounce tax on certain types of sweetened beverages to raise funds for childhood anti-obesity programs is “a multidimensional mess” that is “built on the historically flawed theory that if you throw money at problems, they will go away.” It adds that the measure “breaks the vow … by many Democratic lawmakers” that there would be no “more broad new taxes” if the Proposition 30 tax hike ballot measure passed. U-T San Diego.
DOJ To Appeal Judge’s Ruling on Plan B Age Restrictions
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice said it would appeal a federal court order requiring FDA to make emergency contraception available without age or point-of-sale restrictions. DOJ’s decision comes shortly after FDA announced that it has approved a drugmaker’s request to sell its emergency contraception drug over the counter to people ages 15 and older with proof of age. New York Times, Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog.”