Latest California Healthline Stories
Attorney General To Appeal Judge’s Decision Overturning Aid-In-Dying Law
The judge said that the Legislature illegally passed the legislation because it was in a special session that was called to deal with health care funding.
The Estimated Cost For Extending Skinny, Short-Term Coverage Plans: Up To $168 Million A Year
Because healthier people are more likely to buy the skinny plans, the overall marketplace — which the government helps subsidize — would become less stable
Leadership Shake-Up At Palomar Health Spreads To Board Of Directors
Joy Gorzeman, a respected nurse and health care educator, resigned effective May 2. The news came as Palomar navigates a rough patch, reorganizing staff to handle budget difficulties while simultaneously responding to a series of government safety inspections.
Although California has avoided the worst of the opioid epidemic, the drug market in the state is dominated by stimulants — the very drugs that have just started to be mixed with fentanyl.
System-Wide Failure Strikes Sutter Health, Disrupting Some Operations
The system failure starting Monday night caused problems with accessing patients’ electronic health records, emails and phone usage, Sutter officials said.
Proposed Bill Would Require Speedier Processing Of Rape Kits
Funding has been a major hurdle for similar proposals in the past, but Gov. Jerry Brown has earmarked a one-time $6 million to help counties process forensic evidence in his newly revised budget.
State AGs Challenge Administration’s Proposed Funding Changes To Family Planning Services
HHS in February made favorable mention of “natural family planning” that includes the rhythm method and other strategies to avoid pregnancy without using birth control. It also said it would favor abstinence messages for adolescents.
Plaintiffs argued that Gov. Jerry Brown called the special session to deal with a funding shortage for public health programs and the assisted death law did not meet that criteria. Superior Court Judge Daniel Ottolia is giving the state attorney general five days to appeal.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are unifying behind a strategy that capitalizes on the health law’s rising popularity and points fingers at the Republicans for high premiums.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar blasted a long-standing Democratic idea for Medicare to negotiate drug prices, saying it would deny access to medicines “through rationing or setting prices,” which he called a “move toward socialized medicine.” However, Azar did promise to upend Medicare Part B’s payment structure.