Latest California Healthline Stories
Brown, Democrats Reach Deal on Public Worker Pension Reform
Gov. Brown and Democrats have released a bill that would reform pensions for public workers. Union leaders say the bill is unfair to workers, while Republicans say it does not go far enough in overhauling the pension system. Orange County Register et al.
Assembly Committee Passes Bill Changing Medical Damages Ruling
The Assembly Judiciary Committee has passed a bill that would alter a state Supreme Court ruling and allow Medi-Cal beneficiaries and plaintiffs covered by other managed care plans to recover the full cost of health care services in personal injury cases. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Growing Number of Hospitals Directly Providing Insurance
A growing number of hospitals and health systems are directly providing insurance coverage as they face pressure to accept flat rates for care rather than reimbursements for every service. Experts say that once hospital systems become insurers and must pay for hospitalizations rather than generating revenue from them, their focus will shift to preventive care. Kaiser Health News/Washington Post.
Calif. Granted $4.6M To Help Consumers With Questions
The Department of Managed Health Care has received a $4.6 million federal grant under the health reform law to assist consumers with questions about health insurance. The grant also will help improve health care data collection. Sacramento Business Journal.
Court OKs Use of Federal Funds for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit challenging federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The panel said the law permits federal funding of research using previously derived embryonic stem cells. Modern Healthcare, AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Democratic Lawmakers To Unveil Pension Reform Plan
On Tuesday, Democrats will unveil a public pension reform plan that would cap defined benefit pensions, raise the retirement age and stop system abuses, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg said Monday. The measure does not include “hybrid” retirement plans with a 401(k)-style component that were featured in Gov. Brown’s 12-point pension reform plan. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Polls Find Mixed Views on Medicare Proposals From GOP, Democrats
A new poll finds that most U.S. adults who are aware of Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan dislike it. Two other polls find nearly the same level of support for President Obama and presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Medicare. Bloomberg/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Opinion: Both Parties Pander to Seniors on Medicare Issues
In light of the “ongoing debate over the future” of Medicare, “[p]oliticians pandering to seniors is nothing new,” Michael Tanner — a Cato Institute senior fellow — writes in an Orange County Register opinion piece. “But this year’s Medicare dishonesty is especially dangerous,” he notes, adding that “[w]ith both campaigns peddling the idea that any cuts to Medicare, now or in the future, are automatically a bad thing, we run the risk of poisoning the well for any future reform of the system.” Orange County Register.
Mental Health Training for Police Questioned After Oxnard Shooting
The shooting of an individual with a mental illness by Oxnard police has prompted questions about officers’ mental health training and the efficacy of Ventura County’s crisis training for law enforcement. Experts also say the county should enact Laura’s Law. Ventura County Star.
Study: Workers’ Comp Bill Cuts Overall Costs, Hikes Total System Costs
A study by the California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau finds that a new workers’ compensation reform bill would produce savings of about $400 million. However, it finds that the bill would increase total system costs by about $700 million. Insurance Journal et al.