Latest California Healthline Stories
Kaiser’s Q2 2012 Net Income Down by More Than 22%
Kaiser Permanente reported a net income of $514 million for the second quarter of 2012, down by more than 22% from its Q2 2011 net income of $663 million. Kaiser reported that operating revenues increased by 6%, from $11.9 billion in Q2 2011 to $12.6 billion in Q2 2012, but nonoperating income dropped from $273 million to $90 million during the same time period. Sacramento Business Journal.
California Has One of the Lowest Obesity Rates in U.S., Report Finds
A new analysis based on self-reported obesity data finds that California has the sixth-lowest obesity rate of all U.S. states and the District of Columbia. According to the report, Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the U.S. and Mississippi has the highest rate. Reuters et al.
Senate Leaders Admit Lack of Accountability in Select Committees
Several of the California Senate’s select committees — including some that have worked on health-related issues — receive state funding but lack performance and documentation standards, Senate leaders say. New Senate rules aim to boost the accountability of such groups. Sacramento Bee.
Sutter Health Program Hires New Nurses, Gives Additional Training
Sutter Health is offering a program that hires and trains new nurses before it has open positions to fill. Recent data show that one in five California nursing school graduates cannot find a job within one year of graduation. Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Opinion: Medi-Cal Expansion Will Hurt Higher Education
In a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece, Maura Casey — a former editorial writer for the New York Times — writes that “if history is any guide, college students could feel the pinch as states cut aid to higher education to expand health care.” She writes, “Researchers have long noted the correlation between the rising cost of Medicaid and falling state support for public colleges.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Poll: 88% of Older Americans Want Changes to Medicare
Eighty-eight percent of U.S. residents age 50 and older want lawmakers to strengthen Medicare, according to an AARP survey. About 70% of respondents say getting more information on President Obama’s and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s plans for entitlement programs will affect how they vote in November. The Hill‘s “On the Money.”
Audit Finds El Camino District Using Tax Revenues Properly
El Camino Hospital District in Mountain View has been using its $16 million in annual tax revenues appropriately, according to a recently completed external audit of the district. The audit was conducted by KPMG on behalf of the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Clara. Payers & Providers.
Editorial Calls on Lawmakers To Block Pension Plan Bill
An Orange County Register editorial argues that the Legislature “should kill” a bill, by Sen. Kevin de Léon, that “would require businesses to steer employees to a government established retirement system if they are not already covered by retirement plans on the job.” It states, “Government has no business dictating retirement plans in competition with private providers.” Orange County Register.
Blue Shield Executives’ Pay Mostly Unchanged in 2011, Filings Show
Blue Shield of California executives earned about the same amount in 2011 as the year prior, despite new federal health law rules about how insurers can spend premium dollars. The 10 highest-paid executives earned a total of $14 million last year. Los Angeles Times.
Young Adults Poised To Gain Coverage Under Medicaid Expansion
A study by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds that adults ages 19 to 34 account for about half of the uninsured U.S. residents who could gain coverage under the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” CQ HealthBeat.