Latest California Healthline Stories
Adult Health Services Eligibility Questioned by Patient Advocates
Patient advocates say that California is denying certain adults access to the Community-Based Adult Services program without adequate explanation. Advocates say adults are denied access to the program even though officials agree that they are at risk of institutionalization. San Francisco Chronicle.
Californians Will Benefit From Reform, Opinion Piece Argues
In a Sacramento Bee opinion piece, Peter Lee — executive director of the California Health Benefit Exchange — writes that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act means that Californians “will all benefit by having a guarantee that we will never lose our insurance coverage, from lower costs, better preventive care and wellness, and a health insurance system that will be about keeping people well instead of avoiding sick people.” Sacramento Bee.
Analysis: Most School Lunches Miss a Nutritional Standard
Sixty percent of school lunches reviewed by state officials over the past five years did not meet at least one federal nutritional requirement, according to a California Watch analysis. The analysis found that more than 200 of about 860 school districts and charter schools reviewed did not meet three or more federal nutritional standards. Schools are required to meet certain nutritional standards — such as limiting fats and serving enough calories — to receive federal funding. California Watch.
Abortion Measures Fail To Qualify for California Ballot
Since last fall, four attempts to qualify initiatives for the California ballot that would require notification of a minor’s parents before an abortion have failed. The initiatives did not collect the 807,615 signatures needed by April 30 to qualify for the ballot. San Diego City Beat.
Nearly 200 Nursing Home Workers Join SEIU-UHW
Nearly 200 nursing home workers in Northern California recently joined the Service Employees International Union-Union Healthcare Workers West, according to SEIU-UHW officials. The workers are from Shasta View Nursing Center in Weed, Westview Healthcare Center in Auburn and Windsor Vallejo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A union official said that this is the first union affiliation for the Vallejo center. Vallejo Times-Herald.
Republicans, Democrats Rework Messaging on Health Reform Law
Republicans aim to capitalize on the Supreme Court’s health reform ruling by reiterating their argument that the law imposes a tax on consumers. Meanwhile, Democrats say that the GOP should focus less on the reform law and more on the economy. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Reform Law Opponents Question Subsidies for Insurance Exchanges
Opponents of the federal health reform law say it is unclear whether low-income residents of states that fail to establish health insurance exchanges would be eligible for federal subsidies to purchase coverage through a federally run exchange. New York Times, National Journal.
Republicans Consider More Challenges to Health Law
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the federal health reform law, conservatives are beginning to consider legal challenges to specific provisions as part of broader efforts to dismantle the law. Some of the provisions that are being challenged in court or might be challenged in the future include the contraception coverage requirement, the Independent Payment Advisory Board, subsidies for residents to obtain coverage under the insurance exchanges and rules blocking physician-owned hospitals from expanding or participating in Medicare. Politico.
Poll: Low-Income Patients Want Closer Connection With Doctors
A new poll finds that 80% of low-income residents say that it is important to them to have a personal connection with their health care provider. However, findings show that only 38% of respondents have such a connection. HealthyCal.
Opinion Piece Slams Decision To End Healthy Families
In a Ventura County Star opinion piece, United Ways of California President and CEO Peter Manzo writes that his organization “is deeply disappointed the final state budget eliminates the Healthy Families program and will shift nearly 900,000 children to Medi-Cal as soon as January 2013.” He writes, “This budget decision puts at risk the health of millions of California children,” adding, “This is an unsound fiscal move that makes no budget sense in California.” Ventura County Star.