Latest California Healthline Stories
House GOP Releases Legislation To Repeal the Health Reform Law
Last week, House Republicans released legislation to repeal the federal health reform law. Although the House is expected to pass the bill, the vote would be largely symbolic because the Democrat-controlled Senate is unlikely to approve it. The Hill‘s “Floor Action Blog” et al.
Legislature Defends Passage of Measure To Reorder Ballot Items
The California Legislature is defending its approval of a ballot-reordering measure. Attorney Molly Munger has filed a lawsuit to block the measure, which places Gov. Brown’s compromise tax hike plan above her own on the November ballot. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 6, 2012
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is questioning a construction deal with California Pacific Medical Center after reviewing the hospital’s internal financial documents. Prime Healthcare Services — based in California — has assumed control of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Nevada.
Poll: Nearly Half of Residents Say Health Law Will Hurt Economy
A new Gallup poll finds that at least 46% of U.S. residents believe that the federal health reform law will hinder the U.S. economy, while about 37% believe that the law will help the economy. Wall Street Journal‘s “Washington Wire” et al.
Care Facilities To Pay Workers Thousands in Unpaid Wages
The operators of Jasmine Hall and Hall Care Homes — which run residential care facilities for developmentally disabled adults in Sacramento County — have agreed to pay $851,575 in back wages to 52 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that the employers had been paying their workers less than minimum wage, not paying them for all of the hours they worked and failing to pay overtime. Sacramento Bee.
Obama Says Reform Law Is ‘Here to Stay’; Romney Criticizes Justice Roberts
During a campaign stop in Ohio yesterday, President Obama said the federal health reform law is “here to stay.” Meanwhile, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney criticized U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts for allegedly switching his vote in the reform law case. The Hill‘s “Hill Tube” et al.
Inland Areas Gird for Medi-Cal Expansion Amid Doctor Shortage
Inland communities are expected to gain thousands of new Medi-Cal beneficiaries under a program expansion, but they also are facing a primary care physician shortage. State data show that there is one primary care physician for every 1,201 San Bernardino County residents. Victorville Daily Press.
FDA Releases Proposed Rule on Device Tracking System
On Tuesday, FDA released a proposed rule to create a unique device identification system to track medical equipment. Under the rule, UDI codes would be stored in a public database so regulators, physicians and other entities could monitor safety issues. FDA will accept public comments for 120 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. Health Data Management et al.
House Rules Committee To Hold Meeting on Health Law Repeal Bill
Next week, the House Rules Committee will hold a special meeting to advance a bill that would repeal the federal health reform law. Meanwhile, the GOP is seeking to highlight discrepancies in Democrats’ comments on whether the individual mandate can be considered a tax. Politico et al.
Dignity Health, The Effort To Set Up New Health Centers
On Thursday, Dignity Health announced a three-year, $2.8 million investment to help The Effort establish three new full-scale health centers in Rancho Cordova, Carmichael and Folsom. The Effort is a federally qualified health center that helps uninsured and underinsured residents obtain access to care. Sacramento Bee.