Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of June 22, 2012
A November ballot initiative will let Santa Clara County voters decide whether to cap El Camino Hospital executives’ salaries. An arbitrator has ruled that Sutter Health must pay Marin General Hospital $21.5 million, which is less than Marin was seeking in a lawsuit against Sutter.
SCOTUS Decision Could Put California’s Reform Efforts in Jeopardy
California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley and other state officials say that if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the federal health reform law, it would be very difficult for California to continue with its efforts to reform health care. Sacramento Bee.
Senator To Drop Bill Banning Laser Therapy for Allergies
Senate Minority Leader Robert Huff is dropping legislation that would have banned licensed chiropractors from offering laser therapy for allergy treatments because similar state regulations are set to take effect on July 14. In addition, the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners earlier this year banned licensed chiropractors from using laser therapy to treat allergies. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
House Passes Bipartisan Measure To Reauthorize FDA User-Fee Programs
Yesterday, the House passed legislation to reauthorize and modify FDA’s prescription drug and medical device user-fee programs. Lawmakers praised the bipartisan agreement on the measure, which is expected to pass in the Senate next week. Wall Street Journal et al.
Major Clean-Up Effort Begins in L.A.’s Skid Row Area
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Department of Public Works — along with police and firefighters — launched a major clean-up effort in the city’s Skid Row neighborhood. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recently found that the area is in violation of state and county health codes. Los Angeles Times.
Study: California’s Pension Gap Increased in 2010
According to a new Pew Center for the States study, California’s public retirement systems’ pension obligations totaled $112 billion beyond the value of their assets in 2010. Meanwhile, expected retiree health care costs added an additional $77 billion in unfunded liabilities. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
Health Insurers To Pay $1.1B in Medical-Loss Ratio Rebates, HHS Says
An HHS report predicts that 12.8 million U.S. residents will receive a total of $1.1 billion in rebates because of the health reform law’s medical-loss ratio rule. However, experts say such rebates might not be distributed if the Supreme Court overturns the law. Washington Post.
Three Competing Tax Measures Qualify for November Ballot
Yesterday, three tax measures officially qualified for the November ballot, including a compromise plan by Gov. Brown and backers of the “Millionaires Tax” and a rival proposal by attorney Molly Munger. Sacramento Bee, Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
Study Links Premature Deaths to Lack of Health Insurance in Calif.
A national study finds that California has the most residents who die prematurely each year because they do not have health insurance. About 3,164 residents died prematurely in 2010 because they lacked health insurance. New America Media, KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Democrats, Brown Close to Deal on CalWORKs Cuts, Sources Say
Gov. Brown and Democratic legislators are closing in on a deal involving cuts to CalWORKs, according to sources close to the negotiations. Proposed cuts to the welfare-to-work program have become one of the biggest points of contention in budget negotiations. Sacramento Bee.