Latest California Healthline Stories
Contra Costa Supervisors Back Cigarette Tax Hike Measure
On Tuesday, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously endorsed Proposition 29, a June ballot initiative that would increase California’s tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack to raise $855 million annually for cancer research and smoking prevention and cessation programs. Representatives of the American Cancer Society had urged the board to join other backers of the ballot measure. Contra Costa Times.
LAO Revenue Forecast Close to Gov. Brown’s Latest Estimates
The Legislative Analyst’s Office says its revenue projections for California are similar to those included in Gov. Brown’s revised budget plan. Previously, LAO had found the projections included in Brown’s initial budget plan to be too optimistic. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Calif. Lawmakers Reject Plan Curbing Nursing Home, Hospital Checks
Budget subcommittees in the Assembly and Senate have rejected a budget proposal that would have curbed inspections of hospitals’ and nursing homes’ compliance with state laws. Patient safety advocates are worried that the proposal will resurface. California Watch.
Obama, Romney Attempt To Distinguish Rival Medicare Reform Plans
In recent months, President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney have tried to differentiate their plans to reform Medicare. The two also have accused each other of supporting plans that would effectively dismantle the program. New York Times.
Kaiser, Union Coalition Reach Tentative Contract Deal
On Friday, Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions — which represents nearly 100,000 Kaiser workers — announced a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract. The contract includes annual wage increases of 3% for California workers and 2% for workers in all other regions. The tentative deal maintains health care, pensions and retiree benefits and improves dental care, according to the announcement. If the local unions ratify the deal, it would take effect Oct. 1. San Francisco Business Times.
Brown Calls for Deeper Health Program Cuts in Revised Budget
Gov. Brown has released his revised budget plan for the next fiscal year. The plan includes deeper Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services cuts than his original plan and maintains proposed cuts to welfare and child care programs. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert” et al.
Bill Would Offer Benefits to Domestic Partners of Federal Employees
Tomorrow, a Senate panel is scheduled to mark up legislation that would extend certain health benefits to domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal employees. Meanwhile, more companies are offering health benefits to workers’ domestic partners. Washington Times et al.
Editorial Urges Honest Talk of State Budget Problems
A Contra Costa Times editorial argues that most state budget analyses lack an understanding that “California is broke.” The editorial notes that policymakers “could raise taxes, cut loopholes, tax Big Oil, slash welfare, cut pensions” or “lay off state workers,” but the “truth is, it doesn’t matter how many ways the governor and Legislature readjust the mirrors and redirect the smoke: The money is not there.” It concludes that “the sooner we have an honest discussion to set our priorities, the sooner we can get a grip on our state budget.” Contra Costa Times.
Study: Privately Insured Kids Have More ED Procedures
Children with private insurance coverage are more likely to undergo procedures in the emergency department than their uninsured or publicly insured peers, according to a study in the Journal of Pediatrics. Researchers say it remains unclear whether study findings indicate that EDs are withholding care for the uninsured and publicly insured children or overtreating children with private insurance coverage, who typically draw larger reimbursements. Kaiser Health News‘ “Capsules.”
Water District Consolidation Plan Nabs Research Grants
Advocates are using nearly $420,000 in state grants to study the feasibility of a plan to combine Tulare County’s Allensworth and Alpaugh Community Services Districts with the Angiola Water District to provide safe drinking water to residents. Elevated levels of arsenic have been found in the well water in the two rural unincorporated communities. Water policy experts say that such consolidations of rural community water districts could serve as a model for other rural communities. California Watch.