Latest California Healthline Stories
Majority of Calif. Voters Support Compromise Tax Plan, USC Poll Finds
A new University of Southern California poll finds that 63% of respondents support a compromise tax plan from Gov. Brown and backers of the “Millionaires Tax.” It finds that 24% of respondents support a competing plan by attorney Molly Munger. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Critics Say Health Districts Should Spend More on Public Health
At an oversight committee hearing yesterday, critics of tax-supported health districts said the entities should spend more on public health initiatives. Lawmakers might consider legislation to restrict how the districts spend money. The Bay Citizen.
Senate Republicans Send Letters Calling for a Vote on Brown’s Pension Plan
Senate Republicans have sent letters to Gov. Brown and two pensions committee Democrats calling for a vote on the governor’s pension reform plan this Friday. Republicans support the plan, but Democrats disagree with certain proposals. Sacramento Bee‘s “The State Worker.”
California Telehealth Network Nabs $700K Donation From Insurer
The California Telehealth Network plans to use a recent $700,000 donation from UnitedHealthcare to expand telehealth training and provide technical support for rural and underserved hospitals and clinics across the state. Sacramento Business Journal, Healthcare IT News.
Lawmakers Ask IRS To Explain Plans for Using Reform Law Funding
Two House Republicans have sent a letter asking the Internal Revenue Service to explain how it plans to use the $500 million it is receiving for the implementation of the health reform law. The lawmakers asked IRS to respond by April 27. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Washington Times.
FDA Expected To Overhaul Device Safety Monitoring
This month, FDA is expected to unveil an improved medical device safety monitoring and reporting program that is aimed at identifying and removing faulty devices from the market earlier. The agency is facing pressure from physicians to strengthen the program after a wave of faulty heart-defibrillator wires were linked to patient injuries and deaths. Wall Street Journal.
Indian Health Clinic Uses CDC Grant To Combat Diabetes
The Potawot Health Village in Arcata, Calif. — a multi-tribal health clinic serving the region’s American Indian and Native Alaskan populations — was one of 17 Indian organizations nationwide to receive a $100,000 grant from CDC’s Native Diabetes Wellness Program. Potawot will use the grant to develop a comprehensive Food as Medicine program aimed at combating diabetes. California Watch.
‘Student Athlete Bill of Rights’ Stalls in Senate Committee
A bill that would require the state’s four major sports universities to continue to provide athletes who lose their athletic scholarships with an education, as well as medical care for any sports injuries, stalled in the state Senate Education Committee yesterday. Lawmakers appeared to favor the idea of the legislation, but they want to see proposed amendments in print before taking action on the bill. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert.”
Misunderstanding Could Sway Ruling on Health Reform Law
Some insurance experts say that a potential misunderstanding about the federal health reform law’s individual mandate during last month’s Supreme Court oral arguments could affect the justices’ ruling on the overhaul. During oral arguments, some justices and lawyers appeared to believe that the law would not allow U.S. residents to purchase low-cost insurance plans and still comply with the individual mandate. However, insurance experts note that the law permits individuals to purchase so-called “bronze” plans — which would be similar to catastrophic coverage policies — to comply with the individual mandate. AP/U-T San Diego.
Editorial: Physicians Provide Insight Into Curbing Costs
“Major restructuring of medical care is what’s needed to curb” U.S. health care costs, and physicians “around the country are beginning to offer insights into how to do that,” according to a San Jose Mercury News editorial that examines a recent American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation report on unnecessary or overused procedures. The editorial states that the report “is intended to start a serious debate on what procedures should be routinely done whether doctors think they’re needed or not — a first step in curbing costs to save money for life-saving procedures people do need.” San Jose Mercury News.