Latest California Healthline Stories
Bill Addresses Confusion Related to Benefit Exchange Website
A recently introduced Assembly bill seeks to end public confusion surrounding the California Health Benefit Exchange website. Meanwhile, the state exchange recently awarded three contracts totaling nearly $2 million. Sacramento Business Journal.
S.F. Health Official Tapped To Lead Obama’s AIDS Office
On Wednesday, the White House announced the appointment of California physician Grant Colfax as director of the Office of National AIDS Policy. Colfax currently directs the San Francisco Public Health Department’s HIV prevention and research programs. Tracey Packer, deputy director of HIV prevention at San Francisco’s public health department, will replace Colfax. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now” et al.
Panel Strips Authority of Mt. Diablo Health District, Board
On Wednesday, the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission voted 6-1 to eliminate the authority of the Mt. Diablo Health Care District and strip its five elected board members of their oversight responsibilities. Under the reorganization plan, the district will turn over its property tax revenue and limited duties to Concord. Contra Costa Times.
Brown Reaches Compromise With Supporters of Rival Tax Hike Plan
Gov. Brown and backers of the “Millionaires Tax” have struck a deal to merge their competing tax hike proposals to increase its chance of approval. The new plan would raise $2.1 billion more than Brown’s original proposal. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
House Could Vote on IPAB Repeal Legislation Soon
As early as next week, the U.S. House could vote on a measure that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board set up under the federal health reform law. The bill also would set a $250,000 cap on punitive damages in malpractice suits, limit lawyer fees and establish other ways to rein in lawsuits against physicians. According to Republicans, the bill would reduce health spending by $50 billion over 10 years. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Federal Government To Launch $54M National Antismoking Campaign
Today, CDC will launch a national antismoking campaign that will feature personal testimony of smokers and photographs of people with tobacco-related diseases. The $54 million, 12-week campaign is the first paid national media effort by the federal government. Reuters et al.
CalPERS Acknowledges Lower Returns, Higher Costs to Taxpayers
Yesterday, a CalPERS board voted to lower its estimated rate of investment return from 7.75% to 7.5%. The change means the state will have to pay $303 million more to cover promised public employee pensions. San Jose Mercury News, Capital Public Radio’s “KXJZ News.”
UC-Davis Ranked Highly for Rural Health Care Training
U.S. News & World Report recently ranked UC-Davis School of Medicine ninth among U.S. rural medicine specialty programs in its “Best Graduate Schools 2012” report. It also ranked the school 24th for primary-care training and 42nd among research institutions. Sacramento Business Journal.
Steinberg To Unveil Bill To Tweak Sacramento County’s Dental Program
An aide said Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg plans to introduce a bill next week that would add a fee-for-service model option to Sacramento County’s dental care program for low-income children and boost consumer protections. Sacramento Bee.
53% of U.S. Residents Expect Court To Rule Against Reform Law
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that 53% of U.S. residents expect the Supreme Court to declare that the health reform law’s individual mandate is unconstitutional. A separate Pew Research Center poll finds that 47% of U.S. residents approve of the overhaul. USA Today et al.