Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 2, 2012
This month, Visalia’s Kaweah Delta Medical Center will debut a program that uses telehealth tools to connect with neurologists at California Pacific Medical Center. Shriners Hospitals soon will begin sending physicians to Tijuana rather than transporting Mexican patients to its Los Angeles facility.
Editorial Supports Steinberg’s Efforts To Fix Dental Program
Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg “is insisting justifiably” that state health care officials act immediately to improve Sacramento County’s dental care plan for low-income children, according to a Sacramento Bee editorial. It argues, “Poor kids in Sacramento should not have to put up with abysmal service, and taxpayers ought not to pay for something that is not being delivered.” Sacramento Bee.
KFF Poll: U.S. Residents Divided on Support for Federal Health Reform
A new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that about 42% of U.S. residents favor the federal health reform law, while about 43% view it unfavorably. According to the poll, most U.S. residents say they support keeping Medicare “as it is today.” Kaiser Health News et al.
State Orders O.C. Drug Rehab Provider To Cease Operations
The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs has ordered Morningside Recovery — an Orange County drug and alcohol rehabilitation operator — to stop treating patients while regulators decide whether to revoke its licenses. ADP recently found that the organization had been carless with prescription drugs and was operating beyond the scope of its licenses. The company was ordered to shut down as of Nov. 2, 2011, but Morningside facilities still are treating patients. A licensing hearing has been scheduled for May 21. Orange County Register, AP/Fresno Bee.
Some Say Raising Retirement Age Would Increase Costs
Critics of Gov. Brown’s proposal to increase the retirement age of most new public workers from 55 to 67 say the plan likely would increase other government costs. Speaking at a hearing called by the joint Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions, Ruben Rodriguez — a union representative for the East Bay Municipal Utilities District — said that people are more likely to become injured the longer they stay on the job. In addition, Ed Dermon of the California State Teachers Retirement System testified that older workers tend to use more medical care. No witnesses at the hearing spoke in support of the governor’s plan. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Budget Subcommittee Rejects Brown’s Proposed Welfare Cuts
Democrats on an Assembly budget subcommittee voted to reject Gov. Brown’s proposed cuts to the CalWORKs program. The vote marked the first significant legislative action against Brown’s budget plan. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal” et al.
State Controller’s Office Says Medi-Cal Overpays for Hearing Aids
Medi-Cal reimburses hearing aid providers for the wholesale cost of the devices, but providers often pay a fraction of that cost because of discounts and rebates. The state controller’s office found that California could save $27.3 million over three years if it reduced overpayments. Orange County Register‘s “OC Watchdog.”
Insurance Agents Concerned by Industry Changes
A series of ongoing and anticipated changes to the health insurance industry at the state and federal levels are causing concern for California’s health insurance agents. Those changes include new industry regulations under the federal health reform law and a proposed California ballot measure that would give state regulators the authority to approve health plan premium increases. Ventura County Star.
House Panel OKs Bill To Repeal Reform Law’s Payment Advisory Board
A House subcommittee has voted to pass a bill that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board created by the federal health reform law. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has started considering candidates to serve on the panel. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.
Opinion: Single-Payer Bill Could Return Next Session
In January, a Democratic-led bill that would create a single-payer health care system in California stalled in the Senate, but the measure likely will return in the next session, retired pediatric dentist William Snaer writes in a Palm Springs Desert Sun opinion piece. He notes that bill author Sen. Mark Leno likely will offer the proposal again, and that it “might have a better chance” because the redrawing of legislative districts could “strengthen the Democratic majority in the California Legislature.” In addition, Snaer notes that Gov. Brown “won’t veto” a single-payer proposal. Palm Springs Desert Sun.