Latest California Healthline Stories
Number of Measles Cases in California Hits 10-Year High
The number of reported measles cases in California has reached 28 this year, the highest recorded figure in 10 years. California has the highest number of reported measles cases nationwide, according to federal and state health officials. Of the reported cases, 22 occurred in individuals who were unvaccinated or very likely unvaccinated, and more than half recently had traveled internationally. Gil Chavez — deputy director of the state Department of Public Health’s Center for Infectious Diseases — said officials are “quite concerned” about the issue. Los Angeles Times.
Bill Would Let Minors Get Preventive STI Care Minus Parental Consent
A measure on the desk of Gov. Brown would allow minors in California to receive preventive treatment for sexually transmitted infections without obtaining the consent of a parent or guardian. Brown has not stated his position on the legislation. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Counties Face Issues as They Work To Roll Out Bridge to Reform
County officials preparing to expand access to health coverage under California’s Bridge to Reform program face financial and enrollment issues. Officials say they might limit the number of enrollees to keep costs down. An estimated 500,000 individuals could be eligible for coverage under the program. HealthyCal.
DOJ To Decide Whether To Seek High Court’s Opinion on Reform Law
The Department of Justice must decide by Monday whether to ask the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the health reform law. It either can ask an appeals court to review a three-judge panel’s decision, or it can ask the Supreme Court to overturn the decision. Politico.
Experts: Provider Payment Cuts Will Affect Beneficiaries
Many experts argue that cutting Medicare and Medicaid payments to health care providers likely will negatively affect beneficiaries. Lawmakers are considering such cuts as a way to reduce the federal deficit. Some experts noted that as hospitals scale back services or as physicians limit the number of Medicaid or Medicare beneficiaries they see in response to payment reductions, access to care becomes more difficult. New York Times.
Survey: Workers To Face Smallest Hike in Health Care Costs Since 1997
A new Mercer survey predicts that U.S. workers will pay 5.4% more for their health care in 2012, the lowest increase in health care costs since 1997. According to the analysis, the slowed increase could stem from workers scaling back health care use. AP/Washington Post et al.
Brown Eyes Ballot Measure To Fund Prison Realignment Plan
On Wednesday, Gov. Brown pledged to introduce a November 2012 ballot measure that would guarantee adequate funding for California’s prison realignment plan. In April, Brown signed into law a plan to transfer the responsibility of tens of thousands of low-level offenders from the state to counties. The plan is in response to the state’s fiscal problems and a federal court order requiring the state to reduce its prison population as a way to improve inmate medical care. Details of the ballot measure are not clear, but the funding guarantee could be included with a package of tax increases that Brown is expected to introduce next year. Sacramento Bee, AP/San Jose Mercury News.
Santa Cruz County Advances Plan for Mental Health Center
On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve a project to build a new $12 million mental health center, which will replace the behavioral health services currently provided by Dominican Hospital. The county-owned, 16,000-square-foot facility will include 16 beds, and an admissions and evaluation area. Dominican Hospital will contribute $5 million toward the project as part of an effort to terminate a contract with the county for behavioral health services. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Hernandez Received $29K From Health Care Lobbyists
In the first half of 2011, Sen. Ed Hernandez received nearly $29,000 in campaign contributions from several health care lobbying groups that opposed a bill that would have given state officials the power to regulate health insurance rate increases. As chair of the California Senate Health Committee, Hernandez recently helped shelve the legislation. The contributions to Hernandez’s campaign — which came from groups such as the California Hospital Association, the California Association of Health Plans and the California Medical Association — were reported in a new Payers & Providers white paper examining the links between campaign finances and health care. Payers & Providers.
Health Care Workers Launch Strikes at California Hospitals
Today, tens of thousands of nurses are expected to participate in strikes taking place at more than 30 hospitals that are managed by Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health and at the independently run Children’s Hospital Oakland. AP/Forbes et al.