Latest California Healthline Stories
Caregivers Experience Financial, Emotional Hardships, Report Finds
A report by the UCLA Center for Policy Research finds that caregivers of friends or relatives face emotional and financial hardships that could affect their own health. The report says cuts to state health care programs could increase pressures on caregivers. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Editorial Urges Brown To Sign BPA Bill, Calls for More Action
A San Francisco Chronicle editorial argues that Gov. Brown should sign into law a bill that would prohibit the sale, manufacturing and distribution of infant bottles or cups containing bisphenol A. The editorial notes that researchers have linked BPA to numerous hormonal and behavioral problems. However, it continues, “The real issue is whether the California Legislature went far enough. The bill originally would have extended the ban to infant food containers — specifically formula — but that provision was deleted to increase the chances of passage.” The editorial states that “even that restriction may have been insufficient to protect children,” citing a new Breast Cancer Fund report that found “disturbing levels of BPA in canned foods marketed for children.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Fresno County Turns Down Federal Funds for Low-Income Program
Fresno County will not launch the Low Income Health Program designed to expand medical coverage until larger provisions of the federal health reform law take effect. The county is the first statewide to turn down federal funds for the program. Fresno Bee, Fresno Business Journal.
Parents Press Brown To Approve Bill Clarifying Coverage for Autism
Parents of children with autism are urging Gov. Brown to sign legislation that would require health insurers to cover applied behavioral analysis treatment. Insurers say the treatment is educational, not medical. Brown has until Oct. 9 to make a decision. Ventura County Star.
MedPAC Unveils Plan To Fix Physician Payment Formula
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has unveiled a draft proposal to replace the sustainable growth rate formula, which sets Medicare physician payment rates. The proposal would offset $100 billion by freezing primary care physician payments for 10 years and cutting specialists’ payments annually by 5.9% for three years before they are frozen for seven years. The proposal also includes payment revisions for several health care sectors, including drugmakers, durable medical equipment manufacturers, hospitals and post-acute care facilities. Healthcare Finance News, HealthLeaders Media.
California Nurses To Strike at 34 Hospitals Statewide
This week, as many as 23,000 registered nurses at Kaiser Permanente, Children’s Hospital Oakland and several Sutter Health medical centers are expected to strike at 34 hospitals in Northern and Central California. At the Kaiser Permanente facilities, about 17,000 nurses represented by the California Nurses Association-National Nurses United will strike in sympathy with 1,500 mental health and optometry employees who are striking over proposed cuts to their health and retirement benefits and long patient wait times for psychiatric care. Meanwhile, registered nurses at Children’s Hospital and Sutter Health medical centers are holding a one-day strike on Thursday over ongoing contract disputes. San Francisco Chronicle.
HHS, States Discuss Health Insurance Exchange Options
Over the past two days, officials from HHS and 46 states, the District of Columbia and two territories met to discuss the three available options to establish state-based health insurance exchanges by 2014 as required by the federal health reform law. States must decide whether they want to administer their own exchanges, have the federal government run the exchanges for them or run the exchanges under a partnership with the federal government. An attendee at the meeting said states raised some concerns about the partnership model. Reuters, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Contra Costa County Study Details Health Reform Options
A new study from Health Management Associates outlines steps Contra Costa County can take to prepare for an increase in demand for health care services as an estimated 113,000 uninsured county residents obtain health care coverage under the federal health reform law. The $390,000 county-commissioned study identifies the pros and cons of a range of options that could increase efficiency and care quality, such as expanding clinic hours, creating a patient-centered medical home and implementing an electronic health record system. However, the report did not make specific recommendations. Contra Costa Times.
Poll: California Voters Object to Automatic Cuts in Budget Plan
A new Field Poll finds that 66% of California voters oppose a plan to trigger an additional $2.5 billion in state budget cuts if tax revenues fall short of expectations. The reductions could affect health and human services programs. Riverside Press-Enterprise et al.
Ambulance Agency Accuses San Diego City of Misconduct
Rural/Metro Corporation, which offers ambulance services in San Diego, has filed a claim against the city alleging improper and intentional misconduct stemming from the dissolution of a 14-year partnership known as the San Diego Medical Services Enterprise. The partnership ended earlier this year following a city audit report stating that inadequate oversight allowed the Arizona-based company to improperly keep millions in taxpayer dollars. San Diego Union-Tribune.