Latest California Healthline Stories
SEIU Head Cautions Against Ballot Initiative on Taxes
On Wednesday, David Kieffer — executive director of the Service Employees International Union California State Council — said lawmakers should seek a bipartisan agreement to extend taxes rather than put the issue before voters later this year. Kieffer said his group would not necessarily help finance a special election on tax extensions and likely would funnel money instead into 2012 legislative races. Sacramento Bee.
HHS Announces $40M for Chronic Disease Prevention
On Tuesday, HHS announced the availability of about $40 million for state efforts to strengthen chronic disease prevention programs. The funding, which comes from the federal health reform law, will target arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. CDC will oversee the initiative. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Report Says One-Third of Employers Could Drop Health Coverage in 2014
A new report finds that nearly one-third of surveyed employers say they likely will cease offering health insurance to employees starting in 2014. The report points to the health reform law as a reason why companies could drop coverage. Wall Street Journal, MedPage Today.
Officials Submit Plan To Curb Prison Crowding; Proposal Lacks Funding
California officials have submitted court papers outlining the state’s plan to comply with an order to reduce its prison population. However, the state has not secured funding to pay for a part of its plan that would shift some inmates to county jails. San Jose Mercury News et al.
Bill Would Address Domestic Partner Health Care Benefits
Late last week, a bipartisan group of House members introduced legislation that would exempt health care benefits for domestic partners from being considered income for tax purposes. Under current law, gay employees pay higher taxes for their partners’ health care benefits because the federal government does not recognize same-sex relationships as an economic unit as it does heterosexual married couples. Wall Street Journal.
Support Grows for Challenge to Infection Disclosure Rules
A California Hospital Association lawsuit challenging California Department of Public Health rules on surgical site infection reporting has garnered support from two national groups. The Association for Professional Infection Control and Epidemiology has signed on as a co-plaintiff, and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America will file a friend-of-the-court brief. The reporting rules require state hospitals, beginning June 1, to submit monthly reports on 29 procedures as part of a state law. The lawsuit argues that the reporting requirements go beyond the intention of the statute and that they impose undue work force and expense burdens on facilities. HealthLeaders Media.
State Budget Talks Stall Amid Disagreement on Plans To Extend Taxes
State lawmakers said they have reached a stalemate on whether to temporarily extend certain taxes and let voters ratify the tax measure in the fall. Democrats favor the tax plan, but Republicans are calling for other methods of closing the deficit. Los Angeles Times et al.
Dave Jones Weighs In on Insurance Broker Issue
During a conference call with members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on Tuesday, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said the aggregate insurance broker compensation at four of the five largest health insurers in the state has risen from $5.8 million in 2000 to $168 million in 2010. However, he said that similar data have not been compiled by other states, noting that such information could be useful as NAIC determines its position on federal legislation that brokers say could protect their jobs. Jones was the only committee member to vote against moving forward on an internal NAIC report that looked at ways to address broker commissions. CQ HealthBeat, Politico‘s “Pulse.”
Barriers to Insurance Expansion Under Reform Law Could Hinder Effort
An Urban Institute report concludes that outdated technology systems, complex enrollment procedures, and financial and political issues could negatively affect efforts to expand insurance coverage under the federal health reform law. CQ HealthBeat, National Journal.
Baja California, San Diego County Team Up Against TB
Public health officials in San Diego County and the Mexican state of Baja California are teaming up in a cross-border effort to prevent the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is working with Baja California through Bridges of Hope, a $500,000 program aimed at curbing drug-resistant TB. In addition, Baja California recently opened a new $700,000 TB clinic and laboratory using funds from the Mexican federal government. San Diego Union-Tribune.