Latest California Healthline Stories
Supreme Court Orders California To Reduce its Prison Population
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its prison population by more than 33,000 inmates. The ruling noted that prison overcrowding has contributed to “grossly inadequate” health care conditions. Sacramento Bee et al.
Senate Democrats Look To Vote on House GOP FY 2012 Budget Plan
Senate Democratic leaders are aiming to hold a vote on a Republican-generated, House-passed fiscal year 2012 budget proposal that would overhaul Medicare. Observers say the legislation represents a politically risky vote for Republican lawmakers. CQ Today et al.
Report: Spending on Cancer Drugs To Rise Significantly
Annual spending on cancer-fighting medications could increase by up to 15% through 2013 as more people use expensive, effective therapies over longer periods of time, according to a drug trends report from Medco Health Solutions. According to the report, oncologic drugs are on track to become the third-largest contributor to drug spending growth by 2015, up from the seventh-largest contributor last year. Reuters et al.
GOP Leaders Defend House Plan To Revamp Medicare Program
Over the weekend, House Republican leaders said their proposal to overhaul Medicare represents the best route to ensure the program’s sustainability. Republicans also criticized Democrats for failing to issue an alternative proposal to safeguard the program. Modern Healthcare et al.
Advocates Prepare To Fight Over Cuts to Adult Day Health Care
Advocates for seniors and residents with disabilities are protesting Gov. Brown’s plan to eliminate adult day health care services, saying the plan would force beneficiaries into more costly nursing home care. Contra Costa Times, AP/San Jose Mercury News.
Two Calif. Physician Groups Prepare To Merge Operations
Alta Bates Medical Group and Brown & Toland Physicians have announced plans to merge operations. The merger would link 1,450 physicians and has been approved by the boards of both organizations. The Federal Trade Commission is examining the proposed merger, and the groups’ physician shareholders will vote on the proposal next month. San Francisco Business Times.
More Companies Cover Taxes for Domestic Partner Benefit Packages
A growing number of companies are choosing to cover extra taxes imposed on the health care benefits of employees’ same-sex partners. The extra tax is required on such benefits because the federal government does not view same-sex relationships as an economic unit like heterosexual couples. New York Times.
HHS Rule Not Expected To Boost State Oversight of Health Plan Rates
A new HHS final rule requires insurers to justify proposed rate increases of more than 10%. The rule is expected to have little effect on California, which already has enacted a similar state law. The state does not have the power to reject health plan rate hikes. California Watch.
State Developing Web-Based Tool To Track Seismic Safety
California is building a Web-based system to track hospital construction projects. The system will help officials monitor compliance with seismic safety standards and facilitate certifications and inspections. The system is expected to be fully implemented in January 2012. Emergency Management.
Editorial Argues in Favor of Mental Health Care Revamp
“An overhaul is clearly needed” of “California’s outmoded and dangerous mental health hospitals,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial argues. “The proposed changes” — part of Gov. Brown’s latest budget plan — “go at the problem” by setting up “a new state agency to focus exclusively on the troubled hospital system” and by providing “$9.5 million for security upgrades and 78 more hospital police and front-line psychiatric technicians,” the editorial adds. “Sacramento has at last woken up to a festering issue that it dangerously ignored for years,” the Chronicle concludes. San Francisco Chronicle.