Latest California Healthline Stories
Stakeholders Await Tuesday’s Appeals Court Hearing on Reform Law
Tomorrow, a three-judge panel of the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., will hear oral arguments in two separate Virginia-based lawsuits that question the constitutionality of the health reform law and its individual mandate. CQ HealthBeat, New York Times.
Few Physicians Writing High Volume of Fentanyl Rx for Workers’ Comp
A new study by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute finds that a small percentage of physicians in the state’s workers’ compensation system are writing a large majority of prescriptions for fentanyl, a painkiller that is about 100 times more powerful than morphine. San Francisco Chronicle.
Court: Smokers Can Sue Tobacco Companies Over New Illnesses
In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court ruled that smokers can sue tobacco firms after developing a disease such as lung cancer, even if the smoker experienced other smoking-related illnesses years earlier. Los Angeles Times et al.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of May 6, 2011
Yesterday, registered nurses at Children’s Hospital Oakland kicked off a five-day strike over a contract disagreement related to health care benefits. Meanwhile, Fountain Valley-based MemorialCare Health System recently acquired Community Hospital Long Beach.
House Passes Bill Restricting Federal Funding for Abortion
On Wednesday, the House voted 251-175 to approve a bill that would expand and make permanent restrictions on federal funding for abortion except in a few cases. The vote was largely along party lines, with 16 Democrats joining Republicans in support of the measure. The legislation is not expected to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate, and President Obama has threatened to veto it if it arrives at his desk. Los Angeles Times, Washington Post‘s “2chambers.”
Federal Receiver Pushes Back on Prison Health Care Report
J. Clark Kelso — California’s federally appointed prison receiver — is defending state prisons’ medical care following the release of a report criticizing the quality of treatment for inmates. According to the report by the state Office of Inspector General, nine of the 33 adult state prisons have met minimum health care standards. Kelso said the report failed to mention that more recent inspections have shown that care is improving at five of the 33 prisons, adding the report is “a misleading snapshot of where we are today.” AP/Ventura County Star.
Report Examines Benefits for Public, Private Employees
California’s state and local government employees on average garner higher health, retirement and other benefits than private-sector workers, according to a report from the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility. According to the report, state employees who receive a $60,000 annual salary accrue pension and retiree medical benefits at a rate of $19,000 annually. Meanwhile, a similar private-sector worker who receives roughly the same annual salary accrues annual benefits worth $5,720, according to the report. Sacramento Bee, AP/Ventura County Star.
Senate Committee Approves Single-Payer Health Care Bill
On Wednesday, the California Senate Health Committee passed a bill, by Sen. Mark Leno, that would offer universal access to health care services for all state residents through government-funded public-private partnerships. The California Universal Health Care Act, which the panel approved in a 5-3 vote, now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. KPBS.
GOP Signals Willingness To Forgo Voucher Plan for Medicare Program
After a bipartisan budget meeting led by Vice President Biden, House GOP leaders said they would consider backing off their plan to turn Medicare into a voucher system. Republicans acknowledged that the Democrat-led Senate likely would not accept the plan. New York Times et al.
Vermont Legislature Passes Bill To Set Up Universal Health Care
On Thursday, the Vermont House approved legislation that would establish a single-payer health care system. The measure, which has been passed by the state Senate, would help extend coverage to the state’s estimated 47,000 uninsured residents. AP/Modern Healthcare et al.