Latest California Healthline Stories
Opinion: Alameda County Is Working To Insure Children
“Today, nearly 13,000 children in Alameda County are eligible for health coverage but they are not enrolled,” Wilma Chan — Alameda County supervisor and chair of the county’s Health Committee — writes in an Oakland Tribune opinion piece. Chan discusses the benefits associated with providing health insurance coverage to children. She writes, “We need to simplify enrollment and renewal and reduce unnecessary barriers to coverage.” Chan adds, “We are looking to learn how to maximize use of the One-E-App and find ways to ensure efficient completion of applications for health coverage.” Oakland Tribune.
Hospital District CEOs Among Highest-Paid Public Employees
Data compiled by the state controller show that executives of public hospital districts are among the highest-paid public workers in California. One CEO earns more than $1 million annually. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Report: Office-Based Doctors Help To Fuel U.S. Economy
Office-based physicians contributed $1.4 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2009 and supported four million jobs, according to a state-by-state report from the American Medical Association. The report noted that office-based physicians had contributed the most in California, at $137.9 billion, and the least in Wyoming, at $1 billion. MedPage Today.
Health Care Industry Offers Employment Opportunities
Health care-related occupations had some of the highest rates of job openings in February in certain California counties, according to a new state Employment Development Department report. For example, registered nurse was the occupation with the most job openings in Solano and Napa counties. Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health and Kaiser-Northern California were the top three Sacramento employers with the most job advertisements in February. Vallejo Times-Herald, Sacramento Bee.
GAO Report Provides Nine Alternatives to Individual Mandate
On Friday, the Government Accountability Office released a report — requested by Sen. Ben Nelson — that outlines nine alternatives to the health reform law’s individual mandate in the event that it is repealed by the Supreme Court. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” Modern Healthcare.
Budget Talks Break Down After GOP Releases List of Demands
State Republican lawmakers have released a list of budget proposals that Democrats say have pushed the parties even further apart. Democrats could pursue ways to move forward on budget plans without support from the GOP. Sacramento Bee et al.
Project Aims To Boost Access to Broadband, Health Tools
Last week, officials launched California Connects, a program designed to improve access to online health information and other resources through broadband technology. The program aims to increase the number of broadband Internet users in California by more than 61,000 residents. Healthcare IT News, Central Valley Business Times.
Little Progress Made on Long-Term Federal Budget Agreement
During last week’s congressional recess, lawmakers did not make much progress in reaching an agreement on a continuing budget resolution to fund the federal government past April 8. Funding for the health care reform law and Planned Parenthood remains a sticking point. CQ Today, Roll Call.
Sutter Health Posts Strong Earnings, Warns of Challenges
On Friday, Sutter Health reported a 2010 net income of $878 million, up by 30% from its 2009 net income of $677 million. Meanwhile, revenue increased by 7% to $9.1 billion. Despite the strong earnings report, Sutter Health President and CEO Pat Fry cited “unprecedented” financial challenges related to the federal health reform law, state budget problems and other factors. In a letter accompanying Friday’s earnings report, Fry wrote, “To weather these new economic realities and ensure we remain financially healthy, we must significantly reduce expenses.” Sacramento Business Journal et al.
Adult Day Health Care Faces Uncertain Future in Wake of Budget Cuts
Gov. Brown has signed legislation to reduce state funding for the adult day health care program by about half. Observers say that the cuts will bring about changes to how the program administers care, though it remains unclear how many individuals will be affected. Sacramento Bee.