Latest California Healthline Stories
Bill Would Limit Practice of ‘Step Therapy’ for Coverage of Pain Drugs
Under legislation introduced by Assembly member Jared Huffman, health plans could require patients to first try generic or low-cost pain medications only twice before providing coverage for the pain treatment prescribed by the patient’s physician. San Francisco Chronicle.
Lance Armstrong Stumps for Calif. Tobacco Tax Increase
Lance Armstrong is campaigning for a ballot measure that would raise the cigarette tax by $1 per pack to fund cancer research and prevention efforts. If enough signatures are collected, the measure — sponsored by former Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata — could appear before voters as early as June. Armstrong and other supporters of the ballot measure argue that it would provide much needed funding to research groups such as the National Cancer Institute, while opponents say that a cigarette tax increase would drive residents to cross state lines to make purchases. San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times.
Watchdog Commission Recommends Overhaul of State Pension System
The Little Hoover Commission, a bipartisan watchdog group, has released a report on California’s public employee pension system. The report recommends that the state freeze existing benefits and move to a hybrid model similar to 401(k) plans used in the private sector. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
More Than 21,000 U.S. Residents Contracted Whooping Cough in 2010
Last year, more than 21,000 Americans had whooping cough, according to CDC data. California reported more cases of whooping cough — 8,300 — than any other state. The disease caused at least 26 deaths in 2010, including 10 infants in California. USA Today.
Brown Warns of Deeper Budget Cuts if Tax Plan Not Accepted
On Thursday, Gov. Brown appeared before a joint legislative budget committee and said that he would wait for a budget plan that includes more than $25 billion in cuts if his proposal to extend taxes is not approved. Los Angeles Times et al.
Editorial: ‘Shared Sacrifice’ Necessary To Fix Budget Gap
In California, “shared sacrifice is essential to plug a $26.6 billion hole in the state budget and balance budgets in local communities,” a Fresno Bee editorial states. The editorial continues, “Union leaders of state and local employees must recognize that some benefits are simply unsustainable,” adding, “Working with Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature, labor leaders can show that collective bargaining will lead to reasonable compromises to help the state fix the budget.” Fresno Bee.
Cases of ‘Valley Fever’ in California Rose Last Year
In 2010, California had more than 4,000 cases of “valley fever,” compared with roughly 2,000 cases in 2009, according to state data. Valley fever is caused by breathing in a fungus spore, which can generate flu-like symptoms. Individuals with cancer and HIV are most at risk for contracting valley fever, for which there is no vaccine. Palm Springs Desert Sun.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of February 25, 2011
Children’s Hospital of Orange County has received a $30 million gift to help it fund a major expansion project. Meanwhile, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health has levied a $10,350 fine against Children’s Hospital Oakland for shortfalls in safety protocols.
Sutter Health Aims To Cut $700M in Costs by 2014
This week, Sutter Health CEO Pat Fry sent a letter to about 50,000 employees of the 24-hospital system outlining Sutter’s plans to reduce costs by about $700 million by 2014. Fry said the health system is preparing for anticipated reductions in Medicare and Medi-Cal reimbursements stemming from the federal health reform law and state budget constraints. San Francisco Business Times‘ “Bay Area Biz Talk.”
Study: Equal Access to Care Might Curb Health Disparities
A health care system that offers equal access to health services could eliminate previously identified socioeconomic disparities in outcomes for appendicitis, according to a study published in the Archives of Surgery. The study looked at appendicitis outcomes for more than 16,000 patients at Kaiser Permanente hospitals in southern California. Reuters.