Latest California Healthline Stories
Report Points to Growing Specialist Staffing Issue in California Hospitals
Many California hospital CEOs and emergency department directors say it has become more challenging to meet staffing and legal requirements for on-call specialists. The situation is worsening especially in rural and critical access facilities. HealthLeaders Media.
Medical Marijuana Advocates Seeking State Regulation
Some lawmakers and advocates are seeking new state laws that would regulate medical marijuana stores and let such stores operate as for-profit entities. Assembly member Tom Ammiano said he plans to introduce a bill that would establish a state program to oversee medical marijuana dispensaries. Sacramento Bee.
Sebelius: Reform Law Puts States in the ‘Driver’s Seat’
The federal health reform law “puts states in the driver’s seat because they often understand their health needs better than anyone else — and that is why it is so frustrating to hear opponents of reform falsely attack the law as ‘nationalized health care,'” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius writes in a Washington Post opinion piece. Sebelius adds, “The Affordable Care Act gives states incredible freedom to tailor reforms to their needs. The one thing the law does not permit is going back to the broken health insurance system we had a year ago.” Washington Post.
House Republicans Set Sights on Cutting Funds in Health Care Programs
House Republicans have introduced a continuing resolution measure that would cut funding for various health care programs, including certain provisions in the federal health reform law. Some Democrats are expected to support the cuts. Politico, American Medical News.
Officials, Advocates Tout Open-Enrollment Period for Children’s Coverage
Under a new state law, parents have until March 1 to enroll their children in a health plan, even if the child has a pre-existing condition. The law requires that premiums in these policies cannot be more than twice the standard rate. Ventura County Star.
Kaiser Reports Slight Drop in Profits, Uptick in Membership
On Friday, Kaiser Permanente reported a net income of $2 billion in 2010, down by almost 5% from its 2009 income of $2.1 billion. Kaiser’s total operating revenue jumped to $44.2 billion last year, up from $42.1 billion in 2009. In addition, Kaiser reported an enrollment increase of 99,000 last year, bringing its total nationwide membership to 8.7 million as of Dec. 31, 2010. Sacramento Business Journal, San Francisco Business Times.
California’s Teen Birth Rate Declines to All-Time Low
In 2009, California had about 32.1 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19. The state’s teen birth rate is at all-time low and less than half of what it was in 1991. Nationwide, there are 41.5 births per 1,000 teens. State health officials cite better use of contraception, more teens delaying their first sexual experience and local programs that target teens by age, ethnicity, race and income as reasons for the decline. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Obama’s 2012 Budget Would Create $62 Billion in Medicare Savings
On Monday, President Obama released a $3.7 trillion budget proposal for 2012. The proposal would produce $62 billion in Medicare savings across a decade that would be put toward delaying scheduled cuts to physician reimbursement rates. Politico, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Integrated Healthcare Assoc. Nabs $2.9M Federal Grant
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has awarded a three-year, $2.9 million grant to the Integrated Healthcare Association to test a bundled payment model for health care providers. Bundled payments require physicians and hospitals to share financial accountability for patient outcomes. The model is expected to be a key component of the development of accountable care organizations under the federal health reform law. San Francisco Business Times.
Brown Says Health Care Safety Net On Par With Other States’ Systems
Gov. Brown has said California’s safety-net system fares “reasonably well,” compared with other states. However, the governor is proposing reimbursement cuts to Medi-Cal providers and reducing the state’s welfare caseload. Sacramento Bee.