Latest California Healthline Stories
Obama Administration Supports Drugmakers in Calif. Hospital Prices Suit
The White House is backing the stance of pharmaceutical companies in a lawsuit alleging that drug companies overcharge public hospitals and clinics. The lawsuit was filed in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties against AstraZeneca and several other drugmakers. New York Times.
U.S. Preparing 25-Year Children’s Health Study Involving 100,000 Kids
This month, the U.S. is preparing to begin a 25-year study that will track about 100,000 children from before birth to age 21. The study will focus on several medical issues for children, such as the causes and contributors of asthma, autism and cancer. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Sutter Health Groups Merge, Form Multispecialty Practice
On Jan. 1, four medical groups affiliated with Sutter Health began operating as one multispecialty practice with hundreds of physicians and allied health professionals serving about 500,000 patients in Northern California. The merger involved Solano Regional Medical Group, Sutter Medical Group, Sutter Neuroscience Medical Group and Sutter West Medical Group. Vallejo Times-Herald.
Brown To Release Budget Plan; Major Program Cuts Anticipated
Later this morning, Gov. Brown is scheduled to unveil a plan to address California’s budget deficit. Brown’s proposal is expected to include deep cuts to health and human services and a realignment of some state programs. Los Angeles Times et al.
Rep. Capps: Health Reform Aiding Many Californians
“I’ve seen the numbers on the historic health insurance reform law passed last year, and they show it’s making a difference in the lives of people across” California and the U.S., Rep. Lois Capps writes in a Ventura County Star opinion piece. Capps writes that “nearly 200,000 young people in California have insurance coverage” because of a provision in the law that lets individuals up to age 26 receive coverage “by their parent’s plan,” and that “in 2010, nearly 270,000 California seniors received a tax-free $250 rebate check to cover the cost of their prescriptions” in Medicare’s so-called doughnut hole coverage gap. For these and other reasons, “I will be voting against repealing this critically important new law,” she concludes. Ventura County Star.
Harris Calls on Supreme Court To Prohibit Deals Between Drugmakers
Attorney General Kamala Harris has joined 31 other states in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to prohibit agreements in which brand-name drugmakers pay manufacturers to delay the release of less-expensive generic drugs. Sacramento Bee, AP/San Jose Mercury News.
Recent Lawsuits Target Staffing Levels at Calif. Nursing Home Facilities
Attorneys involved in a Humboldt County case against nursing home chain Skilled Healthcare now are bringing similar complaints against other California nursing homes. All of the lawsuits allege that the facilities are not meeting state staffing requirements. California Watch.
CMS Issues Draft Rule on Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program
CMS has released a proposed rule on a value-based purchasing program that would give higher payments to hospitals that provide high-quality care. CMS is accepting public comment on the rule, which would take effect in fiscal year 2013. Modern Healthcare, The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
California Moving Forward With Reform Implementation
Many California leaders are touting elements of the federal health reform law, and the state’s congressional representatives are not likely to support a GOP push to repeal it. California’s new Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has said his first priority is implementing health care reform, and outgoing Gov. Schwarzenegger recently named two members of the board that will oversee the state’s insurance exchange. However, the Chamber of Commerce and other state business organizations oppose the law. NPR’s “Morning Edition.”
Audit Panel To Review New Prison Health Care Contract
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee and State Auditor Elaine Howle will review a contract between the California Prison Health Care Services and Health Net Federal Services and provide a release of their findings. The office of J. Clark Kelso, the state’s federally appointed prison health care receiver, also provided copies of the contract to the Office of Inspector General. Capitol Weekly.