Latest California Healthline Stories
State Officials Could Have Significant Power Over Health Law’s Fate
Governors, attorneys general and other state-level officials have considerable leverage in directing the implementation of the health reform law. State officials can reject federal funding for the overhaul, as well as block the creation of state-based exchanges. Politico et al.
Nurses Prepare for Strike at Children’s Hospital Oakland
On Tuesday, more than 700 registered nurses plan to strike at Children’s Hospital Oakland over ongoing contract negotiations that would have nurses pay more for health care coverage. The walkout is scheduled to last until Friday morning. Hospital administrators say they will bring in replacement pediatric nurses. San Francisco Chronicle.
Urgent Care Clinics Becoming More Popular in Health Care
Since 2007, the number of urgent care clinics in the U.S. has increased by more than 7% to 8,700, according to the Urgent Care Association of America. Consumers are increasingly turning to urgent care centers, which are seen as more convenient and less costly than primary care physician offices or emergency departments. However, medical professionals say individuals need to recognize that EDs can provide care for life-threatening ailments and that physician groups have deeper understanding of a patient’s medical history. USA Today.
Workers’ Compensation System Could Be Poised for Another Overhaul
Recent reforms to California’s workers’ compensation system have helped reduce medical payouts and disability awards. However, uncertainty about the stability of the new rules has led some workers’ compensation insurers to seek rate increases. San Francisco Chronicle.
HHS Lacks Authority To Adjust Rule on High-Risk Health Plan Enrollment
Federal health officials do not have the flexibility to change a rule that requires individuals who enroll in high-risk insurance pools to be uninsured for the previous six months. The pools are meant to provide coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. CQ HealthBeat.
Brief: Reform Law Could Help Cover 12.1M Young Adults
Out of the estimated 14.8 million uninsured U.S. adults between ages 19 and 29, as many as 12.1 million could gain subsidized coverage by 2014 as a result of the federal health reform law, according to a new Commonwealth Fund issue brief. The brief estimates that 7.2 million young adults would gain coverage under a planned expansion of Medicaid, while 4.9 million would obtain subsidized private coverage under new health insurance exchanges. Wall Street Journal‘s “Health Blog.”
Chronicle Backs S.F. Measure on Health, Pension Benefits
San Francisco’s Proposition B, “which would increase city workers’ contributions to their pensions and health care premiums, is far and away the most contentious of the San Francisco ballot measures,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial states. However, it continues, “in the context of this economy, and in the interest of moving toward a sustainable benefit package for city employees, Prop. B is fair and reasonable. Vote YES.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Report: Hospital Treated Critically Ill Infants Amid Staffing Shortages
According to a CMS report, state investigators found that Olive View-UCLA Medical Center continued to treat critically ill infants after its neonatal intensive care unit was downgraded from “community” to “intermediate” status because of staffing concerns. Los Angeles Times.
Budget Signed; Line-Item Vetoes Target Some Health Programs
When Gov. Schwarzenegger signed an $87.5 billion spending plan on Friday, he used his line-item veto authority to cut nearly $1 billion in spending on HIV/AIDS programs, community health clinics, prostate cancer treatment and other services. Los Angeles Times et al.
California Hospitals Start Paying Fee Designed To Bring in Medi-Cal Funds
Hospitals throughout California have paid the first installment of a new fee designed to draw down more federal matching funds for Medi-Cal. Hospitals are expected to begin receiving the first reimbursements from the program at the end of October. Los Angeles Daily News.