Latest California Healthline Stories
State Supreme Court To Hear Case on School Insulin Shots
The California Supreme Court will hear an appeal of a case on whether school employees can administer insulin shots to children with diabetes. In June, the Sacramento-based 3rd District Court of Appeal ruled that school employees who are not nurses cannot give insulin shots to students. The American Diabetes Association appealed the ruling. San Francisco Chronicle.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of October 1, 2010
The California Nurses Association and other stakeholder groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to block Sutter Health’s plans to build a new $284 million hospital north of Santa Rosa. Meanwhile, Citrus Valley Medical Center nurses recently voted to retain CNA representation.
Chronicle Endorses Villines for Insurance Commissioner Post
Assembly member Mike Villines “dared to break party ranks by agreeing to taxes in a 2009 deal that closed a $42 billion deficit,” and the “fortitude to do the right thing against immense pressure is a pretty good credential for insurance commissioner,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial writes. Villines “gets our endorsement” for insurance commissioner because he has said he will “attack” instances of fraud and “[hold] down workers compensation rates,” the editorial states. San Francisco Chronicle.
State Budget Deadlock Enters Fourth Month; Leaders Meet
Today, California begins its fourth month without a budget plan in place. Gov. Schwarzenegger and top lawmakers met on Thursday but did not reach a deal on closing the state’s $19 billion deficit. Aaron McLear — spokesperson for the governor — said the group plans to meet again on Friday. Reuters, AP/Ventura County Star.
HHS Provides Funding To Help Set Up States’ Health Plan Exchanges
Along with 47 other states and the District of Columbia, California will receive about $1 million from HHS to help create a health insurance exchange. The exchanges aim to help consumers compare and select health coverage options through an online marketplace. Los Angeles Times et al.
Calif. House Members Ask Insurers To Keep Offering Child-Only Plans
Several California representatives recently sent a letter asking Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna not to drop child-only health plans. Insurers have said new protections under the federal health reform law will make it difficult to continue offering child-only coverage. CQ HealthBeat.
Stanford University Opens New Medical School Facility
On Wednesday, Stanford University School of Medicine opened its new $90 million Li Ka Shing Center, which features classrooms, a conference center, lecture halls and a simulation center. The new facility also is equipped with $9 million in state-of-the art audiovisual equipment. Hong Kong philanthropist and business leader Li Ka-shing helped fund the center, which is the medical school’s first new building in 50 years. San Jose Mercury News.
Enrollment in Medicaid Reaches Record-High Numbers, Study Finds
At the end of 2009, a record 48.5 million U.S. residents, or about 16% of the population, were enrolled in Medicaid, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey. About 3.7 million people joined Medicaid last year, mainly because of a loss of employment benefits. New York Times et al.
Percentage of Uninsured U.S. Adults on the Rise, CDC Finds
The number of U.S. residents ages 18 through 64 who are uninsured has increased consistently from 1997 through the first three months of 2010, according to a new report from CDC’s National Health Insurance Interview Survey. The most recent data show that 46.7 million U.S. residents had no health insurance when they were interviewed between January and March 2010. HealthLeaders Media.
Senate Rejects Effort To Remove ‘Grandfathering’ Rules From Reform Law
The Senate has voted down a GOP attempt to repeal the health reform law’s “grandfathering” rules, which exempt health plans that were offered before the law was enacted from complying with some new rules. Republicans say the rules are too restrictive. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch” et al.