Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of September 24, 2010
Santa Clara County officials recently unveiled plans for a new 60,000 square-foot hospital to be built near the location of the old San Jose Medical Center. Meanwhile, El Camino Hospital officials and union leaders are continuing negotiations over the hospital’s layoff plans.
Schwarzenegger Questions SEIU’s Support of Prop. 19
In a Los Angeles Times opinion piece, Gov. Schwarzenegger argues the Service Employees International Union should support pension reform rather than Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana, to avoid cuts to social services. He writes that SEIU leaders “say they support Proposition 19 so the state can avoid cuts to health care, home care, education and elderly care programs. Yet even the best-case estimates show Proposition 19 … bringing in only $1.4 billion in annual revenue — a fraction of our current deficit.” Los Angeles Times.
Editorial: U.S. Still Not Sold on Benefits of Health Overhaul
Although several major provisions of the federal health reform law took effect yesterday, many U.S. residents remain “unconvinced of the overhaul’s merits,” a San Francisco Chronicle editorial states. It continues that the reform law “plainly needs more time to win over skeptics and defeat spurious charges about ‘death panels,’ strangling red tape or lost benefits.” It adds, “If Republicans win big in November, the White House will face a whole new reality: a push to roll back a major victory it achieved against heavy odds.” San Francisco Chronicle.
Premiums for Medicare Rx Drug Plans To Grow Next Year, Study Finds
Medicare Part D premiums are expected to increase in 2011 for many plans, according to a new analysis. Meanwhile, some plans may be discontinued because of provisions in the health overhaul that ban duplicate policies. AP/San Francisco Chronicle, CQ HealthBeat.
Poll: Many Residents Unclear on Provisions of Reform Law
More than half of U.S. residents incorrectly believe the federal health reform law will raise their income taxes and about one-quarter think the overhaul includes so-called “death panels,” according to a recent Associated Press survey. Among survey respondents who identified as Republicans, accurate knowledge of the law mattered little in their overall opposition to it. Among Democrats and independents, the poll found that respondents who were more knowledgeable about the overhaul were more likely to be in favor of it. AP/Miami Herald.
Concerns Continue Over Employees of In-Home Health Care Program
Legislators and other advocates remain concerned over rules that allow the state’s In-Home Supportive Services program to employ workers who have been convicted of crimes. Privacy laws prevent administrators from disclosing such background information to those enrolled in the program. Los Angeles Times.
Residents Raise Concerns About S.F. Hospital Project
At a San Francisco Planning Commission hearing on Thursday, Tenderloin and Cathedral Hill residents voiced concerns about a $2.5 billion project to build a 15-story, 555-bed hospital in the area and make significant changes to St. Luke’s Hospital, the hospital’s campuses in Presidio Heights and Pacific Heights, and Davies Medical Center. The residents argue that the new hospital would have a negative environmental impact and would not provide the health care necessary for many low-income residents. However, hospital officials say the new hospital is needed to meet the state’s seismic safety requirements. San Francisco Chronicle.
National Insurers Group Releases Draft Rules on Health Care Spending
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners released draft rules on the medical-loss ratio, which stipulates how insurers spend premium revenue. Under the draft rules, insurers could count spending on wellness programs and hotlines as health care expenses. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Top State Lawmakers, Governor Make Progress on Budget Plans
State legislative leaders and Gov. Schwarzenegger announced that they have reached an agreement on a “framework” for a new budget. Sources say the framework reduces spending by $7.5 billion and depends on federal funds that are not yet guaranteed. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Gubernatorial, Senate Races Heat Up, Field Polls Find
A Field Poll released Thursday found that former e-Bay CEO Meg Whitman, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, and Attorney General Jerry Brown, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, are in a dead heat, with each candidate garnering support from 41% of likely voters. Nearly 20% of likely voters still are undecided. Meanwhile, a Field Poll released Friday found that Sen. Barbara Boxer now leads her Republican challenger Carly Fiorina 47% to 41%. The poll also found that the percentage of undecided voters has increased from 9% in July to 12%. Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle.