Latest California Healthline Stories
Urgent Care Firm To Open 6 Clinics in Sacramento Region
The Maryland-based company Doctors Express has announced plans to open six urgent care clinics in the Sacramento region over the next 18 months. In November, the firm expects to open its first clinic in Fair Oaks. According to Doctors Express CEO Peter Ross, urgent care visits typically cost between $115 and $140 per visit, compared with between $500 and $700 for an average emergency department visit. Sacramento Business Journal.
Final Day for Action on Bills To Bolster Regulation of Insurers
The Senate is slated to reconsider a stalled bill that would require insurers to obtain state approval before raising premiums and to vote on a bill requiring health plans to provide notice of planned rate hikes. HealthyCal, AP/Ventura County Star.
No Progress Expected on Competing Budget Plans During Last Session Day
On the last day of the legislative session, lawmakers will vote on two budget plans proposed by Democrats and Republicans. Neither plan is likely to receive the two-thirds vote necessary to pass a budget package. Sacramento Bee‘s “Capitol Alert,” Ventura County Star.
L.A. Health Department Anticipates Funds From Provider Fee, Waiver
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services is hoping to address its $600 million shortfall for the current and previous fiscal years by drawing down funds from a hospital provider fee and an extension of a federal Medi-Cal waiver. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now.”
Kaiser Permanente Workers Prepare for Vote on Union
Next month, more than 44,000 employees of Kaiser Permanente will decide whether to keep the incumbent Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West as their union or switch to the National Union of Healthcare Workers. Observers say the vote has implications both statewide and nationally because SEIU could lose clout in the health care sector if it fails to retain Kaiser membership. Other large California facilities are expected to vote after Kaiser. San Francisco Chronicle.
HHS Readies Assistance Pay for Early Retiree Health Care
Roughly 1,900 companies have qualified to receive reimbursement from a $5 billion fund established under the health reform law to help businesses, unions and other employers cover health care costs for retirees ages 55 to 64 who do not qualify for Medicare. The large number of qualified groups is raising concerns that HHS will not be able to keep the program solvent until 2014 as planned. Wall Street Journal.
Local Governments Forfeiting Control of Public Hospitals
Many local governments are opting to cede control of public hospitals because of ongoing financial strain and expectations for higher health care costs under the federal health reform law. Local governments currently own more than one-fifth of the approximately 5,000 hospitals in the country, but many public facilities are facing an increase in uninsured patients and a decline in reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid. Wall Street Journal.
Retirement System for UC Needs Overhaul, Panel Says
The UC retirement system will face a shortfall of more than $20 billion unless broad changes are made to the program, according to a report released Monday by university administrators and employees. The panel recommended that UC increase contributions by staff, raise the minimum retirement age and reduce benefits. Los Angeles Times.
Support for Reform Law Drops to Lowest Point Since May, Poll Finds
Although support for some provisions of the health reform law has grown, opposition to the individual mandate has increased to 70%, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll. In August, opposition to health reform rose by 10 percentage points. Politico.
Assembly Passes Bills on Prison Care, Rules for Radiation Protection
The California Assembly has passed more bills relating to health care, including one that would grant parole to severely ill prison inmates and another that would establish safeguards to protect patients from excessive radiation doses. Los Angeles Times‘ “PolitiCal” et al.