Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Department Reverses Decision on Nursing Home
The California Department of Public Health has reversed its ruling issued earlier this month that the nursing home run by the Motion Picture and Television Fund broke state law by failing to provide discharge notices to residents before transferring them. Ralph Montano, a DPH spokesperson, said the decision was changed because a formal closure process was never initiated. Los Angeles Times‘ “Company Town.”
As Deadline Nears, Lawmakers Pass Bills To Cover More Care
Yesterday, the California Legislature passed a bill that would require health plans to cover maternity care and another measure that would require insurers to cover mental health treatment. Both bills now are before Gov. Schwarzenegger. Sacramento Bee et al.
More Public Employees Facing Higher Share of Health Care Contribution
Many state and local governments are having public employees contribute more to their health coverage because of budget constraints and rising benefits costs. Such action is meeting resistance from some labor unions, which have filed lawsuits in protest. Wall Street Journal.
Poll: Many People Skimp on Medications To Save Money
Many U.S. residents have been attempting to save money by reducing or completely forgoing taking their prescription drugs, according to a new prescription drug poll released by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Respondents said that some of the common practices they used to reduce costs included taking expired medication, splitting pills, skipping doses and sharing prescriptions with another person. HealthLeaders Media et al.
Medicare Benefits Expanded To Cover Smoking Cessation
This week, HHS officials announced an expansion of Medicare benefits aimed at helping more elderly individuals end their tobacco habits. Under the new policy, Medicare beneficiaries would be covered for up to two tobacco cessation counseling attempts annually, including up to four unique sessions per attempt. Under the previous policy, beneficiaries were covered for tobacco-related counseling only if they already were diagnosed with a tobacco-related disease. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch.”
Legislative Leaders Meet With Governor on Budget Plans
On Thursday, Gov. Schwarzenegger met with legislative leaders of both parties to discuss the state’s ongoing budget crisis. According to Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, no progress was made during the meeting, which was the first such gathering since June 14. Meanwhile, the governor still is planning a trip to Asia next month to improve business prospects for California companies. AP/San Francisco Chronicle et al.
Report: State Prisons Fall Short in Medical Care Conditions for Inmates
Although annual state spending on prison medical care has more than doubled in recent years, a new report finds that California’s prison system is not providing the minimum standard of health care in four of five key areas. AP/Ventura County Star, KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
Most of State’s Data Breach Claims Are Substantiated
The California Department of Public Health has received 3,766 patient data breach notifications from Jan. 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010, and has found that nearly 99% of the breaches were “substantiated medical breaches.” The state’s data breach reporting requirements differ from federal regulation, which allows health care providers to determine the “harm threshold” of a breach and report breaches only when they deem that the breach would significantly harm the individual involved. HealthLeaders Media.
Marin Healthcare District Sues Sutter Health Over Alleged Cash Transfers
The lawsuit claims that Sutter Health improperly transferred more than $30 million annually out of Marin General Hospital during the last four years that Sutter operated the facility. A spokesperson for Sutter Health said there is no basis for the legal action. Sacramento Bee et al.
Schwarzenegger: Pension Reform Key to Fiscal Future
“California simply cannot solve its budgetary problems without addressing government-employee compensation and benefits,” Gov. Schwarzenegger writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. Schwarzenegger continues by proposing several changes to the state’s pension system, such as requiring public workers to contribute more to their pension benefits. He writes, “Reforming government employee compensation and benefits won’t close this year’s deficit. It will, however, protect the next generation of Californians from overwhelming burdens.” Wall Street Journal.