Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA Releases Guidelines on Calorie Posting for Vendors
On Tuesday, FDA released draft guidelines for a rule requiring restaurants with more than 20 locations and vending machine operators with more than 20 machines to display calorie counts for their menu items. FDA said it will delay implementation of the requirement — which was mandated by the health reform law to take effect in March 2011 — to give companies time to comply with the rules. The agency is accepting public comment on how long it should delay enforcing the rules. Los Angeles Times, Reuters.
Kern County Sees Promise in Expansion of Health Project
Although Kern County has one of the state’s lowest ratios of primary care doctors to residents, officials see promise in a state request for a Medicaid waiver to expand California’s Health Care Coverage Initiative. The Kern Medical Center Health Plan — one of 10 county-level pilot programs that make up HCCI — already has improved access to health care and reduced costs by providing about 5,510 low-income residents with a medical home. Bakersfield Californian.
Judge Issues Temporary Ban on Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research
On Monday, a U.S. district judge ruled that the federal government cannot fund embryonic stem cell research because doing so would violate a law that protects against the destruction of human embryos. The White House did not comment on the ruling. New York Times et al.
SEIU Says Court Document Shows NUHW Nearly Broke
In a press release issued yesterday, the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West said that a motion recently filed by its rival, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, asking for a “stay of execution” of a $1.47 million legal judgment against NUHW shows that the union is hurting financially and does “not have the resources and would face ‘bankruptcy’ and ‘homelessness’ if forced to comply with the award.” NUHW President Sal Rosselli called the appeal “a routine part of the legal process” and accused SEIU of trying to distract from its own issues. San Francisco Business Times.
Senate Approves Bill To Limit Health Insurers’ Rate Hikes
On Monday, the Senate voted 21-13 to approve a bill that would prohibit California health insurers from increasing rates more than once a year. The bill would apply only to individual health care policies. The bill now goes to the Assembly for consideration. AP/San Jose Mercury News.
State’s Budget Deficit Hinders Prison Medical System Reform
California prison officials say the state’s prison medical system has improved enough to end the receivership issued by a federal judge in 2004. However, KPCC’s “KPCC News” reports that the prison medical system still lacks key reforms, in part because of the state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit. KPCC’s “KPCC News.”
San Joaquin County Unveils Prescription Discount Cards
Last week, San Joaquin County officials launched a prescription drug discount program for county residents. The program allows residents to use the no-cost “Coast2Coast Rx” card to obtain discounts on prescription drugs from participating pharmacies. San Joaquin County is the 13th county in California to offer the Coast2Coast Rx cards, which were developed by Financial Marketing Concepts. McClatchy/Contra Costa Times.
California Nurses Group Files Discrimination Suit Against Sutter Health
The California Nurses Association has filed a complaint against Sutter Health alleging that managers within the health system refused to hire Filipino nurses. The move comes amid ongoing contract negotiations between the union and Sutter. Los Angeles Times‘ “L.A. Now,” HealthLeaders Media.
Governor Approves New Contracts Exempting Six Unions From Furloughs
The governor has signed agreements with six labor unions, making about 37,000 state employees exempt from the recently instated furlough program. The deals signed Monday also increase the amount union members contribute to their pensions. AP/Ventura County Star et al.
HHS Announces $32M in Funds To Boost Rural Access to Health Care
HHS has awarded $32 million in funding to seven rural health care programs to improve care quality and coordination. Part of the funding is aimed at retaining health care professionals to work in rural settings. The Hill‘s “Healthwatch,” HHS release.