Latest California Healthline Stories
Health Insurance Executives Received $200 Million in Pay
In 2009, the leaders of the nation’s largest for-profit health insurance firms received nearly $200 million in compensation, according to a report compiled by Health Care for America Now. HCAN compiled the report from an analysis of company documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The report examined compensation rates for top executives at Aetna, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint. Los Angeles Times.
Researchers To Study Health Issues of American Indians
UC-Davis School of Medicine researchers have secured a $1 million grant from NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases to decrease obesity and Type 2 diabetes among Northern California’s American Indian population. The work will be centered on the Round Valley Indian Tribes of Covelo, in Mendocino County, and areas served by Northern Valley Indian Health. Sacramento Bee.
House Members Return From Recess To Vote on State Medicaid Package
Today, the House is slated to convene an emergency session to vote on legislation that would extend state Medicaid funding through June 2011. The Senate passed the measure last week, and the House is expected to approve it. CQ Today et al.
Kaiser Permanente Reports Decline in Q2 Net Income
Last week, Kaiser Permanente reported that its not-for-profit hospitals and health plan units had operating revenue of $11 billion for the second quarter of 2010, up from $10.5 billion in Q2 2009. However, the health system also reported a net income of $404 million in Q2 2010, down from $620 million in Q2 2009. Kaiser did not provide an immediate explanation for the drop in net income. San Francisco Business Times.
S.F. Lawmaker Ponders Changes to Alcohol Fee for Raising Health Funds
San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos said he would consider exempting microbrewers and small-yield winemakers from his proposal to impose a fee on alcoholic beverages to fund public health programs associated with alcohol misuse. San Francisco Chronicle‘s “City Insider.”
Hill Physicians Acquires Doctors, Enrollees From Brisbane-Based Group
Hill Physicians Medical Group has absorbed 120 physicians and 10,000 HMO and other enrollees from Physicians Integrated Medical Group. Hill said the transfer includes an agreement to treat Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy Kids beneficiaries. San Francisco Business Times.
Labor Department Looks at Health Care Industry Pay Law Compliance
The Department of Labor has hired investigators to determine whether health care providers are in line with federal law governing overtime pay for workers. Federal officials are inspecting nursing homes, hospitals and other health care facilities. New York Times.
Judge Temporarily Blocks Gov.’s Furloughs for State Employees
Yesterday, a Superior Court judge suspended Gov. Schwarzenegger’s furlough order until a Sept. 13 court hearing, ruling that there are “serious questions” about the legality of the unpaid time off for state workers. Sacramento Bee et al.
Health Providers Expressing Concerns About Social Media
The growth in social media platforms has led many health care facilities in California and nationwide to set rules on how staff can work with the technology. Some hospitals already are facing challenges as they incorporate social media into their marketing plans. Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Business Journal.
Opinion: Bill Provides Help for Calif. Nursing Shortage
California lawmakers should pass a bill that would allow California State University to offer a Doctorate of Nursing Practice program, which would let CSU train its own faculty, according to Varoujan Altebarmakian — physician-in-chief of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center — and Patrick Fry — president and CEO of Sutter Health. The bill would let the school enroll more qualified nursing applicants and would alleviate the state’s nursing shortage, they write. Fresno Bee, Sacramento Bee.