Latest California Healthline Stories
White House: Overhaul Will Extend Savings, Solvency of Medicare
A new White House report finds that the health care reform law will save Medicare $8 billion across the next year. Reductions in payments to Medicare Advantage plans and to health care providers are seen as key generators of savings. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Santa Cruz County Launches Hotline for Social Services
Santa Cruz County officials have opened a regional answering center to handle calls relating to social services programs, such as food banks, job shelters, counseling and housing assistance. Proponents of the 211 system say it will alleviate pressure from 911 emergency dispatchers and allow residents to more easily navigate not-for-profit and public services. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Editorials: Improve Program That Provides OTC Syringes
California should build off of a current program that allows pharmacies to sell over-the-counter needles without a prescription, according to Los Angeles Times and Oakland Tribune editorials. Two bills in the Legislature — AB 1701, by Assembly member Wesley Chesbro, and SB 1029, by Sen. Leland Yee, — would extend or alter the program, which will expire at the end of this year. “What’s needed is a hybrid of the two bills,” the Tribune editorial states. Los Angeles Times, Oakland Tribune.
6.5M Californians Lacked Health Coverage in 2007, Census Bureau Reports
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data showing that about 6.5 million Californians were uninsured in 2007. The data also show that the counties with the highest rates of uninsured residents tend to be smaller, more rural areas of the state. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
U.S. Residents Using Fewer Medical Services, Data Show
Insured U.S. residents are using fewer medical services, according to recent data from doctor-billing and lab-testing companies, hospitals and insurers, prompting experts to question if patients are decreasing health care usage because their share of costs is increasing. Insurers Aetna and WellPoint noted that the trend is new as of this year and is something they have not experienced before, even when the economy was at its worst. Wall Street Journal.
Calif. Hospitals Aim To Offer Guidance on ED Wait Times
Some California hospitals have embarked on efforts to provide consumers with more information about wait times at their emergency departments. For example, Hospital Corporation of America’s five California hospitals have deployed a service allowing patients to check ED wait times through text messaging. In addition, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and Placentia-Linda Hospital have started posting wait times on their websites. Payers & Providers.
Calif. Lawmakers Weigh Options for Scrutinizing Health Plan Rate Hikes
State lawmakers are developing plans to review premium hikes, as mandated under the federal health reform law. Legislators are considering three measures, while Gov. Schwarzenegger has introduced his own proposal. Los Angeles Times.
State Democrats’ New Budget Plan Could Raise Personal Income Taxes
As early as next week, California Democrats plan to unveil a budget proposal that might increase the state’s personal income tax rate. Democrats say the plan could help lessen the governor’s proposed cuts to health care and other programs. Bloomberg et al.
HHS To Provide $51M for Efforts To Set Up Insurance Exchanges
HHS has made available $51 million to assist in the creation of statewide health insurance exchanges. The health reform law stipulates that states must have such exchanges up and running by 2014, but official standards have yet to be finalized. CQ HealthBeat et al.
Mental Illness Group Seeks Revision of Sacramento Plan
Sacramento County’s chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is requesting that county officials withdraw a proposal to overhaul outpatient mental health services and replace it with a plan containing more community input. Last week, a federal judge halted the county’s initial proposal because of concerns over whether patients would continue to receive adequate care. The county’s plan would have transferred 5,000 mental health patients from regional support centers to county-operated centers. Sacramento Business Journal.