Latest California Healthline Stories
Jury Imposes $619M in Damages Against Nursing Home Chain
Yesterday, a Humboldt County Superior Court jury decided to impose maximum statutory damages totaling nearly $619 million against nursing home chain Skilled Healthcare in a class-action lawsuit over violations of state-mandated staffing levels. Contra Costa Times et al.
Death Rates From Heart Attacks Declining in U.S. Hospitals, CMS Finds
Deaths caused by heart attacks have declined significantly in U.S. hospitals across the last year, according to a new CMS analysis. The analysis also finds that hospitals attained similar degrees of decline regardless of whether they had high or low death rates. USA Today.
Series Looks at Health Issues Facing Santa Cruz County
The Santa Cruz Sentinel recently published a two-part series examining health care issues facing the Spanish-speaking communities of South Santa Cruz County. Although many Hispanic children in the area receive primary dental care through school-based clinics, many families face challenges in obtaining orthodontia and other specialty dental care not covered by Denti-Cal. Denti-Cal is California’s dental program through Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. In addition, many Hispanic families in South Santa Cruz County face difficulty in obtaining diagnostic and support services for children with autism. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Appeals Court Upholds Minimum Wage Plan for State Employees
On Friday, a state appeals court upheld an earlier ruling allowing Gov. Schwarzenegger to reduce state workers’ payments to the federal minimum wage while California lacks a budget. The ruling supports an order the governor issued last week. Sacramento Bee et al.
Advocates Concerned About Insurers’ Actions Before 2014
Consumer advocates say they are worried that insurers will become more aggressive in denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions before a new health reform provision prohibiting them from doing so takes effect in 2014. Insurance companies say that such concerns are “misguided” and that they do not plan any considerable adjustments to their underwriting policies in the four years. Contra Costa Times.
Program Aims To Supply Care Patients Prefer at End of Life
The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment program, started in California in January 2009, allows terminally ill and nursing home patients to specify the type of end-of-life care they desire and has helped more patients to receive their preferred treatment, according to a new study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. POLST has decreased the number of unwanted hospitalizations and other medical interventions, the study found. Los Angeles Times’ “Booster Shots,” Kaiser Health News.
Medical Board Issues Warning About Unlicensed Graduates
Last week, the Medical Board of California issued a warning advising the state’s 120,000 physicians to prohibit unlicensed international medical school graduates from treating patients. The board noted that international medical school graduates must enroll in accredited residency training programs to qualify for a California medical license. The board also warned that physicians could jeopardize their own medical licenses if they oversee clinical work provided by international medical school graduates. HealthLeaders Media.
Santa Clara County Backs Ballot Measure To Boost Healthy Kids Program
In an attempt to preserve funding for Santa Clara County’s Healthy Kids insurance program, community leaders are working to build support for a ballot initiative that would generate about $13.5 million annually for the program through a parcel tax. San Jose Mercury News.
Bill Would Make Insurers Pay for Smoking Cessation Drugs
SB 220, by Sen. Leland Yee, would require all state health insurance companies to provide coverage of any FDA-approved smoking cessation drug. The proposal would remove copayments and deductibles for such treatment and go further than the federal health reform law by mandating that all health plans, not just those in planned insurance exchanges, provide coverage. Sacramento Bee.
California Health Care Personnel News Update for June 2010
The California Medical Association has appointed labor advocate Jay Hansen to a newly created position as chief strategy officer, and Kaiser Permanente recently announced that it has promoted Anthony Barrueta to senior vice president of government relations.