Latest California Healthline Stories
Riverside County Plans Clinic Cuts in Response to Major Budget Strain
Officials with the Riverside County Department of Public Health estimate that the department will need to scale back family clinic appointments, lay off workers and discontinue immunization clinics to deal with a proposed 25% budget reduction. Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Richmond Aims To Promote Health With Urban Planning
Officials in Richmond, Calif., are developing a citywide plan to reduce health disparities by establishing new evaluation criteria for commercial, industrial and residential development. The plan aims to increase residents’ access to fresh produce, recreational areas, safe housing and public transportation. New York Times.
Mass. Insurers Fire Back With Lawsuit To Raise Premiums
Six Massachusetts insurers have filed suit in response to Insurance Commissioner Joseph Murphy’s decision to reject 235 of 274 proposed health plan premium increases that would have taken effect April 1. The proposed increases range from an average of 8% to 32% and would affect small businesses and individuals. Boston Globe.
Lawmakers Renew Plans To Create Definition for Charity Care at Hospitals
An Illinois court ruling has reignited efforts to define how much charity care hospitals must provide to qualify for tax exemptions. Some lawmakers aim to crack down on hospitals that provide insufficient charity care while claiming exemptions. Chicago Tribune et al.
Report: Disciplinary Actions Against Doctors Rose in 2009
State medical boards took 5,721 disciplinary actions against physicians in 2009, an increase of 342 actions from 2008, according to a new report from the Federation of State Medical Boards. The report found that the number of disciplinary actions increased by 6% in 2009, compared with 1% during the previous year. Modern Healthcare, HealthLeaders Media.
WellPoint CEO’s Pay Increases by 51% Over Last Year
WellPoint, parent company of Anthem Blue Cross, increased CEO Angela Braly’s compensation from $8.7 million last year to $13.1 million this year. News about the compensation comes as Anthem is under fire for proposing to increase individual health plan premiums by double digits. Los Angeles Times.
San Francisco To Unveil New Public Health Policy for HIV/AIDS Treatment
The new guidelines will direct San Francisco’s public health physicians to recommend immediate antiretroviral treatment upon diagnosis with HIV. Officials are working with federal health officials to determine how much the program will cost the city and state. New York Times.
Small Businesses in San Joaquin Mixed on Reform
Small businesses in San Joaquin Valley are unsure whether the new national health reform law will improve their ability to offer employees health insurance or help lower costs. Some local business owners say new subsidies are not enough to offset the cost of providing insurance, though the Sausalito-based Small Business Majority says the law will help. Fresno Bee.
California Health Care Personnel News Update for March 2010
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has tapped Bill Leonard to take over as secretary of California’s Consumer Services Agency, and Stanford University School of Medicine has named Douglas Blayney medical director and associate director of the Stanford Cancer Center.
Health Care Providers See Uncertain Benefits in New Health Reform Law
Health care providers in California and other states are gearing up for possible changes stemming from the recent enactment of the health care reform law. Observers are divided over whether the law will ease pressure on hospital emergency departments. Los Angeles Times.