Latest California Healthline Stories
Reform Law Could Limit Health Care Options for Undocumented Residents
The new health reform law explicitly excludes undocumented immigrants from purchasing coverage from forthcoming health insurance exchanges. Advocates have expressed concern that the law could restrict access to health care for undocumented residents. AP/San Jose Mercury News.
UCSD Hospital Building Plan Riles Scripps Health Officials
Last week, UC-San Diego announced plans to scale back its existing center in Hillcrest and build a new $664 million medical center next to its facility in La Jolla. The plan has angered officials from Scripps Health, which accused UCSD of attempting to take over the regional market share. HealthLeaders Media.
Poll: Californians Largely Favor Lawmakers Who Backed Reform
A poll by the Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California finds that most California voters support the new health reform law and are more likely to back politicians who voted for the legislation. The survey found that only 29% of voters said they would be less likely to support a candidate who voted for the legislation. Los Angeles Times.
Editorial: State Should Move Ill Inmates Out of Prisons
California can no longer afford to keep seriously ill inmates in the prison system and should embrace the idea of medical parole, or placing prisoners in a medical facility under supervised parole, a Sacramento Bee editorial argues. The editorial calls for legislation on medical parole that has “teeth,” noting that bill (SB 1399) currently under consideration is too weak on conditions for medical parole. Sacramento Bee.
Group Finds Little Progress in Hospital Patient Safety Events
Nearly one million Medicare beneficiaries experienced a patient safety event between 2006 and 2008, resulting in more than 99,000 deaths and costing nearly $8.9 billion, according to a new patient safety study from HealthGrades. The report also found that the number of injured patients has remained at roughly the same level in recent years. HealthLeaders Media.
Strike Possible for Nurses at Stanford, Lucile Packard
A contract between Stanford Hospital and the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the nurses union CRONA expired Wednesday and the facilities are preparing for nurses to strike as negotiations continue on a new contract. While the hospitals are offering nurses a raise in wages and benefits, a union attorney said outstanding issues include paid time off and career advancement. San Jose Mercury News.
Marin Dental, Mental Health Programs Receive $1.25M
Sutter Health and the Marin Community Foundation have announced the first round of grants from a $10 million fund established to support the clinics and other safety net programs in the area. The $1.25 million in grants will go to programs on adult dental care, mental health and vaccinations. Marin Independent Journal.
Study: Many Seniors Need Help in End-of-Life Decisions
More than one-in-four elderly individuals likely will require end-of-life medical care decisions to be made for them, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Advocates say the study highlights the need for advance directives, or living wills. AP/Baltimore Sun.
Some States Could Gain From Early Expansion of Eligibility for Medicaid
As of Thursday, states can apply for federal funds to expand their Medicaid programs to cover residents with annual incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. Some states already offer expanded Medicaid programs that cover such residents. Kaiser Health News.
More Californians Vaccinated Against Flu, CDC Says
While flu vaccination rates were higher this year among California children and adults, they are still slightly behind national immunization rates, according to new data from CDC. By February, nearly one-third of children in California and 18% of adults had been vaccinated, compared with 37% of children and about 20% of adults nationally. San Francisco Chronicle.