Latest California Healthline Stories
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of April 2, 2010
St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco and Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura both recently began construction on new cancer care facilities. Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente has announced plans to install solar energy systems at 15 facilities statewide.
Calif. Groups Call for Malpractice Coverage for Volunteer Doctors
The California Medical Association is backing a newly proposed bill that would offer medical malpractice insurance to physicians and surgeons providing volunteer services. The Medical Board of California also supports changes that would expand malpractice coverage for volunteers. HealthLeaders Media.
Obama Touts Benefits of Health Reform for Small Businesses, Job Growth
President Obama delivered a speech in Portland, Maine, yesterday as part of a series of planned appearances to defend the new health reform law. Obama focused on how the reform law would benefit small businesses and middle-class families. Washington Post et al.
Massachusetts Officials Reject Most Proposed Health Insurance Hikes
Yesterday, Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Joseph Murphy rejected nearly 86% of proposals by health insurers to raise premiums in the state. Gov. Deval Patrick had encouraged state officials to deny the proposed rate hikes, which ranged from 7% to 34%. New York Times.
Obama Administration, Others Seek To Smooth Health Reform Roll Out
Federal officials and other organizations are launching campaigns to ease implementation of the new health reform law. Many stakeholders are seeking to avoid issues that surfaced with the 2006 implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. USA Today, Reuters.
HHS Awards Stimulus Funds for State Chronic Disease Programs
California is among several states that will receive a grant of at least $1 million for programs designed to combat chronic conditions and promote physical fitness. Earlier this week, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a total of $27 million in chronic disease grants funded by the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. HealthLeaders Media.
Mental Health Advocates Cheer Parity Law Enactment
Mental health advocates are looking forward to enactment in July of a two-year-old law requiring parity for coverage of mental and physical illnesses and are further encouraged that the law will apply to the 32 million uninsured U.S. residents who are expected to gain coverage under the new health reform law. Proponents of mental health parity legislation say that uninsured U.S. residents are more likely to experience mental illness. New York Times.
L.A. County Wins $32.1M in Stimulus Funding To Fight Obesity, Smoking
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has received $32.1 million in federal economic stimulus funding to launch programs aimed at combating obesity and smoking. The county was the biggest grantee of an HHS prevention and wellness initiative. Payers & Providers.
MRMIB Communicating With HHS About Federal High-Risk Insurance Pool
California’s Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board is asking HHS about how a federally mandated high-risk insurance pool will operate. The pool would provide coverage until national health insurance exchanges begin running in 2014. Payers & Providers, KQED’s “The California Report.”
Merced College Gets $200K Grant for Nurse Program
Merced College has received a $200,000 grant from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for its registered nurse education program. In total, 15 registered nurse programs in California received more than $2 million in grant money through the Song-Brown Program to help improve access to care. Merced Sun-Star.