Latest California Healthline Stories
CalPERS Shows Support for New National Health Care Reform Legislation
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System recently endorsed the new national health care reform law. CalPERS has said it supports measures that would help control costs, make coverage more affordable and expand coverage to more U.S. residents. Capitol Weekly.
Pediatric Specialist Shortage Gould Hinder Reform Goals
The new national health care reform law includes provisions aimed at improving health care quality and access for children, but a shortage of pediatric specialty physicians makes that difficult to accomplish, according to Jim Kaufman, vice president for public policy for the National Association of Children’s Hospitals. Kaufman said a recent association survey found that there are 400 positions that children’s hospitals have been unable to fill. HealthLeaders Media.
Study: Small Soda Tax Has Little Effect on Consumption
Taxes on soda do not seem to affect children’s consumption of the drinks or prevent childhood obesity, according to a Rand study published Thursday in Health Affairs. The study notes that most states’ soda taxes averaged four cents per dollar, and if the tax was increased to 18 cents per dollar, it would have a more significant difference on consumption. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Health District’s Plan Would Change Hospital Patient Care
Palomar Pomerado Health is seeking to change a state law requiring nurses working in hospitals to be organized in units according to specialty, a structure that has patients switch rooms as their conditions improve or worsen. The California Nurses Association opposes the proposal and says such a change could affect nurse-to-patient ratios. North County Times.
State Lawmakers at Odds Over Anti-Health Care Reform Lawsuit
In a number of states attorneys general are at odds with their governor or state legislature over whether to join a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new health reform law. Last week, 14 states joined a lawsuit challenging the law’s health insurance mandate. AP/Boston Globe et al.
Review Questions Nursing Homes’ Medicare Billing
Fraudulent Medicare billing in nursing homes could be producing billions of dollars annually in unnecessary payments, according to nursing home experts and a Washington Post examination. Meanwhile, HHS is investigating North American Health Care, which operates 35 nursing facilitates, mostly in California. In 2009, the Service Employees International Union discovered that 64% of NAHC patients are billed in the highest category, compared with a national average of 9%. Washington Post.
GOP Gov. Hopeful Whitman Says Reform Law Too Costly for Calif.
During a campaign event Tuesday, Meg Whitman, the former eBay CEO vying for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, said that if elected, she would work to block the new health reform law and encourage the state attorney general to file suit against it. However, she said that provisions to ban rescissions and coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions are valuable. Los Angeles Times.
AT&T, Other Businesses To Discuss Effect of Reform Law
On Monday, Rep. Henry Waxman sent a letter to AT&T and several other businesses asking them to verify that the health care reform law will affect their finances. On Friday, AT&T said that it will record a $1 billion noncash charge in the first quarter of 2010 due to tax changes related to the health care reform law. Randal Stephenson — AT&T’s CEO, chair and president — also has been asked to testify at a House subcommittee hearing on how the health care reform law will affect U.S. employers. Los Angeles Business Journal.
One-Fifth of Los Angeles Women Lack Care Provider
Twenty percent of Los Angeles County women participating in publicly funded programs in 2005 to 2007 lacked a regular source of health care, according to a new report from the county Department of Public Health. The report surveyed more than 6,800 girls and women ages 15 to 44. Los Angeles Daily News.
Medicaid Expansion Presents Health Insurers With Opportunity, Risk
The health care reform law’s expansion of Medicaid presents new business opportunities for health insurers. However, offering Medicaid plans could be risky for insurers because states grappling with budget shortfalls could cut payments to insurers that operate Medicaid plans. Reuters.