Latest California Healthline Stories
Anthem Blue Cross’ Early Years Spent as Not-for-Profit
Anthem Blue Cross started off as the not-for-profit Blue Cross of California and in 1994 was the first Blues plan in the country to convert to for-profit status. Operating as WellPoint, the company later merged with Indiana-based Anthem. KQED’s “The California Report.”
Marin County No Longer Will Provide Gynecology Services
As of July, Marin County women enrolled in Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, will have to obtain gynecological services from the Marin Community Clinic rather than county facilities. The move is part of the county’s effort to address a structural budget deficit that is expected to grow to $50 million by 2014-2015. Marin Independent Journal.
Mass. Mayors Seek To Reduce Public Worker Health Benefits
A group of Massachusetts mayors is working to develop a 2012 ballot initiative that would provide local municipalities with greater authority to reduce health care benefits for public workers and retirees. Current state law restricts the types of changes cities and towns can make without union negotiations. Boston Globe.
Groups Aim To Boost Hospital Quality in Central Valley
Adventist Health is partnering with Blue Shield of California and the California Health Care Coalition on a three-year pilot program designed to improve care quality at five Adventist hospitals in the Central Valley region. The organizations plan to collect data from the hospitals and use the information to establish measurable quality improvement goals. Fresno Business Journal, Payers & Providers.
Proposed Measure Would End Coverage Mandates Until Economy Improves
Assembly member Tom Berryhill has introduced a bill that would permit insurers to stop covering certain treatments until California’s unemployment rate remains at or below 5.5% for four consecutive quarters. The unemployment rate currently is 12.5%. Payers & Providers.
Senate Labor Committee Investigates Cal-OSHA Appeals Board Practices
State lawmakers questioned whether the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s appeals board has ignored regulations requiring it to impose fines on employers that fail to report workplace injuries. Federal officials also are investigating Cal-OSHA. Los Angeles Times.
Editorial Urges Pelosi To Push Ahead on Health Care Reform
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “is in charge” of lining up the votes to pass the Senate’s health care reform bill and should “seize this moment” to show voters that Democrats can approve health care reform, according to an editorial. The editorial argues, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it is worth losing an election over.” Sacramento Bee.
Senate Clears Path for Vote on Jobs Bill That Averts Medicare Cuts
Yesterday, the Senate invoked cloture to advance a jobs bill to a final vote scheduled for today. The bill includes provisions that would avert cuts to Medicare physician reimbursements and extend temporary aid to state Medicaid programs. CQ Today, Congress Daily.
Democrats Begin Plotting Two-Pronged Strategy To Pass Health Care Reform
Democratic lawmakers are developing a strategy to move forward on their two-part approach to pass health care reform legislation. The second step of the process would use a “corrections” measure to make House-favored changes to the Senate legislation. CQ Today et al.
Blue Shield Foundation Awards Almost $9M for Clinics, Other Programs
Of the nearly $9 million that the Blue Shield of California Foundation is awarding in first quarter grants this year, about $7.2 million will go to help support community health clinics. The clinics will have the power to decide how the funds are used. San Francisco Business Times.