Latest California Healthline Stories
Obama Urges Democrats To Press Case for Health Care Reform Legislation
Yesterday, President Obama invited a group of liberal House Democrats and a group of centrist lawmakers to the White House as part of his efforts to lobby for health care reform. Meanwhile, officials said the House is on track to pass a reform bill this month. CQ Today et al.
Lawmakers OK Another Budget Measure; Health Cuts Remain on Hold
On Thursday, the California Legislature passed another portion of a budget package aimed at reducing the state’s $20 billion budget deficit. Democrats said they will wait until the summer before considering cuts to health care and social service programs. Sacramento Bee et al.
Advocate Touts Contest To Design New Diabetes Tool
Riva Greenberg — a speaker, health coach and author of 50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life — highlights the 2010 DiabetesMine Design Challenge for new designs for devices or Web applications to help people with diabetes. The contest is sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation, California Healthline‘s publisher. Huffington Post.
Administration Officials Tout Fiscal Benefits of Reform
President Obama’s health care reform plan “represents an important step toward long-term fiscal sustainability” and will result in “greater deficit reduction with each passing year,” according to Peter Orszag, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, and Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform. Washington Post.
Program Aimed at Preventing Frequent ED Use Expanding
Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento is expanding its Triage, Transport and Treatment program as part of an effort to curb unnecessary emergency department visits. For the program, the hospital identified frequent ED users and assigned them to case managers who help them find mental health, drug treatment, primary health care, housing and other services. Sacramento Bee.
California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 5, 2010
Kaiser Permanente opened its new 248-bed Vallejo Medical Center, and Catholic Healthcare West announced that it has awarded Hunt Construction Group the $240 million contract to rebuild Sequoia Hospital. Meanwhile, workers at Sutter Lakeside Hospital ratified a new contract.
Abortion Remains a Point of Contention in Reform Debate
Differences in the House and Senate health care reform proposals about rules governing abortion services are sparking debate among advocates on both sides of the issue. Concerns about federal subsidies being used for plans that cover abortions could push House Democrats who supported the original House reform bill to oppose the Senate legislation. NPR’s “Morning Edition.”
Kaiser Grant Helps Fund Pasadena Clinic Expansion
Kaiser Permanente is joining Huntington Memorial Hospital, Huntington Medical Foundation, LA Care Health Plan and the city of Pasadena to fund the expansion of the Pasadena Community Care Clinic. Kaiser is contributing $500,000 to the effort. KPCC.
Grant Shores Up Operations at Stanislaus County Clinics
Memorial Medical Center of Modesto and Sutter Health have kicked in a second $200,000 grant to help fund psychiatric and medical services in Stanislaus County clinics. The grant will help fund a program launched in June 2009 that now serves about 400 people monthly. Modesto Bee.
HP Subsidiary Loses Bid To Continue Managing Medi-Cal Data System
State officials have rejected an appeal from Hewlett Packard’s HP Enterprise Services to continue handling a claims processing system for Medi-Cal. The Department of Health Care Services will grant the $1.6 billion contract to Affiliated Computer Services. Sacramento Bee.