Latest California Healthline Stories
Lawmakers Urge Health Plan Officials To Testify About Coverage Policies
Yesterday, a House subcommittee asked executives from Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint to testify about claims denials for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Lawmakers also are requesting information about recent premium increases. Los Angeles Times et al.
Obama To Consider Four Republican Proposals for Final Health Reform Bill
Yesterday, President Obama sent a letter informing congressional leaders that he is open to including four Republican health care reform proposals in final overhaul legislation. Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Harkin said Democrats would use the reconciliation process to advance reform. Los Angeles Times et al.
Budget Cuts Taking Toll on Public Health Work Force
Recent studies showing that about 15% of the local public health work force has been cut since 2008 largely as a result of county and city budget cuts. According to the National Association of County and City Health Officials, local health departments in 2008 lost 7,000 jobs through budget cuts and lost more than twice as many — 16,000 workers — in 2009. New York Times‘ “Prescriptions.”
Nearly $9M Cut to Mental Health in Fresno County OK’d
On Tuesday, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors cut the county’s budget for mental health care by almost $9 million to help address a mid-year budget deficit. A county official said the county will try to minimize service reductions when implementing the cuts. Fresno Bee.
Supplemental Poverty Formula To Account for Costs of Medical Care
Yesterday, the U.S. Commerce Department announced an alternative poverty formula that will consider the costs of medical treatment and other factors. The new measure will not immediately affect the allocation process for federal aid programs. Washington Post, AP/Boston Globe.
Appeals Court Rules Governor’s Line-Item Vetoes Constitutional
A panel of three judges ruled that Gov. Schwarzenegger did not exceed his constitutional authority when he used line-item vetoes to deepen funding cuts for health care and other programs in a July budget revision package. Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg also has filed a lawsuit challenging the vetoes, but his case has yet to go to trial. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
25% of Parents Concerned About Vaccines, Autism
A study in the journal Pediatrics found that one in four U.S. parents believe some vaccines might cause autism in healthy children, but a majority of parents continue to heed the advice of their child’s pediatrician that their children receive scheduled vaccinations. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
Mechanics, Politics of Budget Reconciliation Spark Debate
Members of Congress and health care reform stakeholders are locked in a heated debate over the prospect of using the budget reconciliation process as part of an effort to enact health care reform legislation. Reconciliation would allow the Senate to pass modifications to its reform legislation with a simple majority vote. WAMU’s “The Diane Rehm Show.”
Analysis Sizes Up Impact of Cuts to Healthy Families
On Friday, the California Budget Project released an analysis projecting that 6,000 children in Solano County and 4,500 kids in Napa County would lose health insurance coverage if Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to Healthy Families — the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program — are enacted. CBP estimates that one million children statewide would lose coverage if the program is eliminated. Vallejo Times Herald.
Federal Stimulus Grant Funds Upgrade to One-e-App
The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration has announced a $7.25 million grant that will help fund upgrades to One-e-App, an online enrollment system for health care and other social services programs. The funds come from the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. The Signal.