Latest California Healthline Stories
Obama Set To Name Commission To Help Reduce National Debt
President Obama is set to use an executive order to create a federal debt commission that will propose strategies for reducing the deficit, in part by controlling spending increases on Medicare, Medicaid and other programs. Wall Street Journal et al.
Industry Groups Worry About Cuts Absent Health Reform
Lobbyists for health care industry groups that reached agreements with the Obama administration to help finance health care reform are concerned about the status of the overhaul effort in Congress. Some lobbyists worry that Congress might enact the cuts even without approving reform legislation that would create new customers for their industries. Kaiser Health News.
Will White House Offer Own Health Care Reform Proposal?
There is speculation that President Obama might post his own health care reform proposal online ahead of next week’s bipartisan summit. When asked about the possibility on Monday, White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs said, “Stay tuned.” New York Times‘ “Prescriptions.”
L.A. County Cuts Pay for Emergency Department Physicians by One-Third
Reimbursements for emergency department physicians treating low-income, uninsured patients in Los Angeles County will be reduced from 27% of estimated fees to 18%. County officials attributed the change in part to state funding cuts. KPCC, Los Angeles Times.
Central Valley Hospitals Make Move to Electronic Records
Hospitals in California’s Central Valley are adopting electronic health records as part of an effort to qualify for federal incentive payments for EHR usage provided under the 2009 economic stimulus package. Hospitals are working through cost and other obstacles along the way. Fresno Bee.
Stimulus Funds Go to L.A. County Addiction Programs
Los Angeles County officials say addiction treatment programs will receive about $10.4 million from the federal economic stimulus package. The money will be channeled through the state Emergency Management Agency. KPCC.
Health Varies Greatly Among Counties in California, Nationwide
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released a new county-by-county health ranking that found great variations among California counties, with rural and low-income areas typically being less healthy than high-income urban or suburban areas. Fresno Bee, AP/Google.
National Database of Health Care Providers Lacks Some Information
An investigation by ProPublica and the Los Angeles Times found that a database intended to serve as a centralized repository of disciplinary actions against health care providers might not include records for thousands of providers who have faced sanctions. Los Angeles Times.
Kaiser Earnings Bounce Back in 2009, But Membership Still Falls
Kaiser Permanente reported a net profit of $2.1 billion for 2009, a significant swing from the $794 million loss that the company experienced in 2008 largely as a result of major investment losses. Kaiser officials attributed a 2009 loss of 64,000 members to the recession. San Francisco Business Times.
Anthem Blue Cross Agrees To Delay Hike on Individual Rates
Anthem Blue Cross of California said it will delay its planned premium increases for individual policyholders to allow the state Department of Insurance to investigate the rate hikes. The department has hired independent actuaries to verify that the new rates would meet a state regulation that requires insurers to spend at least 70% of premium revenue on medical services. New York Times et al.